Today’s topic post will cover speed signs. Strap in for a lengthy topic that will be divided across two posts. This week an overview of the various speed signs. Who knew there were so many? With next week the connection of speed signs to human behavior.
To move forward on this journey, we’ll start in the USA hop over to Canada, cross over to Europe then dip down to Australia, and end in New Zealand. In the final lap we’ll end with a summary of speed signs. Without further ado let’s strap on our seatbelts and cruise forwards. Each country has a variant of the speed sign, and we’ll end with a summary. Next week, the post will cover how speed signs connect with human behavior.
Speed Signs in the USA
In WikiUSA, Petr Novák (2024) reflected on his experience driving in the USA noting the core difference in the speed signs. The USA is an imperial system, with the use of Fahrenheit instead of Celsius, and Miles instead of Kilometers. When spotting speed signs in the USA each sign shows how many miles to travel per hour. But don’t worry, if you are traveling in the USA or buying a car, the odometer will have been calibrated to reflect the Miles Per Hour.
The Federal Highway Administration has specific places and measures on how and where speed signs can be placed around the USA. This post is not going into that type of review, if you are interested in learning more about that click here. The important takeaway message from the Federal Highway Administration is how the speed signs in the USA look different to other countries. Look at these pictures below then pop over to Canada for a review on their speed sign.
Example of speed sign in USA
Example of speed sign in Canada
Example of Speed Sign in Australia
Speed Signs in Canada
Driving in Canada will feel like the United States of America for the most part. With the core difference in the miles per hour change to kilometers per hour. The next major difference is the presentation of the road and speed signs. All the sign shapes are either rectangles, squares, or diamonds. On those signs, the background color may be yellow, white, black, red, green, blue, or orange.
Variety of Background Colors for Signs
- Yellow Signs – Caution Ahead
- White, Black, and Red Signs – The Law Speaks
- Green and Blue Signs – Road Info Center
- Orange Signs – Construction Alert
Extra Road Sign Info in Canada
Often the speed sign will be in English with extra information on the sign, and the number for the speed.
Keen to drive in Canada, find out more about those road and speed signs here.
Let’s see if Europe has an equally interesting, color-coded road signs. As they did find a creative color scheme with their traffic lights, read about that post here.
Speed Signs Across Europe
Like Canada, Europe uses a similar color system on the background of road signs. Blue is the background you need to look for when stipulated by laws and regulations, like the speed sign. A round shape is often used with the number in the center. Europe is also a metric system, therefore the speed will be measured in kilometers.
At times a red line will cross through the number on the speed sign, to state the speed of that zone has ended. Refer to the difference of images to the left and right.
For more interest and study on international road signs go here. Depending on what region of Europe you are traveling to or in, it is best to check the road rules for that country!
Continuing with the metric system let’s speed over to Australia and New Zealand.
Speed Signs in Australia
In Australia, speed signs are designed to help the community and reduce road tolls, by managing how fast drivers can commute to prevent crashes and traffic delays.
The signs look like those covered in the European speed sign. A round-shaped sign, with a white background, yet with the numbers in black. Surrounding the numbers is a red ring (refer to the image compare in the USA section).
In some locations such as on highways the speed sign is electronic and may flash at the driver to warn of hazards ahead and recommend slowing down. For example, on a highway where the speed would in normal conditions be 100 km, a sign may flash 80 km to advise slowing down for the upcoming traffic congestion.
Other Types of Speed Signs in Australia
Additional speed signs may be on a rectangular shape, with a hazard-like border to indicate the a previous speed is about to end. In some highways this may indicate a change from 110km into a 100km. Other speed signs will indicate school zones, or other high traffic situations.
To learn more about Australia road signs and speed signs visit these links:
Every Australian Road Sign Explained – Right2Drive
Traffic signs | Transport for NSW
Check the road rules as per the appropriate state in which you are driving to make sure you are driving safely! Now let’s jump over to New Zealand and end with a short reflection.
New Zealand
Likewise to Canada, and Europe the road signs in New Zealand are color coded. The blue or red background signs are the compulsory to what you must do or not do while driving. New Zealand also uses a metric system, and the speed will be measured in kilometres per hour.
Read more about New Zealand’s road signs here.
Speed Sign Summary
Well done in getting through all those signs across the globe! You are almost ready for an adventure. But before you set off, have you questioned how these speed signs are relevant to your personal life? Let’s drive into action.
Speed signs tell the driver how fast they are permitted to travel in an area. In the same way it would be wise to know how fast you are travelling through your priorities and tasks. More about that in the next post.
Until then, drive safe while moving fwds.
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