CHAPTER XI

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

B

Road Traffic20Convention on Road Signs and SignalsVienna, 8 November 1968<superscript>1</superscript>Entry into force6 June 1978, in accordance with article 39(1).Registration6 June 1978, No. 16743StatusSignatories35Parties62TextUnited Nations, <i>Treaty Series </i>, vol. 1091, p. 3; and depositary notifications C.N.61.1994.TREATIES-1 of 31 May 1994 (amendments); C.N.223.1995.TREATIES-2 of 11 October 1995 (acceptance of amendments)<superscript>2</superscript> C.N.1015.2004.TREATIES-5 of 28 September 2004 (proposal of amendments) and C.N.1000.2005.TREATIES-2 of 29 September 2005 (acceptance of amendments); C.N.828.2007.TREATIES-2 of 19 October 2007 (Proposal of corrections to the Convention, as amended) and C.N.32.2008.TREATIES-1 of 18 January 2008 (Corrections to the Convention, as amended).

Participant<superscript>3</superscript>SignatureAccession(a), Succession(d), RatificationAlbania 6 Feb 2004 aAustria 8 Nov 1968 11 Aug 1981 Azerbaijan22 Feb 2011 aBahrain 4 May 1973 aBelarus 8 Nov 1968 18 Jun 1974 Belgium 8 Nov 1968 16 Nov 1988 Bosnia and Herzegovina<superscript>4</superscript>12 Jan 1994 dBrazil 8 Nov 1968 Bulgaria 8 Nov 1968 28 Dec 1978 Central African Republic 3 Feb 1988 aChile 8 Nov 1968 27 Dec 1974 Costa Rica 8 Nov 1968 Côte d'Ivoire24 Jul 1985 aCroatia<superscript>4</superscript> 2 Nov 1993 dCuba30 Sep 1977 aCzech Republic<superscript>5</superscript> 2 Jun 1993 dDemocratic Republic of the Congo25 Jul 1977 aDenmark<superscript>6</superscript> 8 Nov 1968 3 Nov 1986 Ecuador 8 Nov 1968 Estonia24 Aug 1992 aFinland16 Dec 1969 1 Apr 1985 France 8 Nov 1968 9 Dec 1971 Georgia15 May 2001 aGermany<superscript>7,8</superscript> 8 Nov 1968 3 Aug 1978 Ghana22 Aug 1969 Greece18 Dec 1986 aGuyana25 Sep 2008 aHoly See 8 Nov 1968 Hungary 8 Nov 1968 16 Mar 1976 India10 Mar 1980 aIndonesia 8 Nov 1968 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 8 Nov 1968 21 May 1976 Iraq18 Dec 1988 aItaly 8 Nov 1968 7 Feb 1997 Kazakhstan 4 Apr 1994 aKuwait13 May 1980 aKyrgyzstan30 Aug 2006 aLatvia19 Oct 1992 aLiberia16 Sep 2005 aLithuania20 Nov 1991 aLuxembourg 8 Nov 1968 25 Nov 1975 Mexico 8 Nov 1968 Mongolia19 Dec 1997 aMontenegro<superscript>9</superscript>23 Oct 2006 dMorocco29 Dec 1982 aNetherlands<superscript>10</superscript> 8 Nov 2007 aNigeria 3 Feb 2011 aNorway23 Dec 1969 1 Apr 1985 Pakistan14 Jan 1980 aPhilippines 8 Nov 1968 27 Dec 1973 Poland 8 Nov 1968 23 Aug 1984 Portugal 8 Nov 1968 27 Oct 2009 Republic of Korea<superscript>11</superscript>29 Dec 1969 Romania 8 Nov 1968 9 Dec 1980 Russian Federation 8 Nov 1968 7 Jun 1974 San Marino 8 Nov 1968 20 Jul 1970 Senegal19 Apr 1972 aSerbia<superscript>4</superscript>12 Mar 2001 dSeychelles11 Apr 1977 aSlovakia<superscript>5</superscript>28 May 1993 dSlovenia14 Apr 2011 dSpain 8 Nov 1968 Sweden 8 Nov 1968 25 Jul 1985 Switzerland 8 Nov 1968 11 Dec 1991 Tajikistan 9 Mar 1994 aThailand 8 Nov 1968 The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia<superscript>4</superscript>20 Dec 1999 dTunisia 5 Jan 2004 aTurkmenistan14 Jun 1993 aUkraine 8 Nov 1968 12 Jul 1974 United Arab Emirates10 Jan 2007 aUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 8 Nov 1968 Uzbekistan17 Jan 1995 aVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 8 Nov 1968 Austria<i>Reservations: </i>"1. Article 10 (6) of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals is applied with the exception that the sign B, 2a is announced in advance by the sign B, 1 supplemented by a rectangular panel bearing the symbol "STOP" and a figure indicating the distance to sign B, 2a."2. Article 23 (1) (a) (i), article 23 (2) and article 23 (3) of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals are applied with the exception that the green light may also be flashing. The flashing of the green light signifies that the green phase will end immediately."3. Paragraph 6 (signs E, 19 and E, 20) of Annex 5, section F of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals is not applied."AzerbaijanReservation:“In relation to paragraph 1 of Article 46 of the Convention, the Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it doesn’t consider itself bound by Article 44 of this Convention.”Declaration:“The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it is unable to guarantee implementation of the provisions of the Convention in its territories occupied by the Republic of Armenia, until the liberation of those territories from the occupation and complete elimination of consequences of that occupation ...”Belarus<i>Reservation and declarations made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification: </i>The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 44 of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals stating that disputes which relate to the interpretation or application of the Convention may be referred, at the request of any of the Parties concerned, to the International Court of Justice for decision.The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic declares that the provisions of article 37 of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, under which a number of States may not become parties to the Convention, are discriminatory in character, and it considers that the Convention on Road Signs and Signals should be open for participation by all interested States without any discrimination or restriction.The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic declares that the provisions of article 38 of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals are anachronistic and at variance with the Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960).Belgium<superscript>12</superscript>16 May 1989Reservations to articles 10 (6) and 23 (7), and annex 5, section F, 6.Bulgaria<superscript>13</superscript><i>Declaration made upon signature: </i>The People's Republic of Bulgaria declares that the provi- sions of article 37 of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, under which a number of States may not become parties to this Convention, as discriminatory in character, and it considers that the Convention on Road Signs and Signals should be open for participation by all interested States without any discrimination or restriction.The People's Republic of Bulgaria declares that the provi- sions of article 38 of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals are anachronistic and at variance with the Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly on the Granting of Indepen- dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.<i>Reservation made upon ratification: </i>The inscription of words on informative signs (i) to (v) inclusive of article 5, paragraph 1 (c), shall be duplicated in the People's Republic of Bulgaria by a transliteration into Latin characters solely to indicate the terminal points of international routes passing through the People's Republic of Bulgaria and places of interest to international tourism.<i>Declaration made upon ratification: </i>In the People's Republic of Bulgaria mopeds are treated as motorcycles for the purposes of the application of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals [art. 46, para. 2 (b)].Côte d'Ivoire<i>Reservations: </i>Pursuant to article 46, paragraph 1, [of the Convention] the Republic of the Ivory Coast does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 44, under which "Any dispute between two or more Contracting Parties which relates to the interpretation or application of this Convention and which the Parties are unable to settle by negotiation or other means of settlement may be referred, at the request of any of the Contracting Parties concerned, to the International Court of Justice for decision".CubaThe Republic of Cuba considers that the provisions of article 37 of the Convention, although concerned with matters which affect the interests of all States, are discriminatory in nature since they deny a number of States the right to sign or become a party to the Convention and this is contrary to the principle of the sovereign equality of States.The Republic of Cuba declares that the provisions of article 38 of the Convention are no longer applicable because they are contrary to the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (resolution 1514 (XV)), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 14 December 1960, which proclaims the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism in all its forms and manifestations.The Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Cuba does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 44 of the Convention, under which the International Court of Justice is to have compulsory jurisdiction in any dispute which may arise regarding the interpretation or application of the Convention. With regard to the competence of the International Court of Justice, Cuba maintains that, in order for a dispute to be submitted for settlement by the Court, the consent of all the parties concerned in the dispute must be obtained in each individual case.The Republic of Cuba declares that it treats mopeds as motor cycles, in accordance with article 46 (2.b) of the Convention.Czech Republic<superscript>5</superscript>Democratic Republic of the CongoWith reference to the pertinent provisions of the Convention Zaire shall not treat mopeds as motor cycles.Denmark“Reservation to article 27, paragraph 3 "according to which ‘give way’ shall be indicated both by transverse marking and a plate."Estonia<i>Reservation: </i>"Estonia does not consider itself bound by article 44 of the Convention."Finland<superscript>14</superscript><i>Reservations: </i>" <i>1. With respect to Article 10 paragraph 6 and Section B of Annex 2, paragraph 2 (a) (iii) (Advance warning signs indicating obligatory stop): </i>Finland reserves the right to use as an advance warning sign indicating an obligatory stop the "GIVE WAY" sign, supplem- ented with an additional panel including an inscription "STOP" and indicating the distance to the obligatory stop;<i> "2. With respect to Article 18 (Place identification signs) </i>:Finland reserves the right not to use signs E, 9a or E, 9b to indicate the beginning of a built-up area or signs E, 9c or E, 9d to indicate the end of such an area. Instead of them symbols are used. A sign corresponding to sign E, 9b is used to indicate the name of a place, but it does not signify the same as sign E, 9b;.....<i> "4. With respect to Section F of Annex 5, paragraph 6 (Signs notifying a bus or a tramway stop): </i>Finland reserves the right to use signs indicating a bus or a tramway stop which differ in shape and colour from signs E, 19 and E, 20."FranceThe French Government enters a reservation with regard to the application of article 10, paragraph 6, of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals in respect of metropolitan France and French overseas territories:Decisions adopted under the Economic Commission for Europe provide for advance warning of sign B, 2a (Stop) by means of sign B, 1, supplemented by a rectangular panel bearing the "Stop" symbol and a figure indicating the distance to sign B, 2a. This rule conflicts with the provisions of article 10 of the Convention.Germany<superscript>7,8</superscript><i>Reservations: </i><i>Ad article 10, paragraph 6 </i>Article 10, paragraph 6, applies in the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with paragraph 9 of the annex to the European Agreement of 1 May l97l supplementing the Conven- tion on Road Signs and Signals.<i>Ad article 23, paragraph 7 </i>The Federal Republic of Germany does not consider itself bound by article 23, paragraph 7, of this Convention.<i>Ad annex 5, section F, No. 6 </i>The Federal Republic of Germany does not consider itself bound regarding the design of signs E, 19 and E, 20.Greece[The Government of Greece] declares that it has no intention of treating mopeds as motorcycles.Hungary<superscript>15</superscript><i>Declarations made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification: </i>1. The wording of article 37, paragraph 1, of the Conven- tion is at variance with the purposes and principles expressed in the Charter of the United Nations. All States, without any restriction, should be given the possibility of participating in the Convention.2. The provisions of article 38 of the Convention, as such, are anachronistic and are not in conformity with the principles of contemporary international law or the present state of international relations, and they are at variance with the United Nations General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960.<i>Upon ratification: </i>[The Presidential Council of the Hungarian People's Republic] considers itself bound by the provisions of article 10, paragraph 6, of the Convention, relative to the [advance warning signs for sign B, 2], subject to its tenor as defined in the European Agreement supplementary thereto.India"The Government of the Republic of India does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 44 of the Convention."India shall treat mopeds as motor cycles."Indonesia"Indonesia does not consider itself bound by article 44."In conformity with article 1 moped will be deemed as motor-cycle."Iraq<superscript>16</superscript>Ratification of this Convention by the Republic of Iraq shall under no circumstances signify recognition of or entry into any relations with Israel.Lithuania<i>Reservation: </i>"The Republic of Lithuania does not consider itself bound by article 44 of the Convention."LuxembourgWith regard to the provisions of article 10, paragraph 6:The advance warning sign for sign B, 2a shall be sign B, 1, supplemented by a rectangular panel bearing the word "Stop" and a figure indicating the distance to sign B, 2a.With regard to the provisions of article 23, paragraph 7:Red or yellow arrows shall be used on a black circular background.Morocco<i>Reservation: </i>Morocco does not consider itself bound by the contents of article 44 thereof.<i>Declaration: </i>Morocco will treat mopeds as motor cycles.Norway<i>[For the text of a declaration regarding the application of the Convention to the territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen see chapter XI.B.19.] </i>"The Government of Norway shall not be bound by the provisions, in article 10 (6), annex 4 A (2) (a) (iii), annex 4 A (2) (a) (v) and annex 5 F (4) and (5) [of the Convention]."Poland<superscript>17</superscript>Romania<i>Upon signature: </i>The Socialist Republic of Romania does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 44 of this Convention.<i>Upon ratification: </i><i>Declaration and reservation: </i><i>[For the text see the declarations and the reservation made in respect of the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Vienna on 8 November 1968 (chapter XI.b.19).] </i>Russian Federation<i>Reservation and declarations made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification: </i><i>[Same reservation and declarations, mutatis mutandis, as those reproduced under "Belarus".] </i>Seychelles"In compliance with article 46 (2) of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals the Government of the Republic of Seychelles declares that [it] treats mopeds as motor cycles."Slovakia<superscript>5</superscript>SpainIn accordance with article 46, . . . Spain does not consider itself bound by article 44 and enters a reservation with respect to article 38.Sweden<i>Reservations: </i>"(1) Instead of article 10, paragraph 6 of the Convention Sweden will apply the dispositions of paragraph 9 of the annex of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals."(2) With respect to annex 5, section F, paragraph 4, of the Convention, the signs E, 15-shall have a green ground."(3) With respect to article 44 of the Convention, Sweden opposes that disputes in which it is involved shall be referred to arbitration."Switzerland<i>Reservations: </i><i>Ad article 18, paragraph 2 and annex 5, section C </i>Switzerland does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 18, paragraph 2 of annex 5, section C.<i>Ad article 29, paragraph 2, 2nd sentence </i>Switzerland does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 29, paragraph 2, 2nd sentence.<i>Ad annex 4, section A, number 2, letter (d) </i>Switzerland reserves the right to enact, in its domestic legislation, regulations specifying that signs C, 13aa and C, 13ab shall not prohibit drivers from also overtaking motor vehicles whose speed is limited to 30 km/hr.<i>Ad annex 5, section F, numbers 4 and 5 </i>Switzerland does not consider itself bound by the introduc- tory provision that signals E, 15; E, 16; E, 17; and E, 18 shall have a blue ground.<i>Text of the reservations made by Switzerland, as adapted in view of the entry into force of the amendments proposed by Belgium on 31 May 1994: </i><i>Ad article 13 bis, paragraph 2, and annex 1, section E, sub-section II, paragraph 7 </i>Switzerland does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 13 bis, paragraph 2, and annex 1, section E, subsection II, paragraph 7.<i>Ad article 29, paragraph 2, 2nd sentence, article 26 bis, paragraph 1 and annex 2, chapter II, section G </i>Switzerland does not consider itself bound by article 29, paragraph 2, 2nd sentence, article 26 bis, paragraph 1 and annex 2, chapter II, section G.<i>Ad Annex 1, section C, subsectIon II, paragraph 4, letter (a) </i>Switzerland reserves the right to enact in its national legislation a regulation specifying that signs C, 13 aa and C, 13 ab shall not prohibit drivers from also overtaking motor vehicles whose maximum speed is limited to 30 km/h.<i>Ad article 10, paragraph 6, 2nd sentence </i>Switzerland reserves the right to provide in its national legislation, as an advance warning for sign B,2, for an identical sign with an additional panel (model H,1) as indicated in annex 1 section H.Thailand<i>Ad article 13 bis, paragraph 2, and annex </i>"Thailand will not be bound by article 44 of the Convention."Thailand will consider mopeds as motor-cycles."TunisiaDeclaration:In ratifying the accession to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals concluded at Vienna on 8 November 1968, the Republic of Tunisia declares that it does not consider itself bound by article 44 of the Convention and affirms that any dispute which relates to the interpretation or application of this Convention may be submitted to arbitration or to the International Court of Justice only after the prior consent of all the Parties concerned.Ukraine<i>Reservation and declarations made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification: </i><i>[Same reservation and declarations, mutatis mutandis, as those reproduced under "Belarus".] </i>13