Road signs in Thailand

Road signs in Thailand are standardized road signs similar to those used in other nations but much of it resembles road signage systems used in South American countries with certain differences, such as using a blue circle instead of a red-bordered white circle to indicate mandatory actions.^[1] Until the early 1980s, Thailand closely followed American, European, Australian, and Japanese practices in road sign design, with diamond-shaped warning signs and circular restrictive signs to regulate traffic. The Department of Railway maintains a standard on the typeface used in the sign, with custom made type for Thai text, unofficially named "Thang Luang" (อักษรทางหลวง) and a small derivation of FHWA Series fonts ("Highway Gothic") typeface, which is used on American road signage, for Latin text.^[2] In most Bangkok Metropolitan Area's routes, TS Lopburi is still used.

Thai traffic signs use Thai, the national language of Thailand, and distances and other measurements are expressed in compliance with the International System of Units. However, English is also used for important public places such as tourist attractions, airports, railway stations, and immigration checkpoints. Both Thai and romanizations are used on directional signage.

Thailand is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, but has yet to fully ratify the convention.^[3]

History

The first year for road signs in Thailand was largely unknown, but it can be dated back as far as the start of the 1920s.^{[citation needed]}

Thailand is the first country in Asia to adopt MUTCD standard yellow diamond warning signs, in 1940.^{[citation needed]} For regulatory signs, rectangular signs were first used and were similar in design to North America,^{[citation needed]} but they have been replaced in the mid-1950s by European-style red-bordered white circle signs.^[4]

In 2004, mandatory signs were switched from South American design to European design.^[5]

Regulatory signs

With the exception of the special designs used for Stop, Yield, and No Entry signs, mandatory signs (e.g., Must Turn Left) are round with a blue background, white border, and a white pictogram. Those which express a prohibition (e.g., No Left Turn) show the pictogram crossed out by a red diagonal bar. This is in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (Type A variants).^[6][7]

Priority Regulating Signs

• 
  Stop (Thai language)
• 
  Stop (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Give way (Thai language)
• 
  Give way (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)

Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs

• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No entry
• 
  No right U-turn
• 
  No left U-turn, Unused
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No right turn
• 
  No changing to left lane
• 
  No changing to right lane
• 
  No right turn nor right U-turn
• 
  No Left Turn nor U-turn, Unused
• 
  No cars
• 
  No trucks
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No trailers
• 
  No tuk-tuks
• 
  No tricycle
• 
  No bicycles
• 
  No carts
• 
  No tractors
• 
  No animal-drawn carts
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  No tricycle or bicycles and motorcycles.
• 
  No motorcycles or moto-rickshaws
• 
  No honking
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  No parking
• 
  No stopping
• 
  Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
• 
  Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police) (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Speed limit (10 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (20 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (30 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (40 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (50 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (60 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (70 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (80 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (90 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (100 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (110 km/h)
• 
  Speed limit (120 km/h)
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Weight limit (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Maximum width
• 
  Maximum width (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Maximum height
• 
  Maximum height (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Maximum vehicle length (Thai language)
• 
  Maximum vehicle length (Thai and English languages)
• 
  No vehicles conveying dangerous goods

Mandatory Signs

• 
  Go straight
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Pass on either side
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  Go straight or turn left
• 
  Go straight or turn right
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Buses only
• 
  High occupancy vehicles only
• 
  Motorcycles only
• 
  Bicycles only
• 
  Pedestrians only
• 
  Minimum speed limit (30 km/h)
• 
  Minimum speed limit (40 km/h)
• 
  Minimum speed limit (50 km/h)
• 
  Minimum speed limit (60 km/h)
• 
  Minimum speed limit (70 km/h)
• 
  Minimum speed limit (80 km/h)
• 
  Minimum speed limit (90 km/h)

Other regulatory signs

• 
  Speed limit zone ends
• 
  Slow down

General regulatory signs

• 
  Speed limit sign (in Bangkok area)
• 
  Speed limit (In city – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities inbound)
• 
  Speed limit (Countryside – Bangkok, Pattaya and cities outbound)
• 
  Prohibited on Expressways
• 
  Prohibited on Expressways
• 
  Slow traffic keep left
• 
  Right lane passing only
• 
  All cars use low gears
• 
  Limited visibility, no overtaking
• 
  Wrong Way
• 
  Right lane only for U-turn
• 
  left lane, turn left
• 
  Stop and wait for the signal here
• 
  Truck weight for rural roads
• 
  Truck weight for local highways
• 
  car speed rating
• 
  car speed rating According to ministerial regulations, the speed of vehicles on designated national highways or rural roads is specified 2021
• 
  speed control zone According to ministerial regulations, the speed of vehicles on designated national highways or rural roads is specified 2021

Mandatory signs for bicycle paths

• 
  Stop the car for the bicycle path.
• 
  Starting point of the bicycle path
• 
  End of the bike path
• 
  Bicycle stays to the left

Optional signs

• 
  Let the car on the right go first.
• 
  Let the cars in the roundabout go first.
• 
  Only trucks with 6 wheels or more.
• 
  Sign for additional mandatory hours for bus lanes.
• 
  Signs for additional times and required directions.
• 
  except buses
• 
  Starting point of the public bus lane
• 
  The end of the mass transit lane
• 
  Starting point of the motorcycle lane
• 
  End of the motorcycle lane

Superseded regulatory signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

• 
  Stop
• 
  No entry
• 
  No tractors
• 
  Stop at checkpoint (e.g.: customs, police)
• 
  Speed limit (50 km/h)
• 
  Go straight
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Pass on either side
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  End of speed limit
• 
  End of overtaking prohibition

Warning signs

Thai warning signs are diamond-shaped and are yellow and black in colour.^[8]

Curves and Turns

• 
  Curve to left
• 
  Curve to right
• 
  Sharp curve to left
• 
  Sharp curve to right
• 
  Double curve, first to left
• 
  Double curve, first to right
• 
  Sharp double curve, first to left
• 
  Sharp double curve, first to right
• 
  Winding road, first bend to left
• 
  Winding road, first bend to right

Intersections

• 
  Crossroads
• 
  Y-junction
• 
  Side road junction on left
• 
  Side road junction on right
• 
  Offset road junction, left and right
• 
  Offset road junction, left and right
• 
  Skewed side road junction on left
• 
  Skewed side road junction on right
• 
  Skewed side road junction on left
• 
  Skewed side road junction on right
• 
  T-junction

Roundabout

• 
  Circle Road

Road narrows

• 
  Road narrows on both sides
• 
  Road narrows on left side
• 
  Road narrows on right side

Narrow bridge

• 
  Narrow bridge

Lane transitions

• 
  Left lane ends
• 
  Right lane ends

Railway crossing

• 
  Railway crossing ahead that is not protected by automatic gates
• 
  Railway crossing ahead that is protected by automatic gates
• 
  Railway crossing on next side road ahead
• 
  Railway crossing (Crossbuck)

Lane width restrictions

• 
  Width restriction ahead (Thai language)
• 
  Width restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)

Lane height restrictions

• 
  Height restriction ahead (Thai language)
• 
  Height restriction ahead (Thai and English languages)

Hills and Grades

• 
  Steep climb
• 
  Steep descent

Lane conditions

• 
  Bump
• 
  Bumpy road
• 
  Dip
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Loose road surface
• 
  Falling stone
• 
  Slippery road when wet
• 
  Traffic queues likely

Opening bridge

• 
  Opening bridge

Lane shiftings

• 
  Shift to left carriageway
• 
  Shift to right carriageway
• 
  Added lane ahead
• 
  Added lane ahead

Lane mergings

• 
  Left merging traffic
• 
  Right merging traffic

Divided highways

• 
  Divided road beginning
• 
  Divided road end

Turning back

• 
  U turn ahead Right
• 
  U turn ahead Left

No Turning back

• 
  No u turn

Two-way traffic

• 
  Two-way traffic

Advance traffic control

• 
  Traffic signals ahead
• 
  Warning signs detect traffic light violations with CCTV cameras 24 hours a day.
• 
  Stop ahead (Thai language)
• 
  Stop ahead (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Give way ahead (Thai language)
• 
  Give way ahead (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Crossroad Intersection-1
• 
  Traffic signal Ahead ntersection-2
• 
  Traffic signal Ahead Intersection-3
• 
  Railway ahead-1
• 
  Railway ahead-2
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Children
• 
  School zone (In Bangkok local highway zone)
• 
  school zone warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)
• 
  crossing warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)
• 
  Cattle Crossing
• 
  Low-flying aircraft
• 
  Other danger (Thai language)
• 
  Other danger (Thai and English languages)

No passing zone

• 
  No overtaking zone
• 
  No overtaking zone (Thai and English languages)

Lane split, Curve and Hazard markers

• Lane split
• 
  Diverge highway

• Curve markers
• 
  Chervon to The left
• 
  Chervon to The right
• 
  Curve marker to right
• 
  Curve marker to left
• 
  Curve marker double arrow
• 
  Chevron marker to right
• 
  Chevron marker to left
• 
  Chevron marker double arrow

• Hazard markers
• 
  Hazard marker or pass either side
• 
  Hazard marker or keep left
• 
  Hazard marker or keep right

Alternate merging

• 
  Zipper merge (Thai language)
• 
  Zipper merge (Thai and English languages)

Supplementary plates

• 
  City limit reduce speed (Thai language)
• 
  City limit reduce speed (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Winding road for next --- km
• 
  Steep climb for next --- km
• 
  Steep descent for next --- km
• 
  Use low gear (Thai language)
• 
  Use low gear (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Speed hump
• 
  Rough road for next--- km.
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Rain Slippery road
• 
  Watch for cars from the left
• 
  Watch for cars from the right
• 
  --- m.
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  front light
• 
  Light signal --- m.
• 
  School
• 
  School --- m.
• 
  School Zone
• 
  Sharp Curve
• 
  Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
• 
  Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
• 
  Advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
• 
  Advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
• 
  Sleepy, stopped for a rest.

Superseded warning signs

These signs have been superseded, but are still around.

• 
  Road narrows on both sides
• 
  U turn Ahead
• 
  U turn Ahead
• 
  Stop ahead (old since 1997
• 
  School children
• 
  No overtaking zone
• 
  Advisory speed
• 
  Advisory speed
• 
  Crossroad Intersection-1
• 
  Traffic signal Ahead Intersection-2

Speed camera zone warning signs

• 
  Speed camera zone (60 km/h)
• 
  Speed camera zone (80 km/h)
• 
  Speed camera zone (90 km/h)
• 
  Speed camera zone (100 km/h)
• 
  Speed camera zone (110 km/h)
• 
  Speed camera zone (120 km/h)

Emergency stop warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Highways)

• 
  Advance emergency stop warning sign at a distance of 2 km.
• 
  Advance emergency stop warning sign at a distance of 1 km.
• 
  Warning sign for emergency stop lanes in advance at a distance of 500 m.
• 
  Warning sign for emergency stop lane ahead.

Warning signs on steep slopes. for heavy trucks (Standard form of the Department of Highways)

• 
  Slope climbing lane warning sign in advance at a distance of 2 km.
• 
  Slope climbing lane warning sign in advance at a distance of 1 km.
• 
  Slope climbing lane warning sign in advance at a distance of 500 m.
• 
  Warning sign of a steep climb lane ahead.
• 
  Warning sign at the end of a steep climb lane.

High hanging warning sign (Mast arm) (Standard type of the Department of Rural Roads)

• 
  School Zone
• 
  City limit
• 
  Railway crossing
• 
  Intersections
• 
  U turn/curve

Water overflow warning sign (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)

• 
  Road closed when flooded (Thai and english languages)
• 
  Warning sign on lower level road (Thai and english languages)

Warning signs for safety facilitation and improvement of dangerous points. In the case of installing a vehicle warning device entering an intersection (Standard form of the Department of Rural Roads)

• 
  An intersection sign has traffic when the lights flash.

railway warning sign (Standard road work form for local administrative organizations, Department of Rural Roads)

• 
  Railway warning sign at a distance of 100 meters
• 
  Railway warning sign at a distance of 300 meters
• 
  Railway warning sign at a distance of 500 meters

Combination signs

• 
  Winding road for next --- km, first bend to left
• 
  Winding road for next --- km, first bend to right
• 
  Narrow bridge - give way to oncoming vehicles (used at traffic bottleneck points)
• 
  Steep climb for next --- km
• 
  Steep descent for next --- km
• 
  Steep descent – use low gear (Thai language)
• 
  Steep descent – use low gear (Thai and English languages)
• 
  Speed bump
• 
  Speed bumpy
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Merging traffic - beware cars from the left
• 
  Merging traffic - beware cars from the right
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Traffic signals ahead and front light
• 
  Traffic signals ahead and Light signal --- m.
• 
  School zone
• 
  School 200 m.
• 
  Curve marker right with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
• 
  Curve marker right with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
• 
  Curve marker left with advisory speed (Thai language) (60 km/h)
• 
  Curve marker left with advisory speed (Thai and English languages) (60 km/h)
• 
  Railway warning sign at a distance of 100 meters and 10.km
• 
  Railway warning sign at a distance of 300 meters and 30.km
• 
  Railway warning sign at a distance of 500 meters and 50.km

Miscellaneous

The Department of Highways does not provide signs dealing with some other road and highway situations. Many cities have their own sign standards dealing with these situations.

• 
  Elephant crossing

Temporary signs

Construction signs in Thailand are diamond-shaped and are orange and black in colour.

• 
  Survey
• 
  Construction ahead
• 
  Workers ahead
• 
  Construction vehicles ahead
• 
  Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on left
• 
  Bridge out ahead with a temporary bridge on a detour on right
• 
  Diverted traffic to left
• 
  Diverted traffic to right
• 
  Diverted traffic to left (two lanes)
• 
  Diverted traffic to right (two lanes)
• 
  Diverted traffic (one lane on left)
• 
  Diverted traffic (one lane on right)
• 
  Diverted traffic, first to left
• 
  Diverted traffic, first to right
• 
  Diverted traffic, first to left, 2 lanes
• 
  Diverted traffic, first to right, 2 lanes
• 
  Diverted traffic, first to left, 3 lanes
• 
  Diverted traffic, first to right, 3 lanes
• 
  End of left lane (form 1 lane)
• 
  End of right lane (form 1 lane)
• 
  End of left lane (form 2 lanes)
• 
  End of right lane (form 2 lanes)
• 
  End of left lanes (form 1 lane)
• 
  End of right lanes (form 1 lane)
• 
  Curve marker
• 
  Curve marker
• 
  Flagman ahead
• 
  Road construction zone
• 
  New road under construction and temporarily opened
• 
  New road temporarily opened
• 
  Road construction ahead
• 
  Bridge construction ahead
• 
  Road closed ahead
• 
  Reduce speed
• 
  Detour left
• 
  Detour right
• 
  Distance to work zone
• 
  Road work ahead
• 
  Shoulder work ahead
• 
  Construction materials on shoulder
• 
  Road impassable ahead
• 
  Road flooded ahead
• 
  Accident ahead
• 
  Curve marker
• 
  Curve marker
• 
  Curve marker
• 
  Road closed --- km
• 
  Road impassable --- km
• 
  Detour route
• 
  Detour
• 
  Detour
• 
  Road work, next --- km
• 
  End road work
• 
  Road closed
• 
  Road closed to through traffic
• 
  Road impassable, no through traffic

Road equipment

• 
  Flashing orange lights
• 
  Flashing red lights
• 
  Reflective delineator

Highways

Tolled expressway and highway signs

Expressways

Thai toll expressway and highway signs are green and are only suitable for toll expressways and highways. No blue signs for toll expressway and highways are required. These antartican toll expressway and restroom signs have a simple code:-

• Blue with white signs for expressway names of closed toll systems.

National Highway

Examples	Information	Number digits
	Main highway route numbers (Northern)	1xxx
	Main highway route numbers (Northeastern)	2xxx
ทางออก EXIT 134	Highway exit numbers	EXIT 101 - 199
	Main highway route numbers (Central)	3xxx
	Main highway route numbers (Southern)	4xxx

National Highway use sign

Examples	Information
	Highways bypassing city centres bear the principal route number marked
	Old Route Plate for Thailand Highway
	Highways enter city centres bear the principal route number marked
	Asian Highway route shield

Highway signs

Highway code signs	Motorways signs (Toll Roads)	Motorway signs	Rural route signs	Local roads signs
Rectangle-shaped highway shield with highway code signs are black and white	Blue with white letters signs for Motorways (Toll Road).	Green with White letters for Motorways	Rural route signs	Local roads signs
Thai national road shield	Motorway Signs (Toll Roads)	Thai Motorway Signs	Rural route signs	Local roads signs

Advance turn arrow signs

Highways	Motorways (Toll Roads)	Motorways

Directional arrow signs

Highways	Motorways (Toll Roads)	Motorways

Informational signs

Thai Informational signs are white or blue.^[9]

• Informational signs
• 
  Destination
• 
  Distance sign
• 
  River sign
• 
  Province border signs
• 
  Canal name on BMA Roads
• 
  Intersection name on Highways
• 
  Intersection name on Rural Roads name on Highways
• 
  Interchange name on Highways
• 
  Intersection name on BMA Roads
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Fountain
• 
  Accommodation
• 
  forest park
• 
  Waterfall
• 
  Mountain
• 
  Island
• 
  beach
• 
  cave
• 
  Sea
• 
  Water source
• 
  Cliffs
• 
  Dam
• 
  Golf Course
• 
  Resort Places
• 
  Vineyard
• 
  Zoo
• 
  ancient sites
• 
  Temple
• 
  Temple (variant)
• 
  Church/Chapel
• 
  Surau/Mosque
• 
  Shrine
• 
  Stadium
• 
  Border
• 
  Garden, Rai
• 
  Market
• 
  Monument
• 
  Research Center
• 
  Center for Arts and Crafts
• 
  Museum
• 
  Park
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Hospital
• 
  One-way street (left)
• 
  One-way street (right)
• 
  Dead end
• 
  U-turn Right
• 
  U-turn Left
• 
  Expressway begins
• 
  Expressway ends
• 
  Bus lane begins
• 
  Bus lane
• 
  Disabled persons
• 
  Bus lane ends
• 
  High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane
• 
  Weigh station
• 
  Weigh station
• 
  Weigh station
• 
  Weigh station
• 
  Weigh station
• 
  Weigh station
• 
  Rest area
• 
  Rest area
• 
  Restaurant
• 
  Restaurant shop
• 
  Refreshment shop
• 
  Accommodation
• 
  Wi-Fi and Internet
• 
  Advance scenic area distance
• 
  Scenic area exit direction (left)
• 
  Scenic area exit direction (right)
• 
  Road name
• 
  Bicycles lane
• 
  Bicycles and motorcycles keep left
• 
  Expressway (EXAT)
• 
  Airport (Access road from Highways)
• 
  Airport (Access road from Motorways/Major Roads)
• 
  Airport (Access road from Toll Motorways/Expressways)
• 
  Airport (Access road from Toll Motorways/Expressways) with a Name
• 
  Bus terminal
• 
  Ferry pier
• 
  Ferry port
• 
  Railway station
• 
  Toilet gender
• 
  Parking lot
• 
  Parking garage
• 
  Gasoline
• 
  NGV Gasoline
• 
  LPG Gasoline
• 
  EV electric Station
• 
  E85 Gasoline
• 
  B20 Gasoline
• 
  General information (Rural roads)
• 
  General information (Rural roads)
• 
  Clinic
• 
  Directional guide signs on Highways (to the left lane)
• 
  Directional guide signs on Highways (through lanes)
• 
  1 kilometer exit warning (high-hanging type) for special highways
• 
  recommend in advance
• 
  Directional guide signs on Toll Motorways (to the right lane)
• 
  Directional guide signs on Rural Roads (right turn lane)

Kilometer signs

• Kilometer signs
• 
  Kilometer sign on Highways [Type A]
• 
  Kilometer sign on Motorways [Type A]
• 
  Kilometer sign on Motorways (Toll Roads) [Type A]
• 
  Kilometer sign on Highways [Type B]
• 
  Kilometer sign on Rural Roads
• 
  Kilometer sign on Rural Roads [Type B]
• 
  Kilometer sign on Expressways
• 
  100 Meter sign on Highway
• 
  100 Meter sign on Motorways
• 
  100 Meter sign on Motorways (Old Sign)

Exit number signs

• Exit number signs
• 
  Exit number plaques on Highways / Motorways
• 
  Exit number plaques on Toll Motorways
• 
  exit number sign (for expressway)
• 
  exit number sign (For the Si Rat Expressway)

Road name signage

Road name signs in Thailand have different colours and styles depending on the local authority.

Symbols

Other symbols include hospital signs, airport signs, temple signs and so on.

Curb markings

Alternating red and white paint means "no parking". Alternating yellow and white markings mean short-term parking or a bus stop. A white rectangle painted on the road indicates a parking zone. Multiple diagonal white lines mean parking for motorbikes only.^[10]

Sign vocabulary

Most road signs in Thailand use Thai (ภาษาไทย); the official and national language of that country. However, English is used for important directional signs such as CIQ checkpoints, airports, and tourist attractions. Below are translations of road signs:

See also

• Integrated Transport Information System
• Thai highway network
• Transportation in Thailand

References