Road signs in Sweden

Road signs in Sweden are regulated in Vägmärkesförordningen, VMF (2007:90), and are to be placed 2 metres from the road with the sign 1.6m from the base for motorized roads. Except for route numbers, there are a maximum of three signs on a pole, with the most important sign at the bottom. All signs have a reflective layer added on selected parts of the sign as is custom in European countries; most larger signs also have their own illumination.

Most signs are based on pictograms, except signs like the prohibition-sign for stop at told and signal, the sign indicating taxi rank, low speed road and the sign for accident. If the sign includes text, the text is written in Swedish, except the stop sign, which is written in English ("STOP").

Swedish signs depict classical silhouetted persons.

Major differences between Swedish and general European signs

Whereas European signs usually have white background on warning and prohibition signs, the Swedish signs have a yellow/orange colour. This is for the purpose of enhancing the visibility of the sign during the winter, as white signs would be hard to see in the snow. The prohibition signs have a red line across them if there is a symbol on them, not if it is a numeric value. General European prohibition signs do usually not have such a red line. Swedish warning and prohibition signs also have a thicker border than their European counterparts. Traffic signs in Slovenia and Finland are quite similar.

Private road direction sign

File:Swedish road sign 1 5 2 14.svg

Private road sign

The reason there is a sign indicating private road, is because they are not strictly private. A private road is a road that is not maintained by the state or municipality, but by a private person or association. If you own a private road or a land in Sweden, you can prohibit cars (but not people) from using the road. But if there is support from the state for the maintenance, you can't prohibit cars from it. This is mostly the case if several families live along the road. Then they must form an association for the road. The Swedish word for this kind of road is "enskild", that can be both translated to "private" and "individual". The background of the sign is yellow, indicating that the quality is often less good, and warning signs might be missing. Signs indicating roads owned by companies usually have white background.

Warning signs

Warning signs are triangular and have red borders, but in contrast with those of most other countries that use triangular warning signs, Swedish signs have yellow backgrounds, rather than white. More types of warning signs for animals are used than in most European countries, such as moose, deer, wild boar, reindeer, sheep, horse, and cow appearing alongside roads.

• Sweden road sign A1-1.svg

  Dangerous curve to left

• Sweden road sign A1-2.svg

  Dangerous curve to right

• Sweden road sign A2-1.svg

  Dangerous curves ahead, first to left

• Sweden road sign A2-2.svg

  Dangerous curves ahead, first to right

• Sweden road sign A3.svg

  Steep hill downwards (10%)

• Sweden road sign A4.svg

  Steep hill upwards (10%)

• Sweden road sign A5-1.svg

  Road narrows from both sides

• Sweden road sign A6.svg

  Drawbridge ahead

• Sweden road sign A7.svg

  Quayside or ferry berth

• Sweden road sign A8.svg

  Uneven road ahead

• Sweden road sign A10.svg

  Slippery road

• Sweden road sign A11.svg

  Loose chippings

• Sweden road sign A12-1.svg

  Falling rocks from corresponding side

• Sweden road sign A13.svg

  Pedestrian crossing

• Sweden road sign A15.svg

  Children crossing

• Sweden road sign A16.svg

  Cyclists and moped riders on carriageway

• Sweden road sign A17.svg

  Skiers crossing

• Sweden road sign A20.svg

  Roadworks

• 

  Traffic signals

• Sweden road sign A23-1.svg

  Low-flying aircraft

• Sweden road sign A24-1.svg

  Crosswind from corresponding side

• Sweden road sign A25.svg

  Two-way traffic (One-way traffic is ending).

• Sweden road sign A26.svg

  Tunnel

• Sweden road sign A28.svg

  Junction

• 

  Junction with a road, the drivers of which must give way

• Sweden road sign A30.svg

  Roundabout warning

• Sweden road sign A35.svg

  Level crossing with gates

• Sweden road sign A36.svg

  Level crossing without gates

• Sweden road sign A37.svg

  Intersection with tramway line

• Sweden road sign A40.svg

  Other dangers

• 1132 1-3 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Distance to level crossing

• 1 1 34 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Single track level crossing

• 1 1 34 2 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Multitrack level crossing

Animals

• 

  Elk

• Sweden road sign A19-2.svg

  Deer

• Sweden road sign A19-5.svg

  Reindeer

• Sweden road sign A19-6.svg

  Sheep

• Sweden road sign A19-7.svg

  Wild boars

• Sweden road sign A19-3.svg

  Cattle

• Sweden road sign A19-4.svg

  Wild horses

• Sweden road sign A18.svg

  Equestrian horses

Prohibitory signs

Prohibitory signs are round with yellow backgrounds and red borders, except the international standard stop sign that is an octagon with red background and white border and the no parking and no standing signs that have a blue background instead of yellow.

• Sweden road sign C1.svg

  No entry

• Sweden road sign C2.svg

  No vehicles

• Sweden road sign C3.svg

  No power-driven vehicles

• Sweden road sign C4.svg

  No power-driven vehicles with more than 2 wheels

• Sweden road sign C5.svg

  No motorcycles or mopeds Class I

• Sweden road sign C6.svg

  No trailers

• Sweden road sign C7.svg

  No lorries

• Sweden road sign C8.svg

  No tractors, construction vehicles etc.

• Sweden road sign C9.svg

  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods

• Sweden road sign C10.svg

  No cycles or mopeds

• Sweden road sign C11.svg

  No mopeds

• Sweden road sign C12.svg

  No animal-drawn vehicles

• Sweden road sign C13.svg

  No off-road vehicles

• Sweden road sign C14.svg

  No riding

• Sweden road sign C15.svg

  No pedestrians

• Sweden road sign C16.svg

  No vehicles having an overall width exceeding 2.2 meters

• Sweden road sign C17.svg

  No vehicles having an overall height exceeding 3.5 meters

• Sweden road sign C18.svg

  No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding 20 meters

• Sweden road sign C19.svg

  Minimum distance between power driven vehicles

• Sweden road sign C20.svg

  No vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes laden weight

• Sweden road sign C21.svg

  No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding 30 tonnes laden weight or bearing capacity class

• Sweden road sign C23.svg

  No vehicles having a weight exceeding 6 tonnes on one axle

• Sweden road sign C24.svg

  No vehicles having a weight exceeding 10 tonnes on a tandem axle

• Sweden road sign C26.svg

  No U-turn

• Sweden road sign C27.svg

  No overtaking

• Sweden road sign C29.svg

  No overtaking by lorries

• Sweden road sign C31-3.svg

  Maximum speed

• Sweden road sign C28.svg

  End of overtaking restriction

• Sweden road sign C30.svg

  End of overtaking by lorries restriction

• Sweden road sign C34-2.svg

  Stop at the sign if the signal shows red

• Sweden road sign C34-4.svg

  Stop for police control. There are variants STOPP VAKT (stop for guard) STOPP FÄRJA (stop here when waiting for ferry)

• Sweden road sign C35.svg

  No parking

• Sweden road sign C39.svg

  No stopping or parking

• Sweden road sign C44.svg

  No vehicles with studded tires

• Sweden road sign E20-1.svg

  No parking zone

• Sweden road sign E21-15.svg

  End of no parking zone

Stop at customs

The sign "Stop at customs" ("Stopp vid tull") is multilingual and exists in four variants.

• Sweden road sign C33-1.svg

  Danish

• Sweden road sign C33-3.svg

  Finnish

• Sweden road sign C33-4.svg

  German

• Sweden road sign C33-2.svg

  Norwegian

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs are always round blue signs with white border.

• Sweden road sign D1-1.svg

  Direction to be followed

• Sweden road sign D2-1.svg

  Keep right

• Sweden road sign D2-2.svg

  Keep left

• Sweden road sign D2-3.svg

  Pass either side

• Sweden road sign D3.svg

  Roundabout mandatory

• Sweden road sign D4.svg

  Track for cycles and mopeds

• Sweden road sign D5.svg

  Foot path

• Sweden road sign D6.svg

  Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers.

• Sweden road sign D7-1.svg

  Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers. Dual track

• Sweden road sign D7-2.svg

  Compulsory track for pedestrians, cyclists and moped drivers. Dual track

• Sweden road sign D8.svg

  Track for rider on horseback (and pedestrians)

• Sweden road sign D9.svg

  Track for off-road vehicles

• 

  Beginning of lane reserved for public transport (and cycles and mopeds Class II).

• Sweden road sign D11-1.svg

  End of lane reserved for public transport (and cycles and mopeds Class II).

Signs giving information

The only Swedish diamond shaped sign is the sign informing about priority road, which is a road to which intersection roads have to give way.

• Sweden road sign B3-1.svg

  Pedestrian crossing

• 

  Motorway

• 

  End of motorway

• 

  Expressway

• Sweden road sign E4.svg

  End of expressway

• 

  Built-up area

• Sweden road sign E6.svg

  End of built-up area

• Sweden road sign E7.svg

  Pedestrian area

• Sweden road sign E8.svg

  End of pedestrian area

• 

  Residential area

• Sweden road sign E10.svg

  End of residential area

• Sweden road sign E11-3.svg

  Low-speed road (recommended top speed)

• Sweden road sign E12-3.svg

  End of low-speed road

• Sweden road sign E13-5.svg

  Maximum recommended speed (in km/h)

• Sweden road sign E14.svg

  End of maximum recommended speed (in km/h)

• Sweden road sign E16-1-1.svg

  One-way traffic

• Sweden road sign E17-1.svg

  No through road

• Sweden road sign E18.svg

  Passing place

• Sweden road sign E19.svg

  Parking (max 24 hours on weekdays except weekday before Sunday or holiday).

• Sweden road sign E22.svg

  Bus

• Sweden road sign E23.svg

  Taxi rink

• 

  Toll road

• Sweden road sign G1.svg

  Post office

• Sweden road sign G2.svg

  Telephone

• Sweden road sign G3.svg

  Radio station for road and traffic information

• Sweden road sign G4.svg

  First aid

• Sweden road sign G5.svg

  Industrial zone

• Sweden road sign H1.svg

  Information

• Sweden road sign H2.svg

  Workshop

• Sweden road sign H3.svg

  Petrol station

• Sweden road sign H5.svg

  Refreshments

• Sweden road sign H6.svg

  Restaurant

• Sweden road sign H7.svg

  Hotel

• Sweden road sign H8.svg

  Youth hostel

• Sweden road sign H10.svg

  Holiday chalets

• Sweden road sign H11.svg

  Camping site

• Sweden road sign H12.svg

  Caravan site

• Sweden road sign H13.svg

  Picnic site

• Sweden road sign H14.svg

  Toilet

• Sweden road sign H15.svg

  Bathing

• Sweden road sign H16.svg

  Open-air recreation

• Sweden road sign H17.svg

  Hiking trail

• Sweden road sign H18.svg

  Chair lift

• Sweden road sign H19.svg

  Tow lift

• Sweden road sign H20.svg

  Golf course

• 

  Fishing licences on sale here

• 

  National heritage

• 1 4 32 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Park and ride

• 1 4 40 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  The long turn — mandatory turning manoeuvre for pedal cycles and mopeds.

• 1 5 1 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Advance direction sign, diagrammatic type

• 1 5 1 3 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Advance direction sign, stack type

• Swedish road sign 1 5 1 4.svg

  Lane preselection sign

• 1 5 1 51 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Lane merge

• 1 5 1 5 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Lane ends

• Swedish road sign 1 51571.svg

  Temporary sign, left most lane ends

• 1 5 1572 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Temporary sign, Lane merges with oncoming traffic

• 1 5 1573 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Temporary sign, oncoming traffic merges with this lane

• 1 5 1 61 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Advance direction sign diagrammatic indicating prohibition of left turning

• 1 5 2 11 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Direction sign flag type

• 1 5 2 12 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Direction to motorway or expressway

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 13.svg

  Sign to specific district or area

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 14.svg

  Sign to place reached by a private road

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 15.svg

  Sign to local amenities

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 2.svg

  Lane assignment type

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 31.svg

  Advance direction sign exit ahead from motorway or expressway

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 32.svg

  Advance direction sign exit ahead from other road than motorway or expressway

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 4.svg

  Direction sign exit sign

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 51.svg

  Lorry

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 52.svg

  Car

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2 54.svg

  Airfield

• Swedish road sign 1 52541.svg

  Airfield straight ahead

• 1 5 2 55.svg

  Ferry

• Swedish road sign 1 5 3.svg

  Place indication sign

• E4 Swedish road sign.svg

  Road number sign European highway

• Swedish road sign 1 5 4 2.svg

  Main highways (other than European highways) numbered 1-499

• Swedish road sign 1 5 4 4.svg

  Road number sign. Direction to a numbered road

• Swedish road sign 1 5 4 5.svg

  Road number sign for traffic diversion

• Swedish road sign 1 5 5.svg

  Confirmatory sign

• Swedish road sign 1 5 6.svg

  Interchange number

• Swedish road sign 1 5 7.svg

  Grouped destinations (i.e. For Pajala and Övertorneå, follow signs for Kiruna)

• Sweden road sign F32.svg

  Recommended route for vehicles carrying dangerous goods

• Sweden road sign I1.svg

  Tourist route

• Sweden road sign I2.svg

  Tourist attraction area

• 1 5 32 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Landmark

• Swedish road sign 1 5 2.svg

  Sign to temporary event

• 1 6 1 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Recommended route for pedal cycles and mopeds

• Swedish road sign 1 6 1 2.svg

  Recommended route for pedestrians

• Swedish road sign 1 6 1 3.svg

  Disabled persons

• 1 6 2 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Stack type design

• Swedish road sign 1 6 3.svg

  Flag type sign

• 1 6 4 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Place indication sign

• 1 6 5 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Confirmatory sign

• 1 6 7 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Cycle track

Priority signs

• Sweden road sign B1.svg

  Give way

• Sweden road sign B2.svg

  Stop

• 

  Priority road

• Sweden road sign B5.svg

  End of priority road

• Sweden road sign B6.svg

  Priority for oncoming vehicles

• Sweden road sign B7.svg

  Priority over oncoming vehicles

Other signs

• Sweden road sign A21.svg

  End of road works

• Sweden road sign X6-1.svg

  Accident

• Swedish road sign 6 1 5.svg

  Limited access on side marker

• Swedish road sign 6 1 6.svg

  Limited access marker

• Swedish road sign 6 1 7.svg

  Limited access arrow marker

• Swedish road sign 7 1 1.svg

  Marking for sharp bends, bridge parapets, abutment, walls, tunnel mouths etc. Arrow marker

• Swedish road sign 7 1 2.svg

  Marking for sharp bends, bridge parapets, abutment, walls, tunnel mouths etc. Side marker

• Swedish road sign 7 1 3.svg

  Marking for obstacle

• Swedish road sign 7 1 5.svg

  Exit

Additional panels

• Sweden road sign J3-1.svg

  High voltage cable

• Sweden road sign T2.svg

  Distance to

• Sweden road sign T3.svg

  Stop and give way at specified distance ahead

• Sweden road sign T4.svg

  Lateral clearance

• Sweden road sign T5.svg

  Total weight

• Sweden road sign T6.svg

  Times the restriction applies. Weekday; Weekday before Sunday or public holiday in brackets; Sunday and public holiday in red.

• Sweden road sign T7-1.svg

  Parking permitted for specified period between times shown

• Sweden road sign T7-2.svg

  No parking between times indicated

• Sweden road sign T9.svg

  Blind persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road

• Sweden road sign T10.svg

  Deaf persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road

• Sweden road sign T14.svg

  All way stop

• Sweden road sign T21-1.svg

  Parking configuration

• Sweden road sign T21-2.svg

  Parking configuration

• Sweden road sign T21-3.svg

  Parking configuration

• Sweden road sign T21-4.svg

  Parking configuration

• Swedish road sign 11 0 405.svg

  Parking garage

• 11 1 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Length of stretch of road beginning at specified distance from sign

• 11 1 2 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Length of stretch of road beginning at sign

• 11 7 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Prohibition effective in both directions of the sign

• 11 7 2 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Prohibition end at sign

• 11 7 3 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Prohibition effective in the direction of arrow

• Swedish road sign 11 9 1.svg

  Parking, effective in both directions of the sign

• Swedish road sign 11 9 2.svg

  Parking ends at sign

• Swedish road sign 11 9 3.svg

  Parking, effective in direction of arrow

• 11 13 11.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry)

• 11 13 12.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 2.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (handicapped)

• 11 13 31.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 32.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 41.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 42.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 5.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (motorcycle)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 6.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bike)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 71.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 72.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 81.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan)

• Swedish road sign 11 13 82.svg

  Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan)

• Swedish road sign 11 17 1.svg

  Soft shoulder

• Swedish road sign 11 17 3.svg

  Forestry vehicle crossing ahead

• 11 18 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Direction sign

• 11 18 61 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Direction sign

• Swedish road sign 11 18 62.svg

  Direction sign

• Swedish road sign 11 23 1.svg

  Direction of priority road at intersect

• 11 24 1 (Swedish road sign).svg

  Two-way traffic on cycle and moped track

Traffic light signals

Note: tip-down triangles indicates blinking/flashing light.

• 

  Red = Stop!. Red+yellow = The light is turning to green. Green = Go.
  Yellow = Stop, but only if safely!

• 9 1 gulblink.svg

  Flashing yellow = proceed with caution

• 

  Bicycle and moped lights

• 

  Pedestrian lights

• Swedish road sign 10 1.svg

  Public transport lights

• 11 1 12.svg

  Lane-control signals

• 12 1 1.svg

  Lights at level crossing

• 12 2.svg

  Light signals at opening or swing bridges, ferries, airfields, emergency service stations etc.

• 12 3.svg

  Drive with extra caution signal

Road markings

• Swedish road sign 4 1 1.svg

  Centre line

• 

  No passing line

• 4 1 3.svg

  Warning line

• 

  Centre line and no passing line

• 4 1 4 2.svg

  Centre line and warning line

• 4 1 4 3.svg

  Warning line and no passing line

• 4 1 4 4.svg

  Double no passing line

• 4 1 5.svg

  Reversible lane markings (lane that may be used for alternating direction of traffic flow)

• 4 1 6.svg

  Guide line

• 4 1 7.svg

  Reserved lane line

• 4 1 8.svg

  Cycle lane marking

• 4 1 9 1.svg

  Broken edge line

• 4 1 9 2.svg

  Continuous edge line

• 4 2 1.svg

  Stop line

• 4 2 2.svg

  Give way line

• Swedish road sign 4 2 3.svg

  Pedestrian crossing

• Swedish road sign 4 2 4.svg

  Cycle crossing

• Swedish road sign 4 3 1.svg

  Lane selection arrows

• Swedish road sign 4 3 2.svg

  Deflecting arrow

• Swedish road sign 4 3 3.svg

  Obstruction marking

• Swedish road sign 4 3 4.svg

  Text conforming bus and taxi lane, text conforming stop line

• Swedish road sign 4 3 5.svg

  Parking bay

• Swedish road sign 4 3 6.svg

  Standing and parking prohibited

• Swedish road sign 4 3 7 1.svg

  Parking prohibited

• Swedish road sign 4 3 7 2.svg

  Parking prohibited

• Swedish road sign 4 3 8.svg

  Cycle and moped route

• Swedish road sign 4 3 9.svg

  Advance warning of obligation to give way

• Swedish road sign 4 3 10.svg

  Disabled persons

Signals by police officers

• Sweden road sign P6.svg

  Control

• Sweden road sign P7.svg

  Advance direction sign control

• Swedish road sign 13 3.svg

  13.3.1 Slow down
  13.3.2 Follow the police car and pull up behind it when it stops
  13.3.3 Slow down
  13.3.4 Drive off the road and stop in front of the police car

Retired signs

• Sweden road sign A20 (gammal).svg

  Road works (19??-1967)

• Sweden road sign B2 (gammal).svg

  Stop

• Hastighetsbegränsning upphör.svg

  Derestriction (19??-1967)

• Swedish Go Left sign (1937-1951).svg

  Turn left (1937-1951)

• Swedish Go Right sign (1937-1951).svg

  Turn right (1937-1951)

• Swedish Keep Left sign (1937-1951).svg

  Keep left (1937-1951)

• Tätortsskylt, gammal.svg

  Built-up area (1937-1955)

References

• transportstyrelsen.se