Horizontal Road signs

The horizontal road signs gathers, within the framework of the Road signs all the various markings out of the ground.

The role of the carriageway markings

The marks on roadway have as a function to guide the user. They give four types of information:

the distribution of spaces of displacement,
codes of conduct,
the marking out,
parking.

Use of marking

The use of marking is differentiated according to the types of ways and the many particular cases: weaving lanes, entries or exits of small islands, etc

Current section (except singular points):

The traffic and the width of the roadway are the criteria determining the installation of marking.

singular Points :

One calls singular points the sections where the sight distance is reduced and constitutes a danger to the going beyond.

It can be due to the presence of a turn, of a back of ass, particular geometrical characteristics (contracting, intersections,….).

Categories of marks

One distinguishes several categories of applicable marks in open country and in agglomeration. The rules relating to marking are the same ones in open country and in agglomeration. However, the specificity of the marks downtown relates to natures of marking to carry out: indication of the crossroads, markings various (bus stops, passages pedestrians, etc).

One distinguishes, according to the terminology of the international convention on the road signs concluded in Vienna on November 8th, 1968:

Longitudinal marks

continuous Line, prohibiting crossing or the overlapping,
broken Line of guidance, delimiting the ways in order to guide circulation
broken Line of warning, announcing the approach of a passage presenting a particular risk,
mixed Ligne, which can be crossed only if, at the beginning of an operation of going beyond, the broken line is nearest to the vehicle,
continuous and discontinuous Lines for specialized ways.

According to the convention of Vienna, are not longitudinal marks the longitudinal lines which delimit, to make them more visible, the edges of the carriageway or which, connected to transverse lines, delimit on the road surface of the parking lots or which indicate a prohibition or limitations concerning the stop or the parking.

Transverse marks

continuous Line of stop,
broken Line of " Yield the passage"
broken Line of effect of fires of circulation.

Other marks

They are there all special markings which give information, a regulation or specific to certain crossroads. One distinguishes:

arrows of advance sign,
parallel or oblique lines,
the lines zigzag,
specific markings.

Color of the marks

The marks on the roadway are of yellow or white color. The “white” term covers the nuances money or clear gray.

The blue color being able however to be employed for the marks indicating the sites where the parking is allowed but subjected to certain conditions or restrictions (limited time, payment, category of users, etc).

Specifications by country

In France

In France the marking out of the ground is governed by a regulation treated in the 7th part of book I of the Road signs. The interministerial decree applies to all the ways open to public circulation (art.44), as well in urban environment as in open country. These measurements specify the Highway code.

Marking is not obligatory, except that of the lines of " Stop" and " Yield the passage". Marking falls on the community which takes the initiative of it.