road signs in Cyprus
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{{use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
Road signs in Cyprus are regulated in the Highway Code ({{Langx|el|Κώδικας Οδικής Κυκλοφορίας|translit=Kódikas Odikís Kykloforías}}).{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=Κώδικας Οδικής Κυκλοφορίας |url=https://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/RTD/rtd.nsf/2B60993CA6823820C225777C0023F9B7/$file/%CE%9A%CF%8E%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%82%20%CE%9F%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE%CF%82%20%CE%9A%CF%85%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%86%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82.pdf |website=mcw.gov.cy |language=el-CY |publication-place=Cyprus}} They follow the road signs used in most European countries, having acceded to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on 16 August 2016.{{Cite web |title=United Nations Treaty Collection |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-20&chapter=11#EndDec |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=treaties.un.org |language=EN}}
Road signs in Cyprus are similar to road signs used in the United Kingdom since the country was a British colony until 1960 when Cyprus became an independent republic. Some signs are similar to road signs used in Greece. Exceptions to this are that inscriptions on road signs are in Greek and Latin scripts, and that metric system units are used instead of imperial units. The same applies to Akrotiri and Dhekelia where some road signs are in Turkish as well as English and Greek. Cyprus drives on the left.
Categorisation
= Warning signs =
Warning signs in Cyprus have a triangular shape with a red border and a white background, as in most European countries, while in Greece, warning signs have a yellow background instead of white.
File:UK traffic sign 543.svg|Traffic signals ahead
File:Cyprus warning road sign crossroads.svg|Crossroads
File:UK traffic sign 505.1 (left).svg|T-junction
File:UK traffic sign 506.1 (variant 1, right).svg|Side road
File:UK traffic sign 507.1 (variant 1, right).svg|Staggered junction
File:UK traffic sign 508.1.svg|Traffic merges from the left
File:UK traffic sign 509.1.svg|Traffic merges onto the main carriageway
File:UK traffic sign 510.svg|Roundabout
File:UK traffic sign 512 (right).svg|Bend to right (left if symbol reversed)
File:UK traffic sign 513 (left).svg|Double bend first to the left (right if symbol reversed)
File:UK traffic sign 512.1 (right).svg|Junction on a bend (symbols may be reversed)
File:UK traffic sign 512.2 (right).svg|Junction on a bend (symbols may be reversed)
File:UK traffic sign 516.svg|Road narrows on both sides
File:UK traffic sign 517 (right).svg|Road narrows on the right (left if symbols reversed)
File:UK traffic sign 520.svg|End of dual carriageway
File:UK traffic sign 521.svg|Two-way traffic
File:UK traffic sign 522.svg|Two-way traffic on route crossing ahead
File:UK traffic sign 523.1.svg|Steep descent
File:UK traffic sign 524.1.svg|Steep ascent
File:UK traffic sign 529.svg|Opening or swing bridge
File:UK traffic sign 555.svg|Riverbank or quayside
File:UK traffic sign 555.1.svg|Water course alongside road
File:UK traffic sign 556.1.svg|Soft verges
File:Cyprus warning road sign friable street.svg|Soft verges
File:UK traffic sign 529.1.svg|Tunnel
File:UK traffic sign 528.svg|Hump bridge
File:UK traffic sign 556.svg|Uneven road
File:UK traffic sign 557.svg|Slippery road
File:UK traffic sign 581.svg|Side winds
File:UK traffic sign 558.svg|Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise
File:UK traffic sign 558.1.svg|Low-flying helicopters or sudden helicopter noise
File:UK traffic sign 559 (left).svg|Falling or fallen rocks
File:UK traffic sign 584.svg|Traffic queues likely ahead
File:UK traffic sign 582.svg|Slow-moving military vehicles likely to be in or crossing the road
File:UK traffic sign 583.svg|Slow-moving vehicles
File:UK traffic sign 554.2.svg|Ice or Snowdrifts
File:UK traffic sign 562.svg|Other dangers (plate must be used to indicate the hazard)
File:UK traffic sign 544.svg|Zebra crossing
File:UK traffic sign 544.1.svg|Pedestrians ahead
File:UK traffic sign 544.2.svg|Frail pedestrians likely to cross
File:Cyprus warning road sign child.svg|Children going to or from school
File:UK traffic sign 550.2.svg|Horse-drawn vehicles likely to be in the road
File:UK traffic sign 550.1.svg|Accompanied horses or ponies likely to be in or crossing the road
File:UK traffic sign 550.svg|Wild horses or ponies
File:UK traffic sign 551.svg|Wild animals
File:UK traffic sign 553.1.svg|Agricultural vehicles
File:UK traffic sign 548.svg|Cattle
File:UK traffic sign 772.svg|Tramway
File:Cyprus warning road sign give way ahead.svg|Give way ahead (200 m)
File:Cyprus warning road sign stop ahead.svg|Stop ahead (50 m)
= Additional markings =
File:Cyprus warning road sign distance to level crossing.svg|Distance to level crossing
File:Cyprus road sign obstacle.svg|Obstacle
File:Cyprus warning road sign obstacle left.svg|Obstacle left
File:Cyprus warning road sign obstacle right.svg|Obstacle right
= Regulatory signs =
== Prohibitory or restriction signs ==
File:Cyprus road sign no hand vehicles.svg|No hand vehicles
File:Cyprus road sign no motorcycles.svg|No motorcycles
File:Cyprus road sign no mopeds.svg|No mopeds
File:Cyprus road sign no men.svg|No pedestrians
File:Cyprus road sign no motor vehicles.svg|No motor vehicles
File:Cyprus road sign no agricle vehicles.svg|No tractors
File:Cyprus road sign no animal vehicles.svg|No horse-drawn vehicles
File:Cyprus road sign toll post.svg|Toll post
File:Cyprus road sign no horn.svg|No horn
File:Cyprus road sign customs.svg|Customs
File:Cyprus road sign minimum distance.svg|Minimum distance
File:UK traffic sign 619.svg|No motor vehicles (both car and motorcycle)
File:UK traffic sign 811.svg|Traffic has priority over vehicles from the opposite direction
File:UK traffic sign 617.svg|Road closed to all vehicles in both directions
File:Cyprus road sign maximum large.svg|No vehicles with a maximum width beyond 2 meters
File:Cyprus road sign maximum height.svg|No vehicles with a maximum height exceeding 3.8 meters
File:UK traffic sign 622.1A.svg|No goods vehicles exceeding a weight of 7.5 tonnes
File:Cyprus road sign no heavy vehicles.svg|No goods vehicles
File:UK traffic sign 622.7.svg|No towed caravans
File:UK traffic sign 616.svg|No Entry for vehicular traffic
File:UK traffic sign 612.svg|No right turn for vehicular traffic
File:UK traffic sign 613.svg|No left turn for vehicular traffic
File:Cyprus road sign maximum speed.svg|Maximum speed limit
File:Cyprus road sign end maximum speed.svg|End of maximum speed limit
File:UK traffic sign 615.svg|Priority must be given to vehicles from the opposite direction
File:UK traffic sign 632.svg|No overtaking
File:Cyprus road sign end no overpass.svg|End of no overtaking
File:Cyprus road sign no overpass heavy vehicles.svg|No overtaking by goods vehicles
File:Cyprus road sign maximum single weight.svg|Maximum single weight
File:UK traffic sign 671.svg|End of all local bans on moving vehicles
File:Cyprus road sign maximum lenght.svg|Maximum length
File:Cyprus road sign no water heavy vehicles.svg|No water heavy vehicles
File:Cyprus road sign maximum heavy.svg|Maximum heavy
File:UK traffic sign 622.8.svg|Vehicles carrying explosives (such as fireworks) prohibited.
File:UK traffic sign 614.svg|No U-turns for vehicular traffic
== Other regulatory signs ==
File:Cyprus road sign police.svg|Police
File:Cyprus road sign - STOP.svg|Stop sign
File:Cyprus road sign priority road.svg|Priority road
File:Cyprus road sign end priority road.svg|End of priority road
File:UK traffic sign 605.2.svg|Stop, crossroads by children
File:UK traffic sign 7024.svg|Go ahead or proceed for temporary road works using a hand sign
File:Cyprus road sign give way.svg|Give way
File:Cyprus road sign cross guided.svg|Controlled block stopping is prohibited except when waiting for a right turn
== No parking signs ==
File:UK traffic sign 636.svg|No parking
File:UK traffic sign 642.svg|No stopping
File:Cyprus road sign no park impares.svg|No parking on odd days
File:Cyprus road sign no park pares.svg|No parking on even days
File:Cyprus road sign no parking zone.svg|No parking zone
File:Cyprus road sign end no parking zone.svg|End of no parking zone
== Mandatory signs ==
File:Cyprus road sign mandatory go streight.svg|Go straight ahead only
File:UK traffic sign 606 (left).svg|Turn left
File:UK traffic sign 606 (right).svg|Turn right
File:UK traffic sign 609 (left).svg|Turn left ahead
File:UK traffic sign 609 (right).svg|Turn right ahead
File:Cyprus road sign mandatory go or left.svg|Go straight or turn left ahead
File:Cyprus road sign mandatory go or right.svg|Go straight or turn right ahead
File:Cyprus road sign mandatory left or right.svg|Turn left or right ahead
File:UK traffic sign 610 (left).svg|Keep left
File:UK traffic sign 610 (right).svg|Keep right
File:UK traffic sign 611.svg|Pass on either side
File:UK traffic sign 611.1.svg|Roundabout
File:Cyprus road sign one way road.svg|One-way traffic
File:Cyprus road sign one way lateral road.svg|One-way lateral road
File:UK traffic sign 672.svg|Minimum speed limit
File:UK traffic sign 673.svg|End of minimum speed limit
File:Cyprus road sign mandatory chains.svg|Snow chains mandatory
File:Cyprus road sign horse street.svg|Horse street mandatory
File:Cyprus road sign mandatory pedestrian way.svg|Pedestrian road mandatory
= Signs for traffic reduction measures =
File:Cyprus road sign road bump 50.svg|Curving road surface, the speed limit is set at 50 km/h
File:Cyprus road sign road bump 30.svg|Curving road surface, the speed limit is set at 30 km/h
File:Cyprus road sign humped crossing.svg|Humped crossing
File:Cyprus road sign humped pellcan crossing.svg|Humped pellcan crossing
File:Cyprus road sign school.svg|School
File:Cyprus road sign road humps left.svg|Road humps left
File:Cyprus road sign road humps right.svg|Road humps right
File:Cyprus road sign road humps.svg|Road humps
Vienna Convention road sign E17a-EA.svg|Living street
Vienna Convention road sign E17b-EA.svg|End of living street
= Information signs =
File:Cyprus road sign next destinations.svg|Confirmation sign
File:Cyprus road sign destinations road crossing.svg|Direction sign
File:Cyprus road sign destinations white.svg|Direction sign
File:Cyprus road sign destinations blue.svg|Direction sign
File:Cyprus road sign bus stop.svg|Bus stop
File:Cyprus road sign pedonal crossing.svg|Pedestrian crossing
File:Cyprus road sign parking.svg|Parking
File:Cyprus road sign cul de sac.svg|Dead end straight ahead
File:Cyprus road sign cul de sac ahead left.svg|Dead end left
File:Cyprus road sign cul de sac ahead right.svg|Dead end right
File:Cyprus road sign SOS.svg|Emergency phone
File:Cyprus road sign road for motorvehicles.svg|Express road
File:Cyprus road sign end road for motorvehicles.svg|End of expressway
File:Cyprus road sign transitability.svg|Open road (Only for vehicles with snow chains)
File:Cyprus road sign drive on the left.svg|Warning for driving on the left (in Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
File:Cyprus road sign vehicles exit.svg|Vehicle exit
File:Cyprus road sign general limits.svg|General speed limits. Caution. You are driving on the left hand side!
File:Cyprus road sign roundabound destinations.svg|Direction sign at a roundabout
File:Cyprus road sign confirm.svg|Confirmation sign
File:City speed limit sign in Polis, Cyprus.svg|Bulit-up area
= Additional signs =
Vienna Convention road sign H7-V5-1.svg|Allowed only for disabled vehicles
File:Vienna Convention road sign H4a-V1-1.svg|Principle of validity of a no stopping and parking sign placed perpendicular to the axis of the street
File:Vienna Convention road sign H4b-V1-1.svg|Repetition of the validity of a stop and parking prohibition sign placed perpendicular to the axis of the street
File:Vienna Convention road sign H4c-V1-1.svg|End of validity of a stop and parking prohibition sign placed perpendicular to the axis of the street
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 - Pr-1.svg|Distance from the sign to the dangerous point or area of prohibition or restriction
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 - Πρ-2.svg|Length of the hazardous section or area in which a prohibition or restriction applies
File:Vienna Convention road sign H3a-V1-1.svg|Principle of validity of a no stopping and parking sign placed parallel to the axis of the street. The validity of the plate extends over [e.g. 10 m] from the position of the sign and in the direction of the arrow
File:Vienna Convention road sign H3b-V1-1.svg|Reminder of the validity of a no stopping and parking sign placed parallel to the axis of the street. The validity of the plate extends over (e.g. 5m) on both sides of the sign's location.
File:Vienna Convention road sign H9-V1-1.svg|Icy road
File:Vienna Convention road sign H8b-V1-1.svg|Direction of priority road
Other signs
= Street name signs =
File:Dryadon street name sign in Larnaca.svg
File:Multilingual street sign in Kormacit.jpg
Street name signs are not legally defined as signs in the KOK. This gives authorities flexibility in their design and placement. They can be fixed to a pole, wall or building. The text is in ARIAL font. In the free parts of the island (at least), the signs are identical to those in Greece (white letters on a blue background.), and the text reads: ΟΔΟΣ XXXXX/YYYYYY STR. (Where XXXXX in Greek and YYYYYY in English).
However, in the Turkish-occupied territories, designs vary. The signs placed near the Green Line have three languages, Greek, English and Turkish, and the text is XXXXX SOKAK/ΟΔΟΣ YYYYY/ZZZZZZ Str. (Where XXXXX in Turkish, YYYYY in Greek and ZZZZZ in English.). In the rest of the occupied parts it is only in Turkish and is black letters on a yellow background.
Likewise, in Akrotiri and Dekelia, the signs are white with black letters.
{{Multiple image
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = Bellapais street sign nur sokak.jpg
| image2 = Gibraltar lane.jpg
| align = right
| footer = Street name sign in Northern Cyprus (left) and Akrotiri and Dhekelia (right)
}}
= Other official signs =
File:Highway begin in Cyprus.png|Highway
File:Highway end in Cyprus.png|End of highway
File:Informational sign on a motorway in Cyprus.svg|Highway exit warning
File:Motorway exit sign in Cyprus.png|Motorway exit
File:UK traffic sign 955.svg|Cycle lane
File:UK traffic sign 957.svg|Cycle path separated from pedestrian path.
File:UK traffic sign 957R.svg|Cycle path separated from pedestrian path. (Alternative)
File:UK traffic sign 956.svg|Road shared by cyclists and pedestrians.
File:UK traffic sign 953.svg|Road shared by bicycles and buses
File:UK traffic sign 951.svg|No bicycles allowed
File:UK traffic sign 950.svg|Road with special measures for cyclists.
File:UK traffic sign 879.svg|Speed camera
= Road signs in Akrotiri and Dhekelia =
Although Akrotiri and Dhekelia is a British Overseas Territory and it has British military bases and installations formerly part of the Crown colony of Cyprus, there is no differentiation in terms of signs and they are defined by the same legislation that is defined in most of the island.{{Cite web |date=2012-02-04 |title=Sovereign Base Areas - Administration |url=http://www.sba.mod.uk/admin.htm |access-date=2023-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204041203/http://www.sba.mod.uk/admin.htm |archive-date=2012-02-04 }}
= Northern Cyprus =
In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a de facto state formed after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and that declared its independence from the Republic of Cyprus in 1983, road signs have the same design features as those used in Turkey. Typical differences from signs used in the Republic of Cyprus are:
- DUR instead of STOP on stop sign, although in some cases STOP appears together with DUR or just STOP, despite the rule;
- Red crescent instead of red cross on first aid signs and text in Turkish.
File:Turkish_Stop_Sign.svg|Turkish stop sign
TRNC border sign 01.svg|"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" — TRNC sign, where it is placed at the "border" customs with the free piece
TRNC border sign 02.svg|"Welcome to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" — TRNC sign, where it is placed at the "border" customs with the free piece
File:Roundabout_road_sign_in_Cyprus1.svg|Roundabout sign leading to Nicosia, Larnaca, Athienou and the Turkish-occupied areas.
File:Warning_sign_in_Cyprus.png|"Stop — Turkish occupied area". Sign of the Republic of Cyprus, where it is placed on the green cease-fire line.
File:Road_sign_(North_Cyprus).JPG|Turkish language car ban sign. The Turkish text means "Vehicles may not enter"
File:Zyamet_(Leonarisso).JPG|Turkish direction sign for Leonarisso (Ziyamet)
References
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