ROAD AND TRAFFIC SIGNS IN THE PHILLIPPINES

Bucol, Jovan S.
BSCEN 1V
CE 141 Transportation Engineering I
Engr. Steve Anthony Lim
 Road signs contain instructions that the road user is required to obey. They warn the road user of
hazards that may not be self-evident. They also give information about routes, directions, destinations, and
places of interests. Since road signs are essential part of the road traffic system, their message should be
concise, meaningful, consistent, and their design and placement must be coordinated with the road
geometric design.
Regulatory Signs (Type R) indicates the application of legal or statutory requirements, e.g.,
obligation to give way at intersections, speed limits, prohibition of movements at intersections and control of
parking vehicles.

The STOP sign is used to ensure caution before entering an intersection and shall be
used where a complete stop is required by law for safety.

The GIVE WAY sign is used at locations where safe and efficient traffic control
requires the give-way-to-the-right rule to be modified or there is a need to resolve
uncertainty as to which traffic stream is required to give wat to another.

The LEFT TURNER MUST GIVE WAY sign is used at a signalized intersection where
left turn movement is allowed in gaps or spacing.

DIRECTION SIGNS indicate the only direction(s) in which the motorist is obliged to follow. They are
normally used in conjunction with islands at channelized intersections. (The plate type is only used in urban
areas)
The TWO WAY signs shall be used on carriageway
such as roads where traffic laws and regulations would
normally prescribe that such roads are designed as one-
way but may be operated as two way.

The LEFT/RIGHT LANE MUST TURN LEFT/RIGHT signs

are used alongside a marked lane which is reserved exclusively for
vehicles turning left/right at the next intersection.

The NO ENTRY sign shall be used at the termination of a one-way

carriageway to prohibit access of all vehicles from the wrong direction.

NO ENTRY for specific type of road users cars, jeepneys, bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles, buses, trucks,
vehicles with trailer, pedestrians, animal drawn vehicles, pushcarts.

The NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING sign can be used in

conjunction with a supplementary plate in the Sp ecial
Instruction Sign series such as USE OVERPASS or USE PED
XING.
The BAWAL TUMAWID GAMITIN ANG OVERPASS is a Pilipino worded sign, as an
alternate for the other sign exclusively for prohibiting pedestrians from crossing a
particular road with the presence of an overpass.

The TURNING PROHIBITIONS signs includes the NO RIGHT TURN, NO LEFT

TURN which shall be used at intersections where vehicles are forbidden to make a turn to the right or left
respectively; and the NO U TURN which shall be used where vehicles are forbidden to make a turn to
reverse the direction of travel.

The NO OVERTAKING sign may be used to control

traffic movements on narrow bridges and short sections of one lane
carriageway having a width between curbs or vertical
obstructions of less than 5.0 m.

SPEED SIGNS.
SPEED RESTRICTION (MAXIMUM) sign regulates the
speed of the vehicles to a maximum speed limit.

SPEED DE-RESTRICTION sign allows vehicles to

unrestricted speed.

SPEED RESTICTION (MINIMUM) sign regulates the speed of the vehicles to a

minimum speed limit.
 The NO PARKING signs
prohibits partial or total
parking at particular locations.

RESTRICTED PARKING
AND LOADING SIGNS.

NO WAITING SIGNS.

The NO LOADING AND UNLOADING signs are used

exclusively for prohibiting loading and unloading of goods and
passengers.

The NO STOPPING ANYTIME signs prohibits

stopping.

NO PARKING OR STOPPING SIGNS. The BUS STOP sign is used exclusively for bus passenger
loading and unloading. The PUJ STOP signs are exclusively for jeepney passengers loading and unloading.
The BUS-PUJ STOP signs are used exclusively for bus and jeepney loading and unloading of passengers
and goods. The NO PARKING sign symbol indicates that total parking is prohibited.
The DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION signs are installed at or near the designated stop
line in the intersection to warn motorists of clearing the yellow box zone.

The RIGHT TURNER CROSS AT BROKEN LINES signs allow vehicles

to turn right at the next intersection.

The PROHIBITION ON USE OF AUDIBLE WARNING DEVICE/NO BLOWING

OF HORNS signs prohibits the use of audible warning device, except to avoid an
accident or those vehicles that are authorized to use warning devices in case of
emergency.

LOAD AND DIMENSION RESTRICTION SIGNS

The USE SEAT BELT sign reminds drivers to use their seat belt pursuant to RA8750, the
Seat Belt Law.

The PEDESTRIANS CROSSING sign is a regulatory sign to be placed at the stop lines
or at the approaches to a zebra pedestrian crossing.

The SCHOOL CHILDREN CROSSING sign is a regulatory sign to be placed at the

stop lines on the approaches to a marked School Children crossing.

The BIKE LANE sign is used where a stretch of roadway is dedicated to a bike lane for
bicycles use only and to protect cyclists who may not be perceptible to motorists.

The WHEEL CHAIR CROSSING sign is a regulatory sign to be placed at the stop lines
on the approaches to a marked wheel chair ramp near or at intersections, buildings,
hospitals, parks, malls and other public places.
Warning Signs (Type W) are used to warn motorists of potentially hazardous conditions
on or adjacent to the road.
The SHARP TURN sign is used in advance of a sharp curve where motorists are
required to slow down substantially because of the road geometry.

The REVERSE TURN sign is used where two curves in opposite

direction each warrants a turn sign and are separated by a tangent
length of less than 120.0m.

The CURVE SIGN is used in advance of a substandard curve or a curve that may not be
evident to the motorist in the course of his travel along a reasonable straight section of
the road.
The REVERSE CURVE sign is used where two curves in opposite directions, one or
both of which is substandard, are separated by a tangent length of less than 120.0m.

The WINDING ROAD sign is used where there is a series of closely spaced curves, some or
all of which warrant the use of Turn or Curve signs.

The HAIRPIN BEND sign is used to warn motorists of an approaching curve with an
almost 180-degree bend.

The CROSS ROAD sign is used in advance of an intersection where two roads cross at a
common point.

Other CROSS ROADS resembling the intersection.

The T AND Y JUNCTIONS signs are used in advance of a T-junction of the road that forms the stem of the
T, and Y junction sign for a road path which forms the stem of the Y.

The ROUNDABOUT (ROTUNDA) sign is used on all approaches to a rotunda.

The PRIORITY ROAD signs inform the motorists that the road he travels on is a
priority road with the junction intersection in front of him being controlled either by a
STOP or GIVE WAY sign.
 The SIGNAL
AHEAD sign is used
in advance of a
signalized
intersection, where the signal is not visible from a distance of 120.0m, or at any unexpected signal
installation where the prevailing approach speeds or conditions of visibility are such as to require a warning.
The STOP AND GIVE WAY sign are warning signs used to
warn the presence of a STOP or GIVEWAY sign at the
intersection ahead which may not be conspicuous to the motorist
when approaching the intersection.

The NARROW BRIDGE sign is used on the approaches to all road

bridges having a width between curbs of 5.5m or less

The ROAD NARROWS sign is used where a reduction of the

pavement width may constitute a hazard.

The DIVIDED ROAD sign is used to warn motorists of the approach to a divided
road when the median island is more than 300.0m in length.

The END DIVIDED ROAD sign is used at the end of a section of divided road as a
warning of a two-way traffic ahead.

ROAD OBSTACLE SIGNS - OPENING BRIDGE, UNEVEN ROAD, HUMP, STEEP DESCENT
AND STEEP CLIMB, SPILL WAY, FLOOD, FALLING ROCKS, SLIPPERY, ANIMAL CROSSING,
AIRCRAFT
The PEDESTRIANS and
SLOW DOWN PEDESTRIANS AHEAD are
interchangeable signs used to warn motorists of the
presence of pedestrians who may be crossing the road
ahead regardless whether there is a designated crossing.

The CHILDREN sign is used to warn motorists of the presence of school children, who
may be crossing the road ahead regardless of whether there is a designated school
crossing.

The CROSS ONLY AT PED XING sign may only be used where crosswalks are clearly
defined, to discourage jaywalking or unauthorized crossing.

The WHEEL CHAIR CROSSING sign is used to warn motorists of

wheel chair crossing such as near hospitals, shopping centers

The BIKE LANE AHEAD sign is used to warn the motorist of the approaching Bike
Lane which may not be visible on the road.

The RAILROAD CROSSING POSITION sign is used at every

railway level crossing in combination with STOP and GIVE
WAY signs, signals or gates.

The RAILWAY CROSSING ADVANCE WARNING sign is

used in advance of the railway crossing to warn the motorist s
of the presence of the level crossing ahead.

The ADVISORY SPEED sign is used only in conjunction with another warning sign
to indicate the desirable speed in good weather, traffic and road conditions.

The ON SIDE ROAD sign is used to supplement other signs such as FLOOD or
RAILWAY CROSSING, to warn the road users of a hazard on a side road in close
proximity to the through road.
The (DISTANCE)m and (DISTANCE)km signs are used in conjunction with a warning sigh where an
indication of distance to the hazard is desired.

The WHEN WET sign is used in conjunction with the SLIPPERY ROAD warning
sign.

BLIND, AGED, PLAYGROUND, SCHOOL, DISABLED, FOR PUJ, FOR BUSES

OTHER WARNING SIGNS- VERTICAL CLEARANCE, SLOW DOWN ACCIDENT PRONE

AREA, SLOW DOWN MERGING TRAFFIC AHEAD, LANE ENDS MERGE LEFT, SLOW
DOWN WEIGHBRIDGE AHEAD
Guide Signs or Information Signs (Type G) inform road users about the direction and distances of
destinations on the route they are following or along other roads that intersect their route.

ADVANCE DIRECTION SIGNS

STACK is the type normally used. Such signs list destinations together with appropriate direction arrows,
and if required road names and route makers.

DIAGRAMMATIC sign presents a simplified diagram of the intersection layout.

INTERSECTION DIRECTION SIGNS supplement ADVANCE DIRECTION signs and should be
placed at more important intersections or decision points to show where the intersecting roads lead.

REASSURANCE DIRECTION signs may be used beyond intersections to reassure motorists who are
traveling towards their intended destination and to indicate the distances to the desired destination.

FINGER BOARD and DIRECTION SIGNS FOR LESS IMPORTANT ROADS

STREET NAME SIGNS inform road users of the names of roads and streets that they are passing or
entering.
TOWN NAMES and GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURE SIGNS
convey to the motorists general information of interest such as geographical locations.

SERVICE SIGNS

TOURIST INFORMATION and TOURIST DESTINATION SIGNS

ROUTE MARKERS. The identification and general direction of arterial roads and national highways that
have significance as through routes can be achieved by the display of Route Markers showing the number
and direction of the route.
ASIAN HIGHWAY ROUTE MARKERS. This
is a part of the commitment of the Philippines as a
member of the UN-ESCAP. The route links major seaports and cities in the country
comprising mostly of the Daang Maharlika which commence from Laoag-Manila-Legaspi-Matnog-(Ferry)-
Allen-Tacloban (-Ormoc (Ferry)-Cebu)-Liloan-(Ferry)-Surigao-Davao (-Cagayan de Oro) General Santos
Zamboanga.

ADVANCE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS WITH ROUTE MARKER SHIELD

ASIAN HIGHWAY LEG MARKER SIGN

Signs on Expressways (Type GE)

EXPRESSWAY APPROACH SIGNS

EXPRESSWAY INFORMATION SIGNS

TOLL CHARGES (ADVANCE INFORMATION)

LANE DIRECTION SIGNS guide the motorist onto correct lanes leading to an intersection or an
interchange.
ADVANCE EXIT SIGNS - is
erected in advance of an exit ramp to advice drivers of the principal destinations to be reached from the exit
ramp, and/or the distance to the exit point.

EXPRESSWAY EXIT DIRECTION SIGNS are erected overhead before the exit ramp of the interchange

EXPRESSWAY SERVICE SIGNS

REST AREA

OTHERS

END OF
EXPRESSWAY
TOLL SIGNS

EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC INSTRUCTION and REGULATORY SIGNS

The WRONG WAY _ GO BACK sign is used to inhibit wrong way movements
by drivers attempting to enter the wrong road.

The REDUCE SPEED NOW sign is used in advanced of the end of an

expressway.

The RIGHT LANE ENDS 500M sign is located at approximately 500m from the start
of merge taper, to give the first warning of a lane drop.

RIGHT LANE ENDS, MERGE LEFT; LANE ENDS MERGE LEFT, MERGE LEFT, SLOW
VEHICLES USE RIGHT LANE
CHECK BRAKES used in conjunction with REDUCE SPEED NOW sign.

Traffic Instruction Signs (Type S) are those used at locations where ordinary guide and regulatory signs
do not achieve the desired result. These signs instruct the motorist to follow a direction or to obey a course
of action.
USE OVERPASS, USE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

TRUCKS USE LOW GEAR, CHECK BRAKES

OTHERS

Hazard Markers
(Type HM)

ONE-WAY
HAZARD
MARKERS || TWO-WAY HAZARD MARKERS || WIDTH MARKER
 OBSTRUCTION MARKER

Reference:
Road Safety Design Manual. (may 2012). Road Safety Design Manual. Retrieved March 01, 2017, from
http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/references/guidelines_manuals/highway_safety_design_standards_manual