Road signs in Lithuania

Road signs in Lithuania conform to the general pattern of those used in most other European countries as set out in the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.[1]
History
The first road signs were introduced in Lithuania on 1 October 1930, after President Antanas Smetona signed the 1926 International Convention relative to Motor Traffic.[2] In 1932, a set of road signs were legally defined by a new government regulation.[2] In 1940, after the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the Soviet road traffic rules and road signs were adopted in Lithuania (the USSR itself adopted them in 1936).[3] On 1 January 1980, the standard GOST 10807-78 was adopted in the Soviet Union, including in the territory of the present day Lithuania. In 1990, after Lithuania restored its independence, the road sign design remained generally unchanged.[4]
Lithuanian road sign design saw minor changes in 2014. Some of the warning signs design were changed, a few new signs were added, like the sign indicating speed bump (formerly uneven road sign was used for indicating speed bumps), or sign indicating emergency stopping lane. However, Lithuania also adopted the use of both a blue and green background on the "Motorway" road sign. In the past, Lithuania used only the green background on the "Motorway" road sign, which is still used by the former Soviet states. Also, some new road signs were created over the time.
Due to the fact that modern road signs in Lithuania are very similar in design to Soviet signs, including modern Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Moldovan signs, there have been proposals to change the design of road signs used in Lithuania. In 2020, Seimas member Kęstutis Masiulis complained to the Minister of Transportation Jaroslavas Narkevičius and proposed to change the design of road signs.[5]
In March 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, two road signs were installed in the Liepkalnis area of Vilnius, indicating distances to the Ukrainian and Belarusian capitals, Kyiv and Minsk, respectively.[6] The Ukrainian flag is displayed at the bottom of the sign indicating the distance to Kyiv on the left, while "OCCUPIED BY KREMLIN" is written at the bottom of the sign indicating the distance to Minsk on the right.
On 2 April 2024, members of the parliament Andrius Vyšniauskas, Paulė Kuzmickienė and Mindaugas Skritulskas appealed to the Minister of Transport, proposing to change the design of road signs, because in their opinion, the design of road signs used in Lithuania is similar to the signs used during the Soviet occupation.[7] However, the Ministry of Transport and Communications stated that there is no sufficient legal basis to change the design of road signs following the example of other countries. The ministry also emphasized that installing one standard road sign costs an average of €200.[8][9][10]
Design
The official typeface used on road signs in Lithuania remains based on the Soviet standard GOST 10807-78.[11]
Warning signs
-
Level crossing ahead, with gates
-
Level crossing ahead, without gates
-
Roadworks
-
Swing bridge
-
Unprotected quayside or riverbank
-
Children
-
Crossroads without priority (give way to the vehicles coming from the right)
-
Junction with minor road
(also used)
-
Junction with minor road (from the right)
(also used)
-
Junction with minor road (from the left)
(also used)
-
Roundabout
-
Traffic signals
-
Dangerous curve to the right
(also used)
-
Dangerous curve to the left
(also used)
-
Double curve, first to the right
(also used)
-
Double curve, first to the left
(also used)
-
Steep descent
-
Steep ascent
-
Slippery road
-
Uneven road or series of bumps ahead
-
Gravel loose
-
Dangerous shoulder
-
Road narrows on both sides
-
Road narrows on right side
-
Road narrows on left side
-
End of one-way traffic
-
Pedestrian crossing
-
Pedestrians
-
Cyclists
-
Cattle crossing
-
Deer crossing
-
Falling rocks
-
Crosswinds
-
Low-flying aircraft
-
Traffic jams
-
Accidents area
-
Other dangers
-
Level crossing (single track)
-
Level crossing (multiple tracks)
-
Level crossing countdown
-
Level crossing countdown
-
Level crossing countdown
-
Level crossing countdown
-
Level crossing countdown
-
Level crossing countdown
-
Ruts ahead
-
Speedbump
-
Obstacle (right)
(used with)
-
Obstacle (left)
(used with)
-
Obstacle (to either side)
(used with)
Priority signs
-
Give way
-
Stop
-
Priority road
-
End of priority road
-
Give priority to oncoming traffic
-
Priority over oncoming traffic
Prohibitory signs
-
Do not enter
-
Closed to all vehicles in both directions
-
No motor vehicles except motorcycles
-
No entry for motorcycles
-
No cycles
-
No trucks
-
No tractors
-
No trailers
-
No animal-drawn vehicles
-
No pedestrians
-
No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
-
No power-driven vehicles
-
No power-driven or animal-drawn vehicles
-
Mass limit
-
Total mass limit
-
Height limit
-
Width limit
-
Length limit
-
Minimum separation
-
Passing without stopping prohibited
-
Passing without stopping prohibited
-
Passing without controlling prohibited
-
No right turn
-
No left turn
-
No U-turn
-
No overtaking
-
End of overtaking prohibition
-
No overtaking by trucks
-
End of overtaking prohibition by trucks
-
60 km/h maximum speed limit
-
End of 60 km/h speed limit
-
No audible warning devices
-
No stopping
-
No parking
-
Alternate parking on odd days
-
Alternate parking on even days
-
End of all prohibitions
-
No mopeds
-
No vehicles carrying explosive or readily inflammable substances
-
No vehicles carrying substance liable to cause water pollution
-
No motorized scooters
-
No residential vehicles
Mandatory signs
-
Proceed straight
-
Turn right
-
Turn left
-
Straight ahead or right turn permitted
-
Straight ahead or left turn permitted
-
Keep right
-
Keep left
-
Keep left or right
-
Roundabout
-
Roundabout (alt)
-
Cycle path
-
Pedestrian path
-
Cycle and pedestrian path
-
Cycle and pedestrian path
-
70 km/h minimum speed limit
-
End of 70 km/h minimum speed limit
-
Proceed straight for vehicles carrying dangerous goods
Indicative signs
-
Dual motorway
-
End of dual motorway
-
One-way street
-
Two-way lanes
-
One-way street to the right
-
One-way street to the left
-
Traffic directions at the intersection
-
The direction of traffic at the intersection is straight
-
The direction of traffic at the intersection is to the right
-
The direction of traffic at the intersection is left
-
The direction of traffic at the intersection is straight and right
-
Added lane from right
-
Added lane from left
-
End of the right lane
-
End of the left lane
-
Traffic directions in traffic lanes
-
Traffic directions in traffic lanes
-
Traffic directions in traffic lanes
-
Lane start and limits
-
Traffic in lanes
-
Added lane from junction
-
Added lane from junction
-
Lane reserved for buses
-
Lane reserved for buses
-
Entrance to the road with a lane for buses
-
Entrance to the road with a lane for buses
-
U-turn
-
Parking
-
Parking on limited duration only
-
Parking on time period only
-
Reserved parking only
-
Parking of bus vehicle
-
Pedestrian crossing
-
Pedestrian crossing
-
Pedestrian crossing (other version)
-
Pedestrian crossing (other version)
-
Underground pedestrian crossing
-
Footbridge
-
Advisory speed
-
No parking zone
-
Parking zone
-
Speed limit zone
-
End of no parking zone
-
End of parking zone
-
End of speed limit zone
-
Start of tunnel
-
End of tunnel
-
Bus stop
-
Taxi stop
-
Start of city limit
-
Start of city limit
-
Start of city limit
-
End of city limit
-
End of city limit
-
Residential area
-
End of city limit
-
End of residential area
-
Stop-line
-
Motorway
-
End of motorway
-
Safety island
-
Emergency stopping lane
-
Bicycle street
-
End of bicycle street
Information signs
-
Advance direction indicator
-
Advance direction indicator
-
Advance direction indicator
-
Advance direction indicator
-
Advance direction indicator
-
Advance direction indicator
-
Indication of direction
-
Indication of direction
-
Indication of direction
-
Indication of direction
-
Driving scheme
-
Driving direction for trucks
-
Dead end
-
Start of city
-
End of city
-
River name
-
County name
-
Border checkpoint sign
-
Street name
-
Street name
-
Distance index
-
General speed limits
-
Kilometer sign
-
Kilometer sign
-
International Road number
-
County Road number
-
Motorway number
-
Number and direction of the road
-
Number and direction of the road
-
Number and direction of the road
-
Number and direction of the road or cycle track
-
Number and direction of cycle track
-
Circuit diagram
-
Detour direction
-
Detour direction
-
Reordering arrow
-
Directional arrow to point of interest
-
Name of the place to visit
-
Direction pointer to national, regional parks, state nature reserves, state nature and complex reserves
-
Beginning of a national, regional park, state nature reserve, state natural or complex reserve
-
End of national, regional park, state nature reserve, state natural or complex reserve
-
Direction to historical national, historical regional parks, state cultural reserves, museums
-
Name of historical national, historical regional park, state cultural reserve, museum
-
Republic of Lithuania EU sign
-
Automatic traffic control
-
Automatic traffic control
Service signs
-
First aid post
-
Hospital
-
Filling station
-
Breakdown service
-
Car washing
-
Public telephone
-
Restaurant
-
Refreshment
-
Hotel
-
Camping site
-
Caravan site
-
Caravan and camping site
-
Picnic site
-
Police station
-
Public lavatory
-
Swimming pool
-
Drinking water
-
Customs area
-
Airport
-
Information zone
-
Youth hostel
-
Rural tourism homestead
-
National historic/cultural/tourist site
-
Fishing
-
Golf sport
-
Equestrian sport
-
Ski lift
-
Bus station
-
Train station
-
Vehicle ferry
-
Registry of vehicles or drivers
-
Technical inspection station
-
Electric car charging place
-
Industrial zone
Additional panels
-
Distance
-
Side extension (of no stopping or no parking)
-
Side extension (of no stopping or no parking)
-
Stop ahead
-
Length
-
Beginning (of no stopping or no parking)
-
Continuation (of no stopping or no parking)
-
Ending (of no stopping or no parking)
-
Validity area to the right
-
Validity area to the left
-
Validity area in both directions
-
Direction of validity to the right
-
Direction of validity to the left
-
Direction of validity in both directions
-
Type of vehicle: Trucks
-
Type of vehicle: Vehicles with trailers
-
Type of vehicle: Cars
-
Type of vehicle: Buses
-
Type of vehicles: Tractors
-
Type of vehicles: Motorcycles
-
Type of vehicles: Cycles
-
Saturdays, sundays and holidays
-
Working days
-
Days of the week
-
Day of the week
-
Time period
-
Time period during saturdays, sundays and holidays
-
Time period during working days
-
Time period during days of the week
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking method of vehicle
-
Parking of no working engine only
-
Payment services
-
Payment services during saturdays, sundays and holidays, working days, days of the week and time period
-
Dangerous roadside
-
Direction of priority road
-
Direction of priority road
-
Blind pedestrians
-
Wet coating
-
Disabled parking
-
Except for the disabled
-
Ice or snow
-
Compressed natural gas
-
Compressed natural gas
-
Liquified petroleum gas
-
Liquified petroleum gas
-
Types of fuel
-
Type of vehicle: Mopeds
-
Except for cycles
-
Type of vehicle: Electric cars
-
Except for electric cars
-
Bicycle traffic
-
Type of vehicle: Residential vehicles
References
- ^ Kelių eismo taisyklių 1 priedas – www.ketbilietai.lt
- ^ a b Žičkus, Ričardas. "Įdomioji istorija: pirmieji kelio ženklai Lietuvoje, kai dar nereikėjo žalių rodyklių". 15min.lt/verslas (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Pirmieji kelio ženklai Lietuvoje: kada atsirado ir kokie buvo?". www.lrytas.lt. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Konservatorius nerimsta: vėl kreipėsi į susisiekimo ministrą dėl "sovietinių kelio ženklų keitimo"". infa.lt (in Lithuanian). 16 May 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Konservatoriui nepatinka sovietinio dizaino kelio ženklai". Kauno diena (in Lithuanian). 21 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Vilnius mayor expresses support for Ukraine with road signs". lrt.lt. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Vilnius, Made in (2 April 2024). "Suggests changing the design of road signs". MadeinVilnius.lt - Vilniaus naujienų dienoraštis. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Iš jūsų – po 200 eurų už naują kelio ženklą: konservatorių siūlymą lenkia net ministerija". tv3.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Dabartiniai kelio ženklai – sovietinis palikimas? Vien valstybiniuose keliuose jų ketvirtis milijono". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Planuojami pokyčiai dėl kelio ženklų – pirmieji žingsniai numatomi rudenį". Delfi auto (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Seimo nariai siūlo keisti kelio ženklų dizainą: ragina atsisakyti sovietinio standarto". Delfi auto (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
External links
Media related to Road signs in Lithuania at Wikimedia Commons