Road signs in the countries of South America such as Argentina and Brazil mostly follow road signs used in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Central American countries. Signs are mostly based on the United States' Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), sharing many similarities in design to road signs used in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central American countries.

Of the countries in South America, only Suriname and French Guiana, a French overseas territory, use European-style road signs based on the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, including triangular red-bordered warning signs as in mainland Europe. Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela are the only four South American countries that have signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Chile is also the only country in South America that has ratified this convention.

The vast majority of South American countries use yellow diamond-shaped warning signs as well as in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America. Recognizing the differences in standards across Europe and the Americas, the Vienna Convention considers these types of signs an acceptable alternative to the triangular warning sign. However, UN compliant signs must make use of more pictograms in contrast to more text based US variants. Indeed, most American nations make use of more symbols than allowed in the US MUTCD.

Overview Argentina

Aruba

Bolivia Road signs in Bolivia are regulated by the standard which is based on the United States' MUTCD (FHWA), Central America's (SICA), Colombia's (Ministry of Transport), and Chile's . Thus, road signs used in Bolivia generally have many similarities to road signs used in the United States, Central America, Colombia and neighboring Chile.

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Traffic signs in Colombia are classified into three categories – warning, regulatory and information.Colombia traffic signs manual

Warning signs are very similar to warning signs in United States. They are yellow diamond-shaped with a black symbol (the yellow colour is changed to an orange colour in areas under construction). In certain cases, the yellow colour is shifted to fluorescent yellow (in the school area sign and chevron sign).

Regulatory signs, both mandatory and prohibitory, are circular with a red border, a white background and a black symbol.

Information signs have many shapes and colours. Principally they are blue with white symbols and in many cases these signs have an information letter below the symbol.

Ecuador

Road signs in Ecuador are regulated in and the Ecuadorian technical standard RTE INEN 004-1:2011 . Signs are similar in design to those used in the United States.

Ecuador signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on November 8, 1968 but has yet to fully ratify it.

Guyana Road signs in Guyana generally follow the same design as those used in the United States and are based on the MUTCD with the exception that some signs are reversed since the country drives on the left. However, most of current signs found in Guyana, are non-compliant with MUTCD standards. Metric speed limit signs in km/h are found in Guyana, while in the United States such signs with speed limits in km/h are extremely rare, usually seen near the borders with Canada and Mexico, both of which use the metric system.

Paraguay

Road signs in Paraguay are regulated in the standard developed by the .

Peru Road signs in Peru are regulated by the , developed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Peru. This standard is based on the United States' Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) developed by the Federal Highway Administration, Colombia's and Chile's . As a result, road signs in Peru are similar in design to those used in the United States on one side and in neighbouring Chile and Colombia on the other side.

Suriname Road signs in Suriname are particularly modelled on the signage system used in the Netherlands since Suriname is a former Dutch colony. As Suriname drives on the left, unlike the Netherlands, certain signs are reversed to reflect this system.

Uruguay

Venezuela Road signs in Venezuela are regulated in and are based on the United States' MUTCD.

Table of traffic signs Priority Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Peru Suriname Venezuela Stop Give way Give way to oncoming traffic Priority over oncoming traffic Priority road Priority road ends Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Peru Suriname Venezuela

Warning Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Peru Suriname Venezuela Stop sign ahead Give way sign ahead Traffic signals Roundabout Two-way traffic ahead Divided highway ahead Divided highway ends Crossroads Staggered crossroads Steep ascent Steep descent Traffic queues Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Peru Suriname Venezuela Pedestrian crossing ahead Pedestrians Children Cyclists Domesticated animals Wild animals Road narrows Uneven surface Bump Dip Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Peru Suriname Venezuela Slippery surface Loose surface material Falling rocks Crosswinds Unprotected body of water Narrow bridge Opening bridge Tunnel Low-flying aircraft Trams Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Peru Suriname Venezuela Height limit ahead Width limit ahead Length limit ahead Weight limit ahead Level crossing with barriers ahead Level crossing without barriers ahead Level crossing (single track) Level crossing (multiple tracks) Roadworks Other danger Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana PeruSuriname Venezuela

Prohibitory Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Peru Suriname Venezuela No entry Road closedTemporary use only. rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No pedal cycles Maximum speed limit Minimum speed limit rowspan="1" rowspan="1" By law the Minimum Speed for a given road is half of Maximum Speed set for the same road rowspan="1" rowspan="1" No pedestrians Argentina Aruba Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana PeruSuriname Venezuela

See also

Glossary of road transport terms Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Traffic sign Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

Notes

References