Road signs in Denmark

Road signs in Denmark are regulated by the Road Traffic Act (Danish: Færdselsloven).^[1] The Danish Minister of Transport is responsible for the design and definitions of road signs, and issues executive orders on the subject.^[1]^{: §95 ¶1} The latest executive orders were issued on April 13, 2023.^[2]^[3]

Denmark signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on November 8, 1968 and ratified it on November 3, 1986.^[4] Denmark has ratified the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on road traffic as well.^[5]

Road signs are divided into two main categories, which are traffic signs and direction / tourist information signs.

Warning signs

Outside built-up areas,^{[fn 1]} warning signs, except A18, A35, A74, A75 and A92,^{[fn 2]} are usually placed from 150m to 250m before the danger. If the warning signs are placed beyond this distance, the distance is shown on a subpanel. Inside built-up areas, warning signs can be placed at a shorter distance from the danger, without the distance being shown on a subpanel.

A11: Dangerous junction with a non-priority road (Variants: and )
A16: Roundabout
A17: Pedestrian crossing
A18: Two-way traffic
A19: Traffic signals
A20: Traffic queue
A21: Cyclists
A22: Children
UA22: School
A23: Equestrians
A26: Wild animals crossing
A27: Cattle
A31: Slippery road
UA31: Road can be icy
A33: Loose chippings
A34: Rockfall
A35: Dangerous shoulder
A36: Speed bump
A36.1: Actibump^{[fn 3]}
A37: Uneven road
A38: Dip
A39: Roadworks
A41.1: Curve to the right
A41.2: Curve to the left
A42.1: Multiple curves, first to the right
A42.2: Multiple curves, first to the left
UA41: Recommended speed in curves
A43.1: Road narrows
UA43.1: Narrow road^{[fn 4]}
A43.2: Road narrows to the left
A43.3: Road narrows to the right
UA43: Width limit
A44: Tunnel (formerly used )
A46.1 Downward gradient
A46.2: Upward gradient
A72: Level crossing without gates
UA72: Watch out for trains
A73: Level crossing with gates
UA73: Overhead electricity lines at level crossing
A74.1: Single track level crossing
A74.2: Multi track level crossing
A75: Distance to level crossing
A91: Opening bridge
A92: Quayside
A95: Side winds
A96: Low airplanes
A97: Low helicopters
A99: Other danger
UA99: Accident-prone intersection

Priority signs

B11: Yield
UB11.1: Stop ahead
UB11.2: Two-way cycle track or lane crossing
UB11.3: Light rail crossing
B13: Stop
B15: Lane merge
B16: Main road
B17: End of main road
B18: Priority for oncoming vehicles
B19: Priority over oncoming vehicles

Prohibitory signs

C11.1: No right turn
C11.2: No left turn^{[fn 5]}
C12: No U-turns
C19: No entry
C21: Driving in both directions prohibited
C22.1: No motor vehicles
C22.2: No motorcycles or large mopeds
C23.1: No heavy goods vehicles
C23.2: No buses
C23.3: No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
C24.1: No tractors or motorized equipment
C24.2: No horse-drawn vehicles or similar
C25.1: No bicycles or small mopeds^{[fn 6]}
C25.2: No small mopeds
C26.1: No riding or leading a horse
C26.2: No pedestrians
C31: Max weight
C32: Max weight of roadtrain
C35: Max axle load
C36: Max bogie load
C41: Max width of vehicle with load
C42: Max height of vehicle with load
C43: Max length of vehicle
C51: No overtaking
C52: No overtaking by heavy goods vehicle
C53: End of no overtaking
C54: End of no overtaking by heavy goods vehicle
C55: Local speed limit ^{[fn 7]}
C56: End of local speed limit
UC56: Built up area subpanel
UC57: End of local speed limit subpanel
C59: End of prohibition
C63: No parking for bicycles
C92: Continuing without stop prohibited

Parking/stopping signs and subpanels
C61: No stopping
C62: No parking
UC33: Limited parking
UC61: No stopping subpanel
UC62: No parking subpanel
UC60.1: Restriction applies before and after sign
UC60.2: Restriction begins at sign
UC60.3: Restriction ends at sign
UC60.5: No stopping on shoulder
UC60.6: No parking on shoulder
UC60.7: Parking on shoulder allowed
UC60.8: Parking partly on sidewalk allowed

Mandatory signs

D11.1: Mandatory direction
D11.2: Mandatory direction
D11.3: Mandatory direction
D11.4: Mandatory direction
D11.5: Mandatory direction
D11.6: Mandatory direction
D11.7: Mandatory direction
D11.8: Mandatory direction
D12: Mandatory direction in the roundabout
D15.2: Mandatory passage
D15.3: Mandatory passage
D16: Passage
D21: Cycleway
UD1: Subpanel which points to lane or path
UD21.1: Two-way cycle traffic
UD21.2: End of Two-way cycle traffic
D22: Footway
D23: Bridleway
D26: Segregated path
D26.1: Segregated path
D26.2: Segregated path
D26.3: Segregated path
D26.4: Segregated path
D26.5: Segregated path
D27: Combined path
D27.1: Combined path
D55: Minimum speed
D56: End of minimum speed

Special regulation signs

E11.1: Continue straight
E11.4: Turn left
E11.5: Turn right
E11.6: Continue straight or turn left
E11.7: Continue straight or turn right
E11.8: Turn left or right
E11.9: Continue straight, turn left or right

Area signs
E42: Motorway
E43: Expressway
E44: End of Motorway
E45: End of Expressway
E47: Bicycle boulevard
E48: End of Bicycle boulevard
E49: Pedestrian zone
E50: End of Pedestrian zone
E51: Living street
E52: End of living street
E53: Zone with traffic calming
E53: End of zone with traffic calming
E55: Urban area
E56: End of urban area
E68: Zone with no parking
E68.2: Zone with no stopping
E68.3: Zone with parking
E68.4: Zone with local speed limit
E68.5: No heavy goods vehicles permitted zone
E68.9: Low-emission zone
E69: End of zone with no parking
E69.3: End of zone with parking
E69.4: End of zone with local speed limit
E69.5: End of zone with no heavy goods vehicles
E69.9: End of low-emission zone
E70: Parking zone information
E80+UE80: General speed limits^{[fn 8]}

Other special regulation signs
E15: Lanes at intersection
E16.1: Reduction of number of lanes with lane-merge
E16.2: Reduction of number of lanes with lane-change
E17: Pedestrian crossing. (Variant: )
E18: Dead end.^{[fn 9]}
E19: One way
E21.1: Recommended route for cyclists
E21.2: Recommended route for pedestrians
E21.3: Recommended route for equestrians
E21.4: Recommended route for mopeds
E22.1: Recommended route for heavy goods vehicles
E22.2: Recommended route for hazardous goods vehicles
E22.3: Recommended route for tractors and motorized equipment
E22.4: Recommended route for busses
E23: Instructions for disabled
E24: Instructions for visually impaired
E26.1: Pedestrian overpass
E26.2: Pedestrian underpass
E30: Light rail stop
E31: Bus stop
E31: Taxi stand
E33.1: Parking
E33.2: Indoor parking
UE33.1: Before and after sign
UE33.2: After sign
UE33.3: Before sign
UE33.4: Charging
E34: Breakdown bay (formerly used )
UE34: Fire extinguisher and emergency phone
E35: Tunnel
E37: Crawler lane begins
E39: Advisory maxspeed
E40: End of advisory maxspeed
E41: Recommended max speed on slip road
E90: Traffic enforcement camera
E91: Speed feedback sign
E92: Variable-message sign
E93: Video surveillance

Direction signs

Direction signs used on roads
F11: Flag-type direction sign
F11: Flag-type direction sign
F11: Flag-type direction sign
F11: Flag-type direction sign
F12: Flag-type direction sign
F12: Flag-type direction sign
F34.2: Flag-type traffic diversion sign^{[fn 10]}
F13: Flag-type direction sign
F13: Flag-type direction sign
F13: Flag-type direction sign
F14: Temporary flag-type direction sign
F14: Temporary flag-type direction sign
F16: Exit sign
F18: Stack-type direction signs
F34.1: Traffic diversion route^{[fn 10]}

Direction signs used on paths for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians
F21.1: Bicycle route
F21.2: Flag-type direction sign
F21.2.2: Flag-type direction sign
F21.2.3: Flag-type direction sign
F21.3: Stack-type direction sign
F21.4: Map-type advance direction sign

Direction signs for parking
F33.1: Flag-type direction sign
F33.2: Stack-type direction sign

Advance direction signs on roads
G11: Portal sign
G14: Map-type advance direction sign
F34.3: Map-type traffic diversion sign ^{[fn 10]}
G15: Lane diagram sign
G18: Stack-type advance direction sign

Distance and locality signs

H41: Distance sign
H42: Split distance sign
H45: Locality
H46: Regional border
H47: Municipal border
H49: National park
H49.1: Nature park
H50: Leaving national park
H50.1: Leaving nature park
H51: National Border

Signs used on motorways

On motorways, direction signs have blue background when they lead to the ordinary road network, via an exit from the motorway, Directions have green background when they lead to the destination via the motorway(s).

Direction and locality signs on motorways
I11: Exit from motorway
I12: Exit from motorway in 500 m
I13: Exit from motorway in 1500m ‒ the lower sign displays the following exit (with its number) and destination to be reached
I13: Exit from motorway in 1500m ‒ the lower sign displays the following named motorway junction
I16: Exit to another motorway
I17: Exit to another motorway in 500m
I18: Exit to another motorway in 1500m
I20: Motorway junction (system interchange)

Lane and advance direction signs used on motorways
J11: Assigned lane(s)^{[fn 11]}
J11: Assigned lane(s)^{[fn 11]}
J11: Assigned lane(s)^{[fn 11]}
J12: Lane diagram
J13: Map-type advance direction sign

Confirmatory-distance and tourist information signs used on motorways
K11: Route confirmation
K12: Distance information
K30: Tourist information

Route designations

A box with a broken border line means the route is connecting to the route number in the box.

Route designations
L41: E-Road
L42: Primary route
L43: Secondary route
L44: Ring road
L45: National bicycle route
L45.2: Regional or local bicycle route
L46: Bicycle highway
L47: EuroVelo
L50: Marguerite route (tourist route)

Service signs

New service signs are designed when they are required, for example by request from a business.^{[fn 12]} Proposed additions include "electrician" and "real estate agent".^[9]

M9: Container and cargo port
M10: Ferry for pedestrians and bicycles
M11: Car ferry
M12: Airport
M13: Train station
(formerly used )
M13.1: S-train station
M13.2 Metro station
M13.3: Light rail station
M14: Bus station
M15: Freight terminal
M16: Park and ride
(formerly used )
M17: Post Office
M18: Hub (communal transport)
M21: Hospital emergency department, open 24 hours a day
M22: Telephone
M23: Breakdown service
M24: Filling station
M24.1: Charging station for EV
M24.2: Charging and filling station
M30: Primitive camp site for hikers
M31: Camping and caravan site
M31.1: Site exclusivly for caravans
M32: Autocamper site
M33: Camping cabins
M34: Rest area
M34.1: Rest area for cyclists
M35: Beach or swimming pool
M35.1: Indoor swimming pool
M36: Golf Course
M37: Put and take fishing
M38: Observation tower
M41: Youth hostel
M42: Hotel
M43: Restaurant
M45: Cafeteria
M46: Toilet
M46.1: Toilet (handicapped)
M47: Emptying chemical toilet
M47.1: Emptying chemical toilet
M51: Church
M52: Place of Interest
M53: Unesco world heritage site
M54: National Park
M57: Industrial area
M61: Information point
M101: Grocery store
M102: Room to let
M103: Baker
M104: Butcher
M105: Hairdresser
M107: Florist
M109: Bookshop
M111: Café
M112: Farm shop
M113: Antiques
M114: Garden centre, plant nursery etc.
M115: Marina
M116: Nature reserve
M117: Trail shelter
M118: Sports facility
M119: Car dealership, car rental
M120: Commercial district
M121: Shopping center, street, etc.
M123: Education
M124: Veterinary clinic or hospital
M125: Kindergarten etc.
M126: Art, pottery, etc.
M127: Military
M128: Hospital
M129: Public offices
M130: Cultural center
M131: Recycling
M132: Pharmacy
M133: Cinema
M134: Wellness, massage, beauty clinic, etc.
M138: Picnic area, indoor or outdoor
M140: Cohousing
M143: Stud farm
M144: Winery
M145: Drivers education
M146: Forest burial ground (cremated remains)

Additional subpanels

These signs can be placed below traffic and direction signs. Subpanels with blue background are combined with signs that have blue background, and subpanels with white background with signs that have white backgound..

U1.1:
U1.2:
U2.1:
U2.2:
U3.1:
U3.2:
U3.3:
U3.4:
U3.5:
U3.6:
U4.1:
U4.2:
U5.1:
U5.2:
U6.3:
U6.4:
U7: Bicycles and small mopeds are exempt from prohibition of turning right.

Symbols

US1: Car (not above 3.5 ton registered weight)
US2: Heavy goods vehicle + any connected trailer
US3: Bus (above 3.5 ton registered weight, and more than 8 passenger seats)
US4: Heavy goods vehicle with trailer
US5: Trailer
US6: Caravan
US7: Motorhome
US8: Bicycle or small moped
US9:Small moped
US10: Motorcycle or large moped
US11: Tractor or motorized equipment
US12: Disabled
US13: Light rail

Historic signs

A21: Cyclists
A22: Children
Slippery road
A99: Other danger
B13: Stop
C12: No U-turn
Goods vehicles prohibited
C51: No overtaking
D21: Cycleway
D22: Footway
D27: Combined path
E17: Pedestrian crossing
E33.1: Parking

Notes

^ Built-up areas (urban areas), are in this context areas within the signs for entering and leaving a built-up area. and
^ These signs are placed at a different distance than the other warning signs:
A18: Two-way traffic
A35: Dangerous shoulder
A74: Level crossing
A75: Distance to level crossing
A92: Quayside
The distance at which these signs are placed, is found in the description of the signs in §12 of executive order 425 from 2023^[2]
^ Experimental sign. An actibump is a method of traffic calming. It is being tested in two places in Denmark.^[6]^[7]
^ Used at the beginning of a 2-1 road in combination with A43.1
^ Performing a U-turn is also prohibited
^ The bicycle symbol also applies to a class of vehicles called small mopeds (50cc and restricted to max 30 km/h)
^ The speed limit is in force until it is it is lifted by the sign "C59 end of local speed limit", "C59 End of prohibition", another local speed limit sign or after a distance indicated on a subpanel. (The built up area sign is also a speed limit sign)
^ This diagram consists of two signs: the upper part indicates the speed limits, and the lower part indicates that it is mandatory to use seat belts and headlights.
^ Variants:
^ ^a ^b ^c Signs for permanent traffic diversion routes, when the motorway is closed.^[8]
^ ^a ^b ^c The sign is placed above a lane before a split in the motorway, or before an exit. The signs can contain additional information as well as arrow(s) pointing down to the lane(s)
^ The permission to do this is found in §359 ¶2 in Executive Order 426 from 2023.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b Transportministeriet (2024-11-26), Bekendtgørelse af færdselsloven [Road Traffic Act]
^ ^a ^b Transportministeriet (2023-04-13), BEK nr 425 om vejafmærkning [Executive order 425 on Road Markings] (in Danish)
^ ^a ^b Transportministeriet (2023-04-13), BEK nr 426 om anvendelse af vejafmærkning [Executive order 426 on the Use of Road Markings] (in Danish)
^ "Convention on Road Signs and Signals - United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
^ "European Agreement supplementing the Convention on road traffic - United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
^ "Her testes nyt fartbump i Danmark - Vejdirektoratet kalder det "ubehageligt"". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). TV 2. 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
^ "Vejdirektoratet afprøver Actibump på to statsveje". vejdirektoratet.dk (in Danish). Vejdirektoratet. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
^ "Nye skilte på motorvejen - lær dem at kende og undgå kø". bt.dk (in Danish). BT. 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
^ "Liste med samtlige godkendte servicetavler med symboler til kommerciel servicevejvisning". vejregler.dk (in Danish). Vejdirektoratet. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2024-04-21.

External links

Media related to Diagrams of road signs of Denmark at Wikimedia Commons
Danish Law Database (English translation)
The Danish Road Standards portal (English translation)
https://login.koreklar.dk/faerdselstavler.pdf

[built-up-6] Built-up areas (urban areas), are in this context areas within the signs for entering and leaving a built-up area. and

[7] These signs are placed at a different distance than the other warning signs:
A18: Two-way traffic
A35: Dangerous shoulder
A74: Level crossing
A75: Distance to level crossing
A92: Quayside
The distance at which these signs are placed, is found in the description of the signs in §12 of executive order 425 from 2023^[2]

[10] Experimental sign. An actibump is a method of traffic calming. It is being tested in two places in Denmark.^[6]^[7]

[11] Used at the beginning of a 2-1 road in combination with A43.1

[12] Performing a U-turn is also prohibited

[13] The bicycle symbol also applies to a class of vehicles called small mopeds (50cc and restricted to max 30 km/h)

[14] The speed limit is in force until it is it is lifted by the sign "C59 end of local speed limit", "C59 End of prohibition", another local speed limit sign or after a distance indicated on a subpanel. (The built up area sign is also a speed limit sign)

[15] This diagram consists of two signs: the upper part indicates the speed limits, and the lower part indicates that it is mandatory to use seat belts and headlights.

[16] Variants:

[F34-17] Signs for permanent traffic diversion routes, when the motorway is closed.^[8]

[J11-19] The sign is placed above a lane before a split in the motorway, or before an exit. The signs can contain additional information as well as arrow(s) pointing down to the lane(s)

[20] The permission to do this is found in §359 ¶2 in Executive Order 426 from 2023.^[3]

[LBK-1312/2024-1] Transportministeriet (2024-11-26), Bekendtgørelse af færdselsloven [Road Traffic Act]

[EO-425/2023-2] Transportministeriet (2023-04-13), BEK nr 425 om vejafmærkning [Executive order 425 on Road Markings] (in Danish)

[EO-426/2023-3] Transportministeriet (2023-04-13), BEK nr 426 om anvendelse af vejafmærkning [Executive order 426 on the Use of Road Markings] (in Danish)

[Vienna_Convention-4] "Convention on Road Signs and Signals - United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-12-07.

[Vienna_Convention_european_supplement-5] "European Agreement supplementing the Convention on road traffic - United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

[TV2_actibump-8] "Her testes nyt fartbump i Danmark - Vejdirektoratet kalder det "ubehageligt"". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). TV 2. 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2024-04-21.

[Vejdirektoratet_actibump-9] "Vejdirektoratet afprøver Actibump på to statsveje". vejdirektoratet.dk (in Danish). Vejdirektoratet. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2024-04-21.

[BT_bypass-18] "Nye skilte på motorvejen - lær dem at kende og undgå kø". bt.dk (in Danish). BT. 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2024-04-21.

[servicetavle_liste-21] "Liste med samtlige godkendte servicetavler med symboler til kommerciel servicevejvisning". vejregler.dk (in Danish). Vejdirektoratet. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2024-04-21.

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