Traffic signsWorldwide

A horsecart is a wheeled vehicle that is pulled by one or more horses and controlled by a driver.

Depending on local rules, horsecarts may use public roads, rural routes or specially designated areas and may be used for transport, agriculture, tourism or recreation.

Drivers should slow down, leave sufficient space and pass calmly, avoiding unnecessary noise or sudden movements that could frighten the horses.

Livestock refers to domesticated farm animals kept for agricultural purposes, such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.

Yes, where local rules permit. Livestock may need to be moved along or across roads, particularly between fields or agricultural properties.

Drivers should slow down, leave sufficient space and avoid frightening the animals. They should be prepared to stop if the animals become unpredictable or block the road.

A rickshaw is a small passenger-carrying vehicle that may be human-powered, pedal-powered or motorised.

A cycle rickshaw is a pedal-powered rickshaw, usually with three wheels, in which the driver pedals while one or more passengers sit in a separate seating area.

No. Their legal status can depend on whether they are pedal-powered or motorised and on characteristics such as their width, speed, power and number of wheels.

A skier is a person who travels over snow using a pair of skis.

Skiers may be encountered near ski resorts, cross-country trails, mountain roads and places where skiing routes cross or approach public roads.

Drivers should reduce speed when necessary, remain alert and be prepared to stop where skiers may cross or enter the roadway.

A snowmobile is a motorised vehicle designed to travel over snow, normally using skis for steering and a powered track for propulsion.

Snowmobiles are commonly used on snow-covered trails and terrain for recreation, transport, utility work and access to remote areas.

It depends on local law and the vehicle's approval. Many snowmobiles are primarily off-road vehicles, and public-road use may require registration, road approval, insurance and an appropriate driving licence.

A motor vehicle is a vehicle equipped with a motor and designed to travel under its own power.

Motor vehicles can include cars, motorcycles, mopeds, buses, trucks and other self-propelled road vehicles, depending on the country's legal definitions.

Not necessarily. Some electrically assisted bicycles and personal mobility devices may be placed in separate legal categories even though they have an electric motor.

A commercial vehicle is a vehicle used primarily for business activities such as transporting goods, equipment or passengers.

Commercial vehicles can include delivery vans, trucks, buses, coaches and specialised work vehicles.

No. The applicable rules can depend on the vehicle's weight, dimensions, purpose, passenger capacity and legal vehicle category.

A crossing guard is a person who assists pedestrians in crossing a road safely, often near schools or other locations with frequent pedestrian activity.

It depends on local law. In some countries authorised crossing guards have the legal power to stop traffic using a prescribed sign or signal, while other helpers may only assist pedestrians without directing drivers.

Drivers should slow down, remain attentive and obey authorised stop signals so that pedestrians can cross safely.

Motorail is a train service that transports passengers and their vehicle together, with the vehicle carried on specialised railway wagons.

Depending on the operator and route, Motorail services may carry cars, motorcycles or other eligible road vehicles. Size and weight restrictions may apply.

No. Passengers normally leave their vehicle after loading and travel separately in the passenger accommodation provided by the train.

A garbage truck is a specialised vehicle used to collect and transport waste or recyclable materials.

Garbage trucks may stop frequently and have workers moving around them. Drivers should reduce speed when necessary and watch carefully for workers, bins and other road users.

No. Waste-collection vehicles normally remain subject to ordinary traffic rules unless specific national or local rules provide an exemption for their work.

A snowplough is a vehicle fitted with equipment designed to remove snow from roads or other paved surfaces.

Yes. Many winter-maintenance vehicles can combine snow removal with equipment that spreads salt, grit or other substances used to improve road conditions.

Keep a safe distance, reduce speed and avoid unnecessary overtaking. Snow or road-treatment material may be thrown from the vehicle and visibility may be reduced.

A street sweeper is a specialised vehicle used to clean roads and other paved surfaces by collecting dust, litter, leaves and debris.

Street sweepers commonly use rotating brushes, suction equipment and water sprays to loosen and collect dirt and debris from the road surface.

Reduce speed when necessary, keep a safe distance and overtake only when there is sufficient space and visibility. Be prepared for the sweeper to move slowly or change its road position while working.

A parking violation occurs when a vehicle is parked in a way that does not comply with the applicable traffic rules, signs, markings or parking conditions.

Examples include parking where prohibited, blocking a sidewalk or crossing, using a reserved space without permission, failing to pay or exceeding a permitted parking time.

Depending on local law and the offence, the vehicle owner or driver may receive a fine, parking charge or other enforcement measure, and a dangerously or illegally parked vehicle may sometimes be removed.

km/h is the abbreviation for kilometres per hour, a unit used to measure speed.

A speed of 50 km/h means that, if the speed remained constant, the vehicle would travel 50 kilometres in one hour.

No. km/h measures speed in kilometres per hour, while mph measures speed in miles per hour. The two units therefore represent different numerical speeds.

mph is the abbreviation for miles per hour, a unit used to measure speed.

A speed of 50 mph means that, if the speed remained constant, the vehicle would travel 50 miles in one hour.

No. mph measures speed in miles per hour, while km/h measures speed in kilometres per hour. 1 mph is approximately 1.61 km/h.

A speedometer is an instrument that displays the current speed of a vehicle.

It is normally located on the vehicle's instrument panel or digital driver display, where it can be seen easily while driving.

A speedometer may display speed in kilometres per hour (km/h), miles per hour (mph) or both, depending on the vehicle and market.

A national speed limit is a default maximum speed established by law for particular roads or vehicles when no different local restriction applies.

No. A country may have different general limits for motorways, rural roads and built-up areas, and some countries allow regional authorities to establish different default limits.

Yes. A posted regulatory speed limit may impose a lower or, where legally permitted, higher maximum speed than the general limit for that road.

A play street is a street temporarily reserved mainly for play and recreation, with ordinary motor traffic restricted or prohibited during specified periods.

Only where the applicable rules allow them. Access is commonly limited to residents, emergency vehicles, authorised vehicles or other specifically permitted traffic.

Permitted vehicles should travel at walking pace, give priority to people playing and stop when necessary to avoid danger or obstruction.

A rumble strip is a textured or raised road-surface feature that produces vibration and noise when a vehicle passes over it.

They are used to alert drivers to hazards, approaching road features or unintended movement out of a traffic lane.

Not by itself. A rumble strip warns or attracts attention, while any legally binding speed restriction must be established by the applicable traffic rules or regulatory signs.

A speed cushion is a raised traffic-calming device that covers only part of a traffic lane and encourages vehicles to reduce speed.

A speed hump normally extends across most or all of the roadway, while a speed cushion is narrower and leaves space beside it so that some wider vehicles can pass with less disturbance.

They are used to reduce the speed of ordinary vehicles while limiting inconvenience to buses, heavy vehicles, emergency vehicles and some two-wheelers.

Ride height describes how high a vehicle's body or chassis sits above the road surface.

Ride height can be affected by the suspension, wheel and tyre dimensions, vehicle load and suspension modifications.

Yes. Suspension modifications can lower or raise a vehicle, but such modifications may be subject to technical approval, inspection and safety requirements.

A funeral procession is an organised group of pedestrians or vehicles travelling together as part of a funeral ceremony.

Not necessarily. The priority given to funeral processions differs between countries. Unless specific rules or authorised traffic control apply, participants must normally obey the usual traffic lights, signs and priority rules.

Generally, you should avoid breaking through an organised procession and allow its participants to remain together, subject to the applicable local traffic rules.

A dirt road is an unpaved road surfaced mainly with natural soil or compacted earth.

A dirt road mainly uses the natural earth or soil as its driving surface, while a gravel road normally has a deliberately added layer of gravel or crushed stone.

Use a suitable speed, increase following distance when necessary and accelerate, brake and steer smoothly. Extra care may be required when the surface is dusty, muddy, rutted or uneven.

Driving is the act of controlling and operating a vehicle while travelling in traffic.

Safe driving requires proper vehicle control, attention to the road, compliance with traffic rules and appropriate reactions to other road users and changing conditions.

The requirements vary by country and vehicle type. Drivers may need to meet minimum-age, driving-licence, medical-fitness and vehicle-category requirements.

A start-stop system automatically switches off the engine when the vehicle is stationary and restarts it when the driver is ready to continue.

The system is primarily intended to reduce unnecessary engine idling, particularly when a vehicle is waiting in traffic.

Not necessarily. The system may keep the engine running when operating conditions do not allow an automatic stop, depending on the vehicle and its systems.