Road signs in Norway

Road signs in Sandane

Road signs in Norway are regulated by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Statens vegvesen in conformity with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, to which Norway is a signatory.

Signs follow the general European conventions concerning the use of shape and colour to indicate function. Any text included on supplementary signs will normally be in Norwegian, but may in some cases be bi- or trilingual. In Northern parts of Norway, municipal and informative signs may be printed in both Norwegian and Sami. Close to the Finnish border and in municipalities with significant Norwegian Finnish population signs and village names are also shown in Finnish. In areas close to the Russian border, signs may be written in both the Latin and Cyrillic scripts.

No more than three signs (road number indications excepted) may be mounted on any one pole, with the most important sign appearing at the top. As is customary in European countries, all signs are partly or fully reflectorized or are provided with their own night-time illumination.

The current set of designs were introduced through a reform that went into effect 1 June 2006, replacing the old sets from 1967 and 1980. As the law outlining this reform was published 7 October 2005, some signs were already replaced before the law went into effect. The most notable change was the removal of hats and hair on the stickmen making them gender-neutral, but many signs were redesigned or introduced for the first time, as noted below.

Norway signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on December 23, 1969 and ratified it on April 1, 1985.

Warning signs

Warning signs are mostly triangular in shape with black symbols on a white background with a red border. Warning signs that are used only temporarily have a yellow background. On Svalbard, a unique warning sign with a black background and white symbol is used for polar bears.

• 
  Curve
  Right.
• 
  Curve
  Left.
• 
  Double curve
  First to the right.
• 
  Double curve
  First to the left.
• 
  Steep hill
  Upwards.
• 
  Steep hill
  Downwards.
• 
  Road narrows
  On both sides.
• 
  Road narrows
  On right side.
• 
  Road narrows
  On left side.
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Speed bump
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  Loose stones
• 
  Falling rocks
  Warns that rocks, soil or snow may slide onto the road, but also that chunks may be present from previous landslides.
• 
  Falling rocks
• 
  Slippery road
  Road is known to be especially slippery under special conditions, like rainfall.
• 
  Dangerous verges
• 
  Movable bridge
• 
  Quayside, beach, or riverbank
• 
  Tunnel ahead
• 
  Crossroads
  Warns about dangerous crossroads which have normal rules for traffic priority.
• 
  Roundabout ahead
• 
  Traffic signals
• 
  Level crossing with a barrier or gate
• 
  Level crossing without a barrier or gate
• 
  Distance to level crossing
  These signs may be used to represent the distance to a level crossing in three equal parts. Closest to the crossing.
• 
  Distance to level crossing
  Between other countdown markers.
• 
  Distance to level crossing
  Furthest from the crossing.
• 
  Single-track railway
  Placed at crossings.
• 
  Multi-track railway
  Two or more tracks. Placed at crossings.
• 
  Tramway
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead
  Distance represented with supplementary sign
• 
  Children
  Warns that children often traverse or walk on the roads due to a nearby school, child-care center, playground or similar.
• 
  Cyclists
  Warns that cyclists often traverse or travel on the roads.
• 
  Animals (moose)
  Warns that moose often traverse or travel on the roads.
• 
  Animals (reindeer)
  Warns that reindeer often traverse or travel on the roads.
• 
  Animals (deer)
  Warns that deer often traverse or travel on the roads.
• 
  Animals (cattle)
  Warns that cattle often traverse or travel on the roads.
• 
  Animals (sheep)
  Warns that sheep often traverse or travel on the roads.
• 
  Animals (polar bear)
  Warns that polar bear traverse or travel on the ice.
• 
  Two-way traffic
  Warning of two-way traffic on the road ahead.
• 
  Traffic queues
• 
  Low-flying aircraft
• 
  Military activity
• 
  Crosswind
• 
  Traffic accident
• 
  Riders
  Warns that riders often traverse or travel on the roads.
• 
  Other danger
  Details are written on a supplementary sign.
• 
  (1) Polar bear
  (2) Snowmobiles
  (1) Warns that polar bears may be present.
  (2) Warns that people on snowmobiles may traverse the roads.

Priority signs

• 
  Yield (give way)
• 
  Stop
  It is mandatory to stop completely at the stop line, or if not available, as close to the crossing road or railway track as possible, before continuing. Vehicles must also give way to other traffic, or trains.
• 
  Priority road
  Priority at all following crossroads up to an end of priority road, give way or stop sign.
• 
  End of priority road
• 
  Priority crossroads
  Warns about dangerous crossroads where the road this sign is placed on has priority. Crossing roads have give way or stop signs.
• 
  Give way for oncoming traffic
• 
  Priority over oncoming traffic

Prohibitory signs

Restrictive signs are mostly circular in shape with black symbols on a white background with a red border. The exceptions are zone signs which are rectangular, and no parking signs which use a red symbol on a blue background. These signs are valid from where they stand and for the entirety of the road until it is ended by another sign, or until the next crossroads depending on the specific sign.

• 
  No entry
• 
  Road closed to all traffic
• 
  No motor vehicles except small electric vehicles
• 
  No tractors, or motor vehicles slower than 40 km/h
• 
  No motorcycles or mopeds
• 
  No lorries and tractor units
• 
  No cyclists and riders of small electric vehicle
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  No pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of small electric vehicle
• 
  No riders
• 
  No small electric vehicles
• 
  No transport of dangerous goods
• 
  Total weight limit
  Restriction is for motor vehicles with more than two wheels and a gross vehicle weight rating above the given weight limit.
• 
  Width limit
  Restriction is for a vehicle including all of its goods.
• 
  Height limit
  Restriction is for a vehicle including all of its goods.
• 
  Length limit
  Restriction is for a vehicle including all of its goods.
• 
  Weight limit for vehicles
  Restriction is for each vehicle in the case of a lorry.
• 
  Weight limit for lorries
  Restriction is for the combined weight in the case of a lorry, though no single vehicle is permitted above the limit either.
• 
  Axle weight limit
  No vehicle with weight above the given limit for each axle, and maximum 150% of the limit for each bogie.
• 
  Bogie weight limit
• 
  Stop for control
  Vehicle is not permitted to continue until the action described is done.
• 
  Stop for tax
  Vehicle is not permitted to continue until the action described is done.
• 
  Stop for customs
  Vehicle is not permitted to continue until the action described is done.
• 
  No right turn
  For the next intersection unless otherwise stated with a supplementary sign.
• 
  No left turn
  For the next intersection unless otherwise stated with a supplementary sign.
• 
  No U-turn
  Until and including the next crossroads.
• 
  No overtaking
  Restriction is for overtaking motor vehicles with more than two wheels. Overtaking on the right side is permitted by normal traffic rules.
• 
  No overtaking for lorries
  Restriction is for lorries with a total weight above 3.500 kg overtaking motor vehicles with more than two wheels. Overtaking on the right side is permitted by normal traffic rules.
• 
  End of no overtaking
• 
  End of no overtaking for lorries
• 
  Speed limit
  Speed limit of given km/h until new speed limit, end of special speed limit, speed limit zone or any pedestrian precinct sign.
• 
  End of special speed limit
  This means a general speed limit of 50 km/h in populated areas and 80 km/h in rural areas by law.
• 
  Speed limit zone
  Speed limit of given km/h until end of speed limit, end of speed limit zone or any pedestrian precinct sign.
• 
  Speed limit zone for small electric vehicles
  Speed limit of 6 km/h (3.7 mph) for small electric vehicles until of end of speed limit zone.
• 
  End of speed limit zone
• 
  End of speed limit zone for small electric vehicles
• 
  No stopping
  No stops until the next crossing road or until another sign ends it.
• 
  No parking
  No parking on the side of the road where the sign is until the next crossing road or until another sign ends it.
• 
  Parking zone
  Parking permitted until end of parking zone sign. Often with supplementary text about when the sign is valid.
• 
  No parking zone
  No parking permitted until end of parking zone sign. Often with supplementary text about when the sign is valid.
• 
  No parking zone for small electric vehicles
  No parking permitted for small electric vehicles on public areas until end of parking zone sign.
• 
  End of parking zone
• 
  End of no parking zone
• 
  End of no parking zone for small electric vehicles
• 
  No small electric vehicle zone
  Small electric vehicles must not be operated until end of no small electric vehicle zone. Riders must push or carry their vehicle within the zone.
• 
  End of no small electric vehicle zone

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs are all circular in shape like the restrictive signs, but feature white symbols on a blue background.

• 
  Proceed right
• 
  Proceed left
• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Drive straight or turn right
• 
  Drive straight or turn left
• 
  Turn right or left
• 
  Pass on right
• 
  Pass on left
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Mandatory direction in roundabout

Informative signs

Some of the informative signs are restrictive (for example, one-way street, and bus lane).

• 
  Motorway
  Speed limit is 80 km/h unless another limit is set, which it normally is. 110 km/h is the highest limit found, and is set on the highest standard motorways. Lower limits may be set on lower standard or busier roads.
• 
  Motor traffic road
  Speed limit is 80 km/h unless another limit is specifically set. Some are signposted to 90 km/h.
• 
  End of motorway
• 
  End of motor traffic road
• 
  Heavy traffic lane
  Only vehicles with gross vehicle weight rating higher than indicated can use this lane.
• 
  End of heavy traffic lane
• 
  Bus lane
• 
  Bus and taxi lane
• 
  Car-pool lane
  Only vehicles with more than indicated occupants including driver can use this lane. Buses and taxis, regardless of how many occupants, can also use this lane.
• 
  End of bus lane
• 
  End of bus and taxi lane
• 
  End of car-pool lane
• 
  Bus stop
• 
  Tram stop
• 
  Taxi stop
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Pedestrian way
• 
  Cycle track
• 
  Cycle lane (edge)
• 
  Cycle lane (centered)
• 
  Shared-use footway
• 
  Passing place
  ("Møteplass" in Norwegian.) Used frequently on long stretches of single-track roads. Parking forbidden.
• 
  One-way
• 
  One-way
• 
  Dead end
  Road physically closed.
• 
  Dead end
  Side-road physically closed.
• 
  Dead end
  Road closed for motor vehicles.
• 
  Dead end
  Side-road closed for motor vehicles.
• 
  Free choice of lane
• 
  Merging lanes
  Merging by the “zipper method”.
• 
  Merging roads with speed regulation lane
  Oncoming lane has to adapt. Merging by the “zipper method”.
• 
  Merging roads with speed regulation lane
  This lane has to adapt. Merging by the “zipper method”.
• 
  End of lane
  The ending lane has to give way.
• 
  New lane starts
• 
  Added lane with oncoming traffic
• 
  Lane division
  Denotes the number of lanes and what direction they go.
• 
  Changed driving pattern
  May be used in conjunction with roadworks.
• 
  Living street
  The speed limit is "walking speed."
• 
  End of living street
• 
  Pedestrian zone
  Motor vehicles are normally prohibited in pedestrian zone, except small electric vehicles. If exemption is granted by a supplementary sign, the speed limit is "walking speed."
• 
  End of pedestrian zone
• 
  Parking
• 
  Emergency layby
  To be used only in case of vehicle breakdown or other emergency.
• 
  Speed limit enforced by automatic camera
• 
  Speed limit enforced by automatic camera - average speed measurement
  A flashing yellow indicator is also placed at the end of speed measurement zone. This will flash if the vehicle's measured average speed exceeded the speed limit.
• 
  Video surveillance
• 
  Information board
  Alternative: 1
  Sign 560 may provide information about miscellaneous traffic conditions. May have a brown background if the information is specifically aimed at tourists. Must have a yellow background if it's a temporary sign, or an orange background if it provides information about detours.
• 
  General speed limits
  Information board posted on border crossings on Norwegian national roads, Norwegian county roads and ferry terminals.
• 
  Pedestrians and cyclist prohibited
  On motorways and motor traffic roads
• 
  Speed measuring
• 
  Wrong way
• 
  Emergency exit
  For tunnels.
• 
  Direction and distance to emergency exit
  For tunnels.

Service signs

• 
  Radio channel
  DAB digital radio relays special traffic announcement messages.
• 
  First aid
• 
  Emergency phone
• 
  Fire extinguisher
• 
  Automobile repair shop
• 
  Electric vehicle fast charging station
• 
  Petrol station
• 
  Fuel
  Text vary. LPG is replaced by fuel type e.g. CNG.
• 
  Toilet emptying facility
  For caravans, buses, etc.
• 
  Toilet
• 
  Rest stop
• 
  Rest stop with toilet
• 
  Simple dining
• 
  Dining
• 
  Camp site
• 
  Caravan park
• 
  Camping park
• 
  Hostel
• 
  Bed & breakfast
• 
  Hotel
• 
  Information
• 
  Tourist information office
• 
  Attraction
  Symbol may be replaced by a representation of the attraction.
• 
  Museum or art gallery
• 
  Viewpoint
• 
  Protected natural area
• 
  World heritage
• 
  National fortifications
• 
  Activities, outdoor recreation, etc.
• 
  Fishing area
• 
  Hiking trail
• 
  Ski trail
• 
  Bicycle trail
• 
  Traditional food and rural tourism
• 
  Olavsrosa
  Seal of Quality

Direction signs

Direction signs inform about places, businesses, routes, choice of lanes, choice of roads and distance to destinations. Direction signs with a yellow background (blue on motorways) show geographical destinations. Direction signs with a white background (or white fields on yellow and blue signs) show local destinations. Direction signs with a brown background show destinations of special interest to tourism. Orange backgrounds denote temporary detours.

• 
  Orientation board
• 
  Diagram orientation board
• 
  Exit board
• 
  Lane orientation board
  Shows number of lanes towards an intersection, and which directions or destinations each of them are intended for.
• 
  Portal orientation board
  Used on portals. Shows which directions or destinations a lane is intended for.
• 
  Board guide
• 
  Regular destination guide
• 
  Exit guide
  Alternative: 1
• 
  Lane guide
  Shows which destination a lane is intended for.
• 
  Portal guide
  Used on portals. Shows which destination a lane is intended for.
• 
  European route
• 
  European route
  Signifies a route that leads to the given route.
• 
  Trunk road
• 
  Trunk road
  Signifies a route that leads to the given route.
• 
  Numbered province road
• 
  Numbered province road
  Signifies a route that leads to the given route.
• 
  Ring road
• 
  Ring road
  Signifies a route that leads to the given ring road.
• 
  National tourist road
  Symbol may be used on service signs.
• 
  Detour for large vehicles
• 
  Route for vehicles with dangerous goods
• 
  Miscellaneous detour
  Signifies a detour where use of road names is not viable. One symbol is used for the entire route, so that different symbols may be used in the event of multiple routes. The line is generally used.
• 
  Miscellaneous detour
• 
  Miscellaneous detour
• 
  Miscellaneous detour
• 
  Miscellaneous detour
  Generally only used under special circumstances, as some countries use this symbol on detours for vehicles with dangerous goods.
• 
  Miscellaneous detour
  Different arrows may be used to show the right direction.
• 
  Intersection number
  Blue for motorways with multiple lanes. Intended solely for orientation.
• 
  Intersection number
  Yellow for general roads with multiple lanes.
• 
  Intersection number
  Yellow for general roads with a single lane.
• 
  Region name sign
  City/urban area.
• 
  Region name sign
  Administrative border.
• 
  Region name sign
  Place name of significance to orientation.
• 
  Region name sign
• 
  Tunnel name sign
  Placed at the entrance to the tunnel. The length is also written on the sign.
• 
  Street sign
• 
  Collective guide sign
  Shows destinations that may be reached through the same road at the next crossroads or exit.
• 
  Detour for certain vehicles
• 
  Temporary detour
• 
  Temporary detour
• 
  End of temporary detour
• 
  Guide for pedestrians
• 
  Guide for bicycle route
• 
  Board guide for bicycle route
• 
  Bicycle route
• 
  Distance sign for bicycle route
• 
  Motorway
• 
  Motor traffic road
• 
  Toll road
• 
  Parking
• 
  Multistory car park
• 
  Airport
• 
  Helipad
• 
  Bus station/terminal
• 
  Train station/terminal
• 
  Ferry
• 
  Cargo port
• 
  Suitable layby for equipping tire chains
  Steep hill ahead. Tire chains are required for trucks over 3,5 tonnes during severe winter conditions.
• 
  Church
• 
  Industrial area
• 
  Shopping center
• 
  Swimming hall
• 
  Alpine facility
• 
  Ski jump slope
• 
  Ski arena
• 
  Golf course
• 
  Payment with electronic chip
• 
  Payment to attendant
• 
  Payment with coins to machine
• 
  Payment with card to machine
• 
  Payment with banknotes to machine
• 
  Remove ticket from closed payment system
• 
  Use ticket in closed payment system
• 
  Automatic toll road
  No stopping required.

Supplementary signs

• 
  Distance
  Advance warning about where the main sign goes into effect, or where a corresponding sign is set up.
• 
  Stretch
  Main sign is in effect for the given distance.
• 
  Time
  Main sign is only in effect between given times. Black numbers in parentheses apply on Saturdays, and red numbers apply on Sundays and official holidays.
• 
  Car
  Main sign applies to this type of vehicle.
• 
  Light commercial vehicle, lorry and tractor unit
• 
  Bus
• 
  Vehicle with trailer
• 
  Trailer furnished for camping (caravan)
• 
  Bicycle and small electric vehicle
• 
  Motorcycle and moped
• 
  Handicapped driver
  Requires a visible parking permit for handicapped drivers.
• 
  Vehicle furnished for camping (motorhome)
• 
  Small electric vehicle
• 
  Text
  Used when there are no symbols that represent the regulation or information. Depicted sign is common and says: “Does not apply to buses and taxis”.
• 
  Turn arrow
  Arrows vary. Main sign applies after the turn.
• 
  Recommended speed
• 
  Uphill inclination
• 
  Inclination
• 
  Actual available width
• 
  Crossing lumber transport
• 
  Particular danger of accident
  Symbol varies.
• 
  Course of priority road
  Symbol varies. Priority road is represented by the thick line. Roads represented by thin lines have give way or stop signs for the priority road.
• 
  Advance warning for stop sign
• 
  Bicycle traffic in both directions
• 
  Direction for a stop or parking regulation sign
• 
  Direction for a stop or parking regulation sign
• 
  Direction for a stop or parking regulation sign
• 
  Arrangement for parked vehicles
• 
  Parking board
  Indicates that parking is only allowed by given regulations when a valid parking ticket or disc is placed highly visible inside the windshield.
• 
  Combined regulation
  In this example, the times written only applies for cars.

Marker signs

Marker signs inform drivers of a road's onward course, or warn of obstacles near or on the road. Temporary marker signs, e.g. during roadworks, use a red background colour.

• 
  Directional marker
• 
  Directional marker
• 
  Directional marker
  Used on long or dangerous curves.
• 
  Directional marker
  Used on long or dangerous curves.
• 
  Obstacle marker
  Keep left of the sign.
• 
  Obstacle marker
  Keep right of the sign.
• 
  Obstacle marker
  Pass on either side.
• 
  Obstacle marker
• 
  Lanes diverge either side of the marker
  Used mainly on high-speed roads.
• 
  Tunnel marker
• 
  Tunnel marker
• 
  Distance marker for tunnels
  Indicates the distance to each exit.
• 
  Reflexion post
• 
  Reflexion post
• 
  Reflexion post
• 
  Traffic cone
• 
  Traffic cylinder