Home SECTION IV SIGNAGE CHAPTER VI TYPES AND MEANINGS OF ROAD SIGNS AND ROAD MARKINGS SECTION 4 VERTICAL TRAFFIC SIGNS Subsection 3 Indication signs Article 159 Signs of general indications

Article 159 Signs of general indications

by Mark Nolan

The nomenclature and meaning of the signs of general indications are the following:

 

S-1. Autopista (motorway). It indicates the principle of a motorway and, therefore, the place from which special driving rules apply for this type of road. The symbol of this sign can announce the proximity of a motorway or indicate the branch of an intersection that leads to a motorway.

 

S-1 a. Autovía (motorway). It indicates the beginning of an autovía and, therefore, the place from which special rules of movement apply in this type of road. The symbol of this sign can announce the proximity of a carriageway or indicate the branch of an intersection that leads to a carriageway.

 

S-2. End of motorway. Indicates the end of a motorway.

 

S-2 a. End of carriageway. Indicates the end of a carriageway.

 

S-3. Road reserved for cars. Indicates the principle of a road reserved for automobile traffic.

 

S-4. End of road reserved for cars. Indicates the end of a road reserved for cars.

 

S-5. Tunnel. Indicates the beginning and possibly the name of a tunnel, an underpass or a section of track equated to a tunnel. It may carry the length of the tunnel in metres in its lower part.

 

S-6. End of tunnel. Indicates the end of a tunnel, an underpass or a section of road equivalent to a tunnel.

 

S-7. Recommended maximum speed. It recommends an approximate speed of movement, in kilometres per hour, which it is advisable not to exceed, even if the meteorological and environmental conditions of the road and movement are favourable. When placed under a hazard warning sign, the recommendation refers to the section in which the danger persists.

 

S-8. End of recommended maximum speed. Indicates the end of a section in which it is recommended to travel at no more than the speed in kilometres per hour indicated in the sign.

 

S-9. Recommended speed range. A recommendation to maintain the speed between the indicated values provided that the meteorological and environmental conditions of the road and movement are favourable. When placed under a hazard warning sign, the recommendation refers to the section in which the danger persists.

 

S-10. End of recommended range of speeds. Indicates the place from where a previous sign of interval advised speeds is no longer applicable.

 

S-11. One-way road. Indicates that, on the road that extends in the direction of the arrow, vehicles must drive in the direction indicated by it, and that driving in the opposite direction is prohibited.

 

S-11 a. One-way road with two lanes. Indicates that, on the road that extends in the direction of the arrows (two lanes), the vehicles must drive in the direction indicated by these, and that driving in the opposite direction is prohibited.

 

S-11 b. One-way road with three lanes. Indicates that, on the road that extends in the direction of the arrows (three lanes), the vehicles must drive in the direction indicated by these, and that driving in the opposite direction is prohibited.

 

S-12. Section of one-way road. Indicates that, in the stretch of road that extends in the direction of the arrow, vehicles must drive in the direction indicated by it, and that driving in the opposite direction is prohibited.

 

S-13. Pedestrian crossing. Indicates the presence of a pedestrian crossing.

 

S-14 a. Overpass for pedestrians. Indicates the presence of an overpass for pedestrians.

 

S-14 b. Underpass for pedestrians. Indicates the presence of an underpass for pedestrians.

 

S-15 a, b, c and d. Pre-signalling of road without exit. Indicates that, of the road that appears in the sign with a red box, the vehicles can only leave by the place of entrance.

 

S-16. Emergency braking area. Indicates the presence of an escape area of the road, conditioned so that a vehicle can be stopped in case of failure of its braking system.

 

S-17. Parking lot. Indicates a location where vehicle parking is authorised. An inscription or symbol, representing certain classes of vehicles, indicates that parking is reserved for those classes. An inscription with time indications limits the duration of the indicated parking.

 

S-18. Place reserved for taxis. Indicates the place reserved for the stopping and parking of empty and full taxis. The inscription of a number indicates the total number of spaces reserved for this purpose.

 

S-19. Bus stop. Indicates the place reserved for a bus stop.

 

S-20. Tram stop. Indicates the place reserved for tram stops.

 

S-21. Controlled stretch or mountain pass. Indicates section or section passage defined in the upper part of the sign.

 

S-21.1 a, b, c, d and e. Passable stretch or mountain pass. Panel 1 may go blank with the inscription “OPEN”; in this case, it indicates that all vehicles can move without restriction; in green, which indicates that the stretch is passable, although there is a ban on overtaking for trucks with a maximum authorised mass greater than 3,500 kilograms; yellow, which indicates that the stretch is passable, except for trucks with a maximum authorised mass greater than 3,500 kilograms and articulated vehicles, and cars and buses can drive at a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour; red, which indicates that the use of chains or special tires at a maximum speed of 30 kilometres per hour is mandatory in order to drive and that articulated vehicles, trucks and buses are prohibited; and in black with the inscription “CLOSED”, which indicates that the road is impassable for any type of vehicle.

 

S-21.2 a, b, c and d. Passable stretch or mountain pass. Panel 2 will be white and may carry the following inscriptions: signal R-306 when panel 1 goes green; the signals R-106 and R-301 with the limitation to 60 kilometres per hour when panel 1 is yellow and signal R-107 with the inscription 3.5 tons and R-412 when panel 1 is red.

 

S-21.3 a and b. Passable stretch or mountain pass. Panel 3 can carry an inscription of the place from which the indications in panels 1 and 2 apply.

 

S-22. Change of direction at the same level. Indicates the proximity of a place where a change of direction can be made at the same level.

 

S-23. Hospital. It also indicates to drivers of vehicles the convenience of taking the precautions required by the proximity of medical establishments, especially that of avoiding the production of noise.

 

S-24. End of short-range lighting obligation (headlights). Indicates the end of a section in which headlights were mandatory and reminds us of the possibility to turn them off, provided that it is not imposed by circumstances of visibility, time or lighting of the road.

 

S-25. Change of direction at a different level. Indicates the proximity of an exit through which a change of direction can be made at a different level.

 

S-26 a, b and c. Output approach panels. It indicates on a highway, on a toll road or on a road for cars that the next exit is located, approximately, at 300 metres, 200 metres and 100 metres, respectively.

 

If the exit were on the left, the diagonal or diagonals would be descending from left to right and the signs would be placed to the left of the road.

 

S-27. Road assistance. Indicates the location of the nearest post or aid station from which assistance can be requested in case of accident or breakdown. The sign can indicate the distance to which it is located.

 

S-28. Pedestrianised street. Indicates specially prepared traffic areas that are primarily intended for pedestrians and where the following special traffic regulations apply: the maximum speed of the vehicles is set at 20 kilometres per hour and drivers must give priority to pedestrians. Vehicles can only be parked in places designated by signs or markings.

 

Pedestrians can use the entire road area. Games and sports are authorised in it. Pedestrians should not unnecessarily impede vehicle drivers.

 

S-29. End of pedestrianised street. Indicates that the general traffic rules are applied again.

 

S-30. 30-Zone. It indicates the area of specially conditioned traffic that is intended primarily for pedestrians. The maximum speed of the vehicles is set at 30 kilometres per hour. Pedestrians have priority.

 

S-31. End of 30-Zone. Indicates that the general traffic rules are applied again.

 

S-32. Toll. Indicates that the vehicle driving in the lane or lanes thus signalled can make the payment of the toll through the dynamic toll system or electronic toll collection, provided that they is provided with the technical means that enables its use.

 

S-33. Path suitable for cycling. Indicates the existence of a road for pedestrians and cycles, segregated from motorised traffic, and that runs through open spaces, parks, gardens or forests.

 

S-34. Siding in tunnels. Indicates the location of a place where the vehicle can be set aside in a tunnel, in order to clear the way.

 

S-34 a. Siding in tunnels. Indicates the location of a place where the vehicle can be set aside in a tunnel, in order to clear the way, which has an emergency telephone.

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