Road signs in Czechoslovakia

A Czechoslovak-era sign in Brno during Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, direction signs and street names were covered or removed.

Road signs in Czechoslovakia have their origins in the Austria-Hungary. The history of some elements of traffic signs dates back to the Middle Ages. The first attempts to introduce systematic orientation signs fall into the third quarter of the 19th century. In 1910, the first regulation was issued in Bohemia, without much success, which required the placement of warning signs in accordance with a concluded international treaty.

Systematic signs were carried out by the Autoclub of the Czechoslovak Republic on the basis of a contract with the ministry since 1928. The first warning road signs in Czechoslovakia were codified legislatively from November 1, 1935. In May 1938, traffic signs and signals covering the entire range of meanings were introduced.

From 1 November 1939, the colour design of warning traffic signs in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was changed to its current form. With further changes over the years, new types of signs were gradually added and some of their designs changed.

After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the federal decree from 1989 was still in force in the Czech and Slovak Republic for some time, but gradually both states developed their own legislation and the types and design of signs began to differ slightly.

(1935-1939)

• 
  Rough road
• 
  Series of bends
• 
  Crossroad
• 
  Railroad crossing with barriers
• 
  Railroad crossing without barriers
• 
  Danger
• 
  Danger
• 
  Yield
• 
  No vehicles
• 
  Do not enter
• 
  No motor vehicles except motorcycles
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Weight limit for motor vehicles
• 
  Speed limit
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No parking
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No beeping
• 
  Mandatory direction
• 
  Customs
• 
  Parking
• 
  Parking allowed from 2pm to 10am
• 
  Caution
• 
  Frist aid
• 
  Direction sign
• 
  Urban area

1938 addition

• 
  No bicycles
• 
  No horse carts
• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height limit
• 
  Priority road
• 
  Advance direction sign
• 
  City located in the direction of travel
• 
  Drive to left

(1939-1945)

Road signs in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (during nazi occupation)

Warning signs

• 
  Danger
• 
  Uneven road
• 
  Series of bends
• 
  Crossroad
• 
  Railway crossing with gates
• 
  Railway crossing without gates
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon

Regulatory signs

• 
  No vehicles
• 
  No entry
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No motor vehicles (in weekends and holidays)
• 
  No motorcycles (in weekends and holidays)
• 
  Bicycle path
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height limit
• 
  Speed limit
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No parking
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn right ahead
• 
  Proceed straight or right
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  Stop - Customs
• 
  Yield
• 
  Stop
• 
  Taxi stand

Information signs

• 
  Parking
• 
  Caution
• 
  Frist aid
• 
  Street Lighting not in use for the whole night
• 
  Over-voltage street lighting not in use for the whole night
• 
  Urban area begins
• 
  Urban area ends
• 
  Direction sign for highways
• 
  Direction sign
• 
  Direction sign for unpaved roads
• 
  Highway number
• 
  Ringroad or beltway for long-distance traffic
• 
  Advance direction sign
• 
  Priority road
• 
  Detour

(1945-1951)

Warning signs

• 
  Danger
• 
  Rough road
• 
  Series of bends
• 
  Crossroad
• 
  Railroad crossing with gates
• 
  Railroad crossing without gates
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon

Regulatory signs

• 
  No vehicles
• 
  No entry
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No motor vehicles (in weekends and holidays)
• 
  No motorcycles (in weekends and holidays)
• 
  Bicycle path
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height limit
• 
  Speed limit
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No parking
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn right ahead
• 
  Proceed straight or right
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  Stop - Customs
• 
  Yield
• 
  Stop
• 
  Taxi stand

Information signs

• 
  Parking
• 
  Caution
• 
  Frist aid
• 
  Street Lighting not in use for the whole night
• 
  Over-voltage street lighting not in use for the whole night
• 
  Urban area begins
• 
  Urban area ends
• 
  Direction sign for highways
• 
  Direction sign
• 
  Direction sign for unpaved roads
• 
  Highway number
• 
  Ringroad or beltway for long-distance traffic
• 
  Advance direction sign
• 
  Priority road
• 
  Detour

(1967-1975)

Warning signs

• 
  Right curve
• 
  Left curve
• 
  Double right curve
• 
  Double left curve
• 
  Crossroad
• 
  Crossroad with priority
• 
  Steep descent
• 
  Road narrows
• 
  Rough road
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Traffic lights ahead
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead
• 
  Children
• 
  Animals (domesticated)
• 
  Animals (wild)
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  Railroad crossing with gates
• 
  Railroad crossing without gates
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Single crossbuck
• 
  Double crossbuck

Regulatory signs

• 
  Yield
• 
  Yield to trams
• 
  Stop
• 
  No vehicles
• 
  Do not enter
• 
  No motor vehicles except motorcycles
• 
  No trucks
• 
  No agricultural vehicles
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No bicycles
• 
  No horse carts
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height limit
• 
  Maximum speed limit
• 
  Maximum speed limit ends
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No overtaking ends
• 
  No overtaking by trucks
• 
  No overtaking by trucks ends
• 
  No honking
• 
  No honking ends
• 
  No right turn
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No U-turn
• 
  Yield to oncoming traffic
• 
  Stop - customs
• 
  Other restriction (no through road)
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No parking
• 
  Alternative parking
• 
  Alternative parking
• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  Proceed straight or right
• 
  Proceed straight or left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Minimum speed limit
• 
  Footpath
• 
  Bicycle path
• 
  Other mandatory (walk to left)

Information signs

• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  Priority road
• 
  Priority road ends
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Priority over oncoming traffic
• 
  Dead end
• 
  Parking
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Frist aid
• 
  Repair service
• 
  Public telephone
• 
  Petrol station
• 
  Camping
• 
  Caravan site
• 
  Camping and caravan site
• 
  Advance direction sign
• 
  Advance direction sign with restriction
• 
  Preselection sign
• 
  Direction sign
• 
  Detour
• 
  Direction of a camping site
• 
  Urban area
• 
  Highway number
• 
  Long-distance highway number

Additional signs

• 
  Number of danger
• 
  Crossroad shape
• 
  Priority road direction
• 
  Distance to the object
• 
  Stop ahead
• 
  Section length
• 
  Gross weight
• 
  Start of section
• 
  Route of the section
• 
  End of section

1971 addition

• 
  Crosswinds
• 
  Motorway
• 
  Motorway ends
• 
  Road for motor vehicles
• 
  Road for motor vehicles ends
• 
  Clawer line
• 
  Number of lanes increases
• 
  Number of lanes decreases
• 
  Hotel or motel
• 
  Restaurant
• 
  Refreshment
• 
  Toilet
• 
  Kilometer marker

(1975-1989)

Warning signs

• 
  Right curve
• 
  Left curve
• 
  Double right curve
• 
  Double left curve
• 
  Crossroad
• 
  Crossroad with priority
• 
  Steep descent
• 
  Steep ascent
• 
  Road narrows (both sides)
• 
  Road narrows (right side)
• 
  Road narrows (left side)
• 
  Rough road
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Traffic lights ahead
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead
• 
  Children
• 
  Animals (domesticated)
• 
  Animals (wild)
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  Crosswinds
• 
  Loose gravel
• 
  Falling rocks
• 
  Bicycle crossing
• 
  Low-flying planes
• 
  Tunnel
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Railroad crossing with gates
• 
  Railroad crossing without gates
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Single crossbuck
• 
  Double crossbuck

Prohibitory signs

• 
  No vehicles
• 
  Do not enter
• 
  No motor vehicles except motorcycles
• 
  No trucks
• 
  No buses
• 
  No agricultural vehicles
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No bicycles
• 
  No horse carts
• 
  No handcarts
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Axle weight limit
• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height limit
• 
  Length limit
• 
  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
• 
  No vehicles carrying water-polluting goods
• 
  Maximum speed limit
• 
  Maximum speed limit ends
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No overtaking ends
• 
  No overtaking by trucks
• 
  No overtaking by trucks ends
• 
  No honking
• 
  No honking ends
• 
  No right turn
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No U-turn
• 
  Yield to oncoming traffic
• 
  Stop - customs
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No parking
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  Other restriction (no through road)

Mandatory signs

• 
  Yield
• 
  Yield to trams
• 
  Stop
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  Proceed straight or right
• 
  Proceed straight or left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Minimum speed limit
• 
  Minimum speed limit ends
• 
  Footpath
• 
  Bicycle path
• 
  Other mandatory (turn on the lights)

Information signs

• 
  Priority road
• 
  Priority road ends
• 
  Beltway
• 
  Change of beltway direction
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  Recommended speed limit
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Priority over oncoming traffic
• 
  Pedestrian underpass
• 
  Dead end
• 
  Dead end direction
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Parking
• 
  Taxi stand
• 
  Reserved parking
• 
  Parking with permit (disc)
• 
  Metered parking
• 
  Parking on the pavement (in line with traffic)
• 
  Parking on the pavement (at right angles or diagonal to traffic)
• 
  Parking partly on the pavement (in line with traffic)
• 
  Parking partly on the pavement (at right angles or diagonal to traffic)
• 
  Motorway
• 
  Motorway ends
• 
  Road for motor vehicles
• 
  End of road for motor vehicles
• 
  Crawler lane
• 
  Number of lanes increases
• 
  Number of lanes decreases
• 
  Frist aid
• 
  Repair service
• 
  Public telephone
• 
  Petrol station
• 
  Camping
• 
  Caravan site
• 
  Camping and caravan site
• 
  Hotel or motel
• 
  Restaurant
• 
  Refreshment
• 
  Toilet
• 
  Bus stop
• 
  Tram stop
• 
  Trolleybus stop
• 
  Advance direction sign
• 
  Advance direction sign with restriction
• 
  Preselection sign
• 
  Advance direction sign with restriction
• 
  Route indicator (single destination)
• 
  Route indicator (two destinations)
• 
  Direction sign (single destination)
• 
  Direction sign (two destinations)
• 
  Detour
• 
  Detour scheme
• 
  Direction of a camping site
• 
  Urban area begins
• 
  Urban area ends
• 
  Highway number
• 
  Long-distance highway number
• 
  Kilometer marker
• 
  Boundaries of the territorial unit
• 
  Alternative name

Additional signs

• 
  Number of danger
• 
  Crossroad shape
• 
  Priority road direction
• 
  The shape of two crossroads
• 
  Distance to the object
• 
  Stop ahead
• 
  Section length
• 
  Gross weight
• 
  Dangerous road shoulder
• 
  Start of section
• 
  Route of the section
• 
  End of section
• 
  Vehicle type

Special signs

• 
  Caution, change of arrangement (change of priority)
• 
  Drive left alongside tramway
• 
  Change of driving direction
• 
  No parking zone
• 
  No parking zone ends

(1989-1992)

After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, this standard was used in the Czech Republic until 2001 and in Slovakia until 1994.

Warning signs

• 
  Right curve
• 
  Left curve
• 
  Double right curve
• 
  Double left curve
• 
  Crossroad
• 
  Crossroad with priority
• 
  Steep descent
• 
  Steep ascent
• 
  Road narrows (both sides)
• 
  Road narrows (right side)
• 
  Road narrows (left side)
• 
  Rough road
• 
  Slippery road
• 
  Two-way traffic
• 
  Traffic lights ahead
• 
  Pedestrian crossing ahead
• 
  Children
• 
  Animals (domesticated)
• 
  Animals (wild)
• 
  Roadworks
• 
  Crosswinds
• 
  Loose gravel
• 
  Falling rocks
• 
  Bicycle crossing
• 
  Low-flying planes
• 
  Tunnel
• 
  Other danger
• 
  Railroad crossing with gates
• 
  Railroad crossing without gates
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Countdown beacon
• 
  Single crossbuck
• 
  Double crossbuck
• 
  Tram crossing

Prohibitory signs

• 
  No vehicles
• 
  Do not enter
• 
  No motor vehicles except motorcycles
• 
  No trucks
• 
  No buses
• 
  No agricultural vehicles
• 
  No motorcycles
• 
  No bicycles
• 
  No horse carts
• 
  No handcarts
• 
  No motor vehicles
• 
  Weight limit
• 
  Axle weight limit
• 
  Width limit
• 
  Height limit
• 
  Length limit
• 
  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
• 
  No vehicles carrying water-polluting goods
• 
  Maximum speed limit
• 
  Maximum speed limit ends
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No overtaking ends
• 
  No overtaking by trucks
• 
  No overtaking by trucks ends
• 
  No honking
• 
  No honking ends
• 
  No right turn
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No U-turn
• 
  Yield to oncoming traffic
• 
  Stop - customs
• 
  No stopping
• 
  No parking
• 
  No pedestrians
• 
  Other restriction (no through road)
• 
  All restrictions ends

Mandatory signs

• 
  Yield
• 
  Yield to trams
• 
  Stop
• 
  Roundabout
• 
  Proceed straight
• 
  Turn right
• 
  Turn left
• 
  Turn left or right
• 
  Proceed straight or right
• 
  Proceed straight or left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Keep right or left
• 
  Minimum speed limit
• 
  Minimum speed limit ends
• 
  Footpath
• 
  Bicycle path
• 
  Shared pathway for cyclists and pedestrians
• 
  Other mandatory (turn on the lights)

Information signs

• 
  Priority road
• 
  Priority road ends
• 
  Beltway
• 
  Change of beltway direction
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  One-way traffic
• 
  Recommended speed limit
• 
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Priority over oncoming traffic
• 
  Pedestrian underpass
• 
  Dead end
• 
  Dead end direction
• 
  Hospital
• 
  Parking
• 
  Parking (at right angles or diagonal to traffic)
• 
  Parking (in line with traffic)
• 
  Parking on the pavement (at right angles or diagonal to traffic)
• 
  Parking on the pavement (in line with traffic)
• 
  Parking partly on the pavement (at right angles or diagonal to traffic)
• 
  Parking partly on the pavement (in line with traffic)
• 
  Reserved parking
• 
  Parking with permit (disc)
• 
  Metered parking
• 
  Motorway
• 
  Motorway ends
• 
  Road for motor vehicles
• 
  End of road for motor vehicles
• 
  Lane arrangement
• 
  Number of lanes increases
• 
  Number of lanes decreases
• 
  Crawler lane
• 
  Preselection sign
• 
  Restrictions in lane
• 
  Bus line
• 
  Bus line ends
• 
  Frist aid
• 
  Public telephone
• 
  Petrol station
• 
  Repair service
• 
  Camping
• 
  Caravan site
• 
  Camping and caravan site
• 
  Hotel or motel
• 
  Restaurant
• 
  Refreshment
• 
  Toilet
• 
  Bus stop
• 
  Tram stop
• 
  Trolleybus stop
• 
  Advance direction sign (in motorways)
• 
  Advance direction sign (in motorways)
• 
  Route indicator with direction for motorways
• 
  Route indicator with direction for road for motor vehicles
• 
  Advance direction sign
• 
  Advance direction sign with restriction
• 
  Advance direction sign with restriction
• 
  Route indicator (single destination)
• 
  Route indicator (two destinations)
• 
  Direction sign (single destination)
• 
  Direction sign (two destinations)
• 
  Direction sign (local destinations)
• 
  Urban area begins
• 
  Urban area ends
• 
  Highway number
• 
  E-road indicator
• 
  Kilometer marker
• 
  Boundaries of the territorial unit
• 
  Alternative name
• 
  Detour direction
• 
  Detour
• 
  Detour
• 
  Caution, change of arrangement (change of priority)
• 
  Change of driving direction
• 
  Drive left alongside tramway
• 
  No parking zone
• 
  No parking zone ends
• 
  Home zone
• 
  Home zone ends
• 
  Pedestrian zone
• 
  Pedestrian zone ends

Additional signs

• 
  Number of danger
• 
  Crossroad shape
• 
  Priority road direction
• 
  The shape of two crossroads
• 
  Distance to the object
• 
  Stop ahead
• 
  Section length
• 
  Gross weight
• 
  Wet coating
• 
  Dangerous road shoulder
• 
  Start of section
• 
  Route of the section
• 
  End of section
• 
  Vehicle type
• 
  Configuration of the crossing between a road and a railroad

1997 addition

• 
  Traffic congestion
• 
  Emergency escape lane

See also

• Road signs in the Czech Republic
• Road signs in Slovakia