what do spanish road signs mean

Full Answer

How to say traffic signs in Spanish?

traffic sign (trah-fihksayn) A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house). noun. 1. (general) a. la señal de tráfico. (f) means that a noun is feminine.

What are the road signs in Spain?

• warning signs
• regulatory signs
• prohibitive signs, and
• mandatory signs

How to say Road closed in Spanish?

the road is closed to traffic la carretera está cerrada al tráfico the door was closed to us para nosotros las puertas estaban cerradas Japan's doors have remained closed to foreign rice So many American doors were still closed to black performers When the Federal Open Market Committee meets this week, the doors will be closed to press and public.

What are common road signs?

How many of these 15 road signs can you identify?

1. All motor vehicles prohibited
2. End of minimum speed
3. Level crossing without barrier or gate ahead
4. Cross winds
5. 'Give Way' ahead
6. National speed limit. Drivers must observe the national speed limit dependent on the type of road.
7. Explosives
8. Hazard ahead
9. Uneven road
10. No buses

More items...

Are road signs in Spain in English?

Español: Las señales de tráfico usadas en España. English: The road signs used in Spain.

Why are Spanish stop signs in English?

While the Spanish "PARE" or "ALTO" are used on stop signs in Spanish-speaking countries once colonized by Spain, "STOP" is used in the mother country of Spain (the result of European Union rules specifying English as the language of road signs in order to standardize road travel across EU countries).

What does red Basica mean in Spain?

Red Basica translates to “Basic Network” This means that road is part of the main network of roads within Spain or that region. For example, in Malaga it is on the main road through the city center. This is part of the main network of the N-340 road within Spain, which runs through Malaga.

What sign on the road means?

A white background indicates a regulatory sign; yellow conveys a general warning message; green shows permitted traffic movements or directional guidance; fluorescent yellow/green indicates pedestrian crossings and school zones; orange is used for warning and guidance in roadway work zones; coral is used for incident ...

What does flashing yellow light mean in Spain?

Solid amber lights mean to stop at the stop line and flashing amber lights on the side of the road indicate you're approaching traffic lights or a built-up area with a 50kph speed limit.

What do Mexican stop signs say?

Alto as a noun is the name of the stop sign in some parts of America; as an exclamation ("¡Alto!") it means "stop!" in all the Spanish speaking countries. See Alto in the Diccionario de la Lengua Española (it comes from the German "Halt", from the German verb "halten").

Is it illegal to wash your car in Spain?

Fines ranging from 30€ to 3000€, depending where you live, is what you'll have to pay if you wash your car in the street. Although this prohibition does not apply to your private land (such as a driveway), if you are using the space as a “business” (fixing other people's cars) you could be fined too.

What do blue speed signs mean in Spain?

Just to remind you about the maximum, but also minimum speeds to maintain on Spanish roads. So the round blue signs indicate minimum speed to maintain, while the square ones, like the one below, indicate a recommended speed for that specific stretch of road.

Can I sleep in my car in Spain?

Strictly speaking, the answer to that question is yes. The Spanish road traffic law (Instrucción 08 / V-74) says in broad terms: you can park (and spend the night) in your car (camper) but you are not allowed to camp on public roads.

What are the 4 types of road signs?

The driver should always watch out for road signs, signals and markings which provide useful information....The road signs are categorized into three, namely, regulatory, warning and informative signs.Regulatory Signs: They are mostly circular in shape. ... Warning Signs: ... Informative Signs:

What do speed limit signs look like in Spain?

The maximum permitted speed on a road is indicated by means of a circular sign with a red border and the numbers in black the centre. This is a mandatory speed limit sign, known as R-301.

What is a priority road in Spain?

Priority Road Signs in Spain If driving in a country where you drive on the other side to the road, priorities are likely to the opposite of what you are familiar with, roundabouts being a notable difference. Crossroad ahead, side roads to right and left. Road bends ahead. Priority over oncoming traffic, road narrows.

Where to visit in Spain?

Merida, Spain is a place to discover with the Roman Ruins as a top attraction. Spend Spring in Seville and experience the Feria. Cordoba is devine, check out our 1 day guide to Cordoba, Spain. There are plenty of things to do in Madrid, and it is an all time favorite of ours.

What does red basica mean?

Red Basica translates to “Basic Network”. This means that road is part of the main network of roads within Spain or that region. For example, in Malaga it is on the main road through the city center. This is part of the main network of the N-340 road within Spain, which runs through Malaga.

Do you have to stop if there is a green light in Spain?

Did you know if there is a green light with the stop sign in Spain, you aren’t supposed to stop! The signal light has a higher priority over the sign, so you follow the light. If the lights happen to be out, then the sign would be there to follow.

Do you see a stop sign in Spain?

In Spain, you will not see a stop sign in Spain. It doesn’t say “Alto”, like you would in Mexico. Nope, here the Spanish stop sign is in plain English! It is odd, and I almost forgot about it, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Is Granada a restricted zone?

Granada is especially popular for those camera tickets for driving in a restricted zone. They usually warn you with signs, but you need to see and understand those signs. There are often cameras at then end of tunnels as well. Oh, and if you are driving on a toll road (AP – Autopista), watch your speed there too.

What is the right of way sign?

Right of Way. This sign doesn’t often have text displayed with it, but it is important to know the meaning. You will usually find this on a narrow road, where 2 cars don’t easily fit side by side and opposing cars can’t easily pass each other .

What does "spanish" mean?

Spain means business when they warn you about the speed limit. This sign is warning you to play it safe and control your speed. It usually means there are speed cameras ahead and they will be sending you a ticket in the mail, if you over the speed limit.

What does dirección mean in Spanish?

These are words that sound similar to English, but take on a different meaning. When you use the word dirección in Spanish, it usually doesn’t mean either of those. The word dirección is most commonly used for “an address”, so if you are asking about the address you would ask the dirección.

What does Cambio de Sentido mean?

Cambio de Sentido translates to change of sense or change of way, which means – change of direction. Many roads have a solid white line in the center, which you are not meant to cross. If you need to make a left turn, it is very typical for you to exit on the right, then cross over to make your left turn.

What does "velocidad" mean?

de – of. Velocidad – velocity, speed, rate, fastness. Sometimes you will have the term on a sign by itself, but it is most often displayed with the radar waves, as it is in the sign above. Be on the lookout for the speed camera or radar ahead and control your speed.

Two Signs, One Message

At times two signs placed vertically one over the other complement each other and send a single message to the driver. For example, a warning triangle sign of a bend over a circular sign saying 40 dictates that there is a 40km/h maximum speed during the dangerous bend.

End of Restrictions

The signs that show speed limits and no overtaking are two of the most common signs and on most roads.

Parking, where and when?

We see them every day dotted around our streets. A disc with a blue background and a red border and a red slanting line and we know that it is forbidden to park on the side of the road where it is located. But until where? Always it is until the next junction or intersection. Always? No, just usually.

Other signs

This sign showing a speed limit of 40km/h together with a curve sign means that once you have passed the bend the limitation ends.

When was the Spanish Road Association report published?

The Spanish Road Association (Asociación Española de la Carretera/AEC) published a report on Spanish roads in July 2006, which found that around a third of them were in poor condition and concluded that €4bn was needed to bring them up to standard.

Which countries have the best traffic signs?

Andalusia, the Canaries and Madrid are considered to have the best maintained traffic signs. Emergencies. Emergency telephones, mounted on orange posts, are sited around every 5km (3mi) on motorways and other main roads.

How to get road information?

Road information can be obtained by phone (900-123 505 for general information) or the internet ( http://www.dgt.es ). Note that at holiday times and weekends, phone lines and the website are overloaded and it can be impossible to get through.

Is there signposting in Spain?

In general, signposting in Spain is inadequate, especially in most rural areas, although main routes are usually well signposted. Most road signs are international, although Spain still has many Spanish and local idiosyncrasies. In some areas, direction signs disappear (or everywhere is signposted except where you want to go!) and signs out of towns are often non-existent. It’s advisable to have a good map, particularly when you aren’t travelling on main roads, or to ask someone to give you detailed instructions.

Can heavy rain cause road defects?

Heavy rain in winter can expose major defects in many roads, including relatively new roads (e.g. the A-7 dual carriageway in Guadiaro, Estepona, one side of which collapsed four months after completion!), and some can become treacherous due to inadequate drainage.

Is Spain open to tourists?

Travelling on secondary roads (particularly mountain roads) invariably takes two or three times longer than travelling on national routes. Mountain passes in Spain are usually open all year, although some are closed intermittently. Most are narrow with hairpin bends, no road markings and unprotected roadsides with sheer drops, and aren’t recommended for timid or nervous drivers, particularly in winter.

Is it expensive to drive on a motorway in Spain?

For many Spaniards, driving on motorways is too expensive, so the traffic density is usually low. The same cannot be said of main roads ( carreteras) running parallel to motorways, which are jammed by drivers (including truckers) who are reluctant to pay the high motorway tolls. (Even an offer of half price for trucks attracts few takers.) If you must get from A to B in the shortest possible time, there’s no alternative to the motorway, apart from taking a plane or train. However, if you aren’t in too much of a hurry, want to save money and wish to see more of Spain, you should avoid them. The money saved on tolls can pay for a good meal or a hotel room.

How to tell what a road sign is?

Similar to different road sign colors, you can also tell what a road sign means by looking at its shape. Here are the standard shapes of road signs, along with what they mean: Octagon – A road sign in the shape of an octagon will always be a stop sign. Come to a full stop at an intersection controlled by this sign.

What is the shape of a road sign?

Pentagon – A road sign in the shape of a pentagon will refer to a school crossing or school zone. The color of the sign may be yellow or florescent yellow/green. Crossbuck – All railroad crossing signs are this shape and are placed at each crossing.

What is a median warning?

Median Warning: These signs let you know there is a median ahead and where you should drive to avoid them. This is most often seen in areas where a 2 or 4 lane road turns into a divided highway. Sometimes you will need to briefly “swerve” to one direction as the roadway splits.

What does yield sign mean?

It means slow down, defer to oncoming traffic, stop if necessary, and proceed when it’s safe to do so.

Why are road signs orange?

Orange – Orange road signs are usually temporary signs relating to road work, temporary traffic control, and maintenance warnings. When you see orange road signs, be sure to watch for workers on or near the roadway.

What are the colors of road signs?

Road signs are color-coded as a way to help drivers understand what topic is being communicated. Here is a guide to the colors: 1 Red: Stopping or danger 2 Black And White: Regulations and laws 3 Yellow: Warnings 4 Green: Direction or place 5 Blue: Motorist services such as gas, food, or hotels 6 Brown: Recreational, historical, or scenic sites. 7 Orange: Construction or road maintenance

What is the sign on the left side of the road?

If pedestrians are in or about to enter the crosswalk, stop until they have crossed the roadway, then proceed. Pennant – This sign will be on the left-hand side of the road or highway. It warns you of a no-passing zone. Diamond – Diamond shaped signs are used as warning signs.

Spanish Road Signs Translation

Cambio de Sentido

Control de Velocidad

• Spain means business when they warn you about the speed limit. This sign is warning you to play it safe and control your speed. It usually means there are speed cameras ahead and they will be sending you a ticket in the mail, if you over the speed limit. Control de Velocidadtranslates to control of velocity, control of fastness, or control of your ...

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Right of Way

Common Spain Road Signs