Albania
Australia
Barbados13
Botswana
Bulgaria14,15
With reservations to the following provisions: (a) ..... (b) Annex 1 to the Convention on Road Traffic, which pro- vides that cycles fitted with an auxiliary internal combustion en- gine having a maximum cylinder capacity of 50 cm 3 (3.05 cu.in.) shall not be considered as motor vehicles, provided that they retain all the normal characteristics of cycles with respect to their structure. (c) Section II, paragraph (c) second sentence, of annex 6 to the Convention on Road Traffic, which stipulates: "However, motor cycles with an engine of a maximum cylinder capacity of 50 cm 3 (3.05 cu.in.) may be excluded from this obligation."
Chile
Croatia
Reservation: “In accordance with Article 2 paragraph 1 of the Convention, the Republic of Croatia excludes Annex 1 from the application of the Convention.”
Cyprus
Reservations: "(1) In connexion with article 24 of the said Convention, the Government of Cyprus reserve the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily in Cyprus, if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward or for the carriage of goods and (ii) the driver of such vehicle would by the domestic legislation of Cyprus be required to have a special vocational licence. "(2) In connexion with article 26 of the said Convention, cycles in international traffic admitted to Cyprus shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light to the front, and to show to the rear a red light or a red reflex reflector in accord- ance with the domestic legislation of Cyprus."
Declarations: "(1) In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of ar- ticle 2 of the Convention, the Government of Cyprus excludes annexes 1 and 2 from its application of the Convention. "(2) In accordance with section IV (b) of annex 6 to the Con- vention, the Government of Cyprus will only permit that one trailer be drawn by a vehicle, it will not permit an articulated ve- hicle to draw a trailer and it will not permit articulated vehicles to be used for transport of passengers for hire or reward."
Czech Republic7
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Declaration: “… in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 1 of the Convention, Estonia excludes annex 1 from its application of the Convention.”
Fiji13
Finland
France
Ghana
Reservations: "(i) Cycles in international traffic admitted to Ghana shall from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary show only a white light to the front and show to the rear a red light, a reflex reflector and a white surface with regard to article 26 of the Convention. "(ii) In accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Con- vention, annexes 1 and 2 should be excluded."
Guatemala
26 September 1962
Hungary14,16
Iceland
Declaration: "The Government of Iceland excludes, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention, annex 1 from the application of the Convention."
India
Ireland
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Liechtenstein
Reservation with regard to Art. 26, lit. b "The Principality of Liechtenstein reserves the right to only require motorised vehicles to be equipped with an audible warning device."
Declaration with regard to Annex 1 "The Principality of Liechtenstein excludes, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention, annex 1 from the application of the Convention."
Malawi
Malaysia
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
New Zealand
Norway
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Portugal
Romania14,17
Russian Federation14,18
San Marino
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Reservations: "(1) In connexion with article 24 of the said Convention, the Government of Sierra Leone reserve the right not to permit a per son to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only tem- porarily in Sierra Leone if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward, and (ii) the driver of such vehicle would, by the domestic legislation of Sierra Leone, be required to have a special vocational licence. "(2) In connexion with article 26 of the Convention, cycles in international traffic admitted to Sierra Leone shall, from night fall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light to the front and show to the rear a red light in accordance with the domestic legislation of the territory."
Declarations: "(1) In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of ar- ticle 2 of the Convention, the Government of Sierra Leone ex- cludes annexes 1 and 2 from its application of the Convention. "(2) In accordance with section IV (b) of annex 6 to the Con- vention, the Government of Sierra Leone will only permit that one trailer be drawn by a vehicle, it will not permit an articulated vehicle to draw a trailer and it will not permit articulated vehicles to be used for transport of passenger for hire or reward."
Slovakia7
South Africa
Sweden
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland19
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)14,20
Article 31: Amendments to the Convention shall not enter into force with respect to the Republic of Venezuela until the relevant constitutional requirements have been complied with.
Article 33: The Republic shall be bound by the terms of Article 36 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. That is to say, no case may be submitted to the International Court of Justice except by agreement between the Parties.
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)9
Portugal4
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland5,22,23,24
Reservations:
Reservation:
Amendments to the Convention were proposed by the Governments of Austria (communicated by circular letter 8 October 1962) and France (communicated by circular letter of 11 March 1964). The proposed amendments were not put into effect since the conditions set forth in article 31 of the Convention were not met.
Resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council, during its seventh session (E/1065), p. 8.
The Republic of Viet-Nam had acceded to the Convention on 2 November 1953 notifying VN as a distinguishing sign of vehicles in international traffic. See also note 1 under “Viet Nam” in the “Historical Infomration” section in the front matter of this volume.
On 24 September 1999, the Government of Portugal informed the Secretary-General that the Convention will apply to Macau.
In a communication received on 1 November 1999, the Government of Portugal notified the Secretary-General that “...in accordance with the section IV (b) of annex 6 of the Convention, in Macau it will only be permitted one trailer to be drawn by a vehicle and it will not be permitted an articulated vehicle to draw a trailer, and it will not be permitted articulated vehicles for the transport of passengers.”
Subsequently, on 9 and 15 December 1999, the Secretary-General received communications regarding the status of Macao from China and Portugal (see also note 3 under “China” and note 1 under “Portgual” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume). Upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Macao, China notified the Secretary-General that the Convention will also apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region.
On 6 and 10 June 1997, respectively, Secretary-General received communications regarding the status of Hong Kong from China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (see also note 2 under “China” and note 2 under “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume). Upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, China notified the Secretary-General that the Convention will also apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In addition, the notification made by the Government of China contained the following declaration:
1. In accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, annexes 1 and 2 to the Convention are excluded from application in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. In accordance with section IV (b) of annex 6 to the Convention, in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region an articulated vehicle is neither permitted to draw a trailer nor to be used for the transport of passengers.
3. In connection with article 26 (c) of the Convention cycles in international traffic admitted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light in front and show to the rear both a red light and a red reflex reflector.
4. In connection with section II of annex 6, in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region every motor vehicle other than a motor cycle with or without a sidecar, shall be equipped with direction indicators of one of the types described in paragraph (1) of section II.
5. The Government of the People's Republic of China has reservation to article 33 of the Convention.
6. The accession by the Taiwan authorities on 27 June 1957 by usurping the name of "China" to the Convention is illegal and therefore null and void.
Accession on behalf of the Republic of China on 27 June 1957. See note concerning signatures, ratifications, accessions, etc. on behalf of China (note 1 under “China” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume).
In communications addressed to the Secretary-General, with reference to the above-mentioned accession, communications have been addressed to the Secretary-General by the Governments of Poland, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Yugoslavia stating that, since their Governments did not recognize the Nationalist Chinese authorities as the Government of China, they could not regard the said accession as valid. The Permanent Missions of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics further stated that the sole authorities entitled to act for China and the Chinese people in the United Nations and in international relations, and to sign, ratify, accede or denounce treaties, conventions and agreements on behalf of China, were the Government of the People's Republic of China and its duly appointed representatives.
In a note addressed to the Secretary-General, the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations stated that the Government of the Republic of China was the only legal Government which represented China and the Chinese people in international relations and that, therefore, the allegations made in the above-mentioned communica tions as to the lack of validity of the signature or ratification in question had no legal foundation whatever.
Czechoslovakia had signed and ratified the Convention on 28 December 1949 and 3 November 1950, respectively, choosing the letters "CS" as distinguishing sign and with a reservation. For the text of the reservation, see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 125, p. 53. See also note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
It should also be noted that, upon succession, the Government of Slovakia had selected the distinctive letters "SQ" in application of paragraph 3 of annex 4. Subsequently, on 14 April 1993, the Government of Slovakia notified the Secretary-General that it had replaced those letters by "SK".
See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
See note 1 under “Netherlands” regarding Aruba/Netherlands Antillies in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume
See note 1 under “New Zealand” regarding Tokelau in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
In communications addressed to the Secretary-General with reference to the accession by the Republic of Korea, the Permanent Representatives of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Bulgaria, Mongolia and Romania stated that their Governments considered the said accession as null and void since the authorities of South Korea had no right or competence whatsoever to speak on behalf of Korea.
The former Yugoslavia had signed and ratified the Convention on 19 September 1949 and 8 October 1956, respectively, adopting the letters “YU” as Distinguishing sign of vehicles in International Traffic. See also note 1 under “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, “Croatia”, “former Yugoslavia”, “Slovenia”, “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and “Yugoslavia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
See under "Declarations and Reservations made upon notification of territorial application" .
The Government of the United Kingdom has informed the Secretary-General that it is unable to accept [the reservation to article 33 of the Convention] because in its view it is not of the kind which intending parties to the Convention have the right to make.
Subsequently, in a notification received on 6 May 1994, the Government of Bulgaria notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the reservation made upon accession with regard to article 33. For the text of the reservation, see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 453, p. 354.
In a communication received on 8 December 1989, the Government of Hungary notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw its reservation to article 33 of the Convention made upon accession. For the text of the reservation see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 434, p. 288.
The Government of the United States of America has informed the Secretary-General that it has no objection to this reservation, but "considers that it may and hereby states that it will apply this reservation reciprocally with respect to Romania".
The Government of the United States of America has informed the Secretary-General that it has no objection to this reservation, but "considers that it may and hereby states that it will apply this reservation reciprocally with respect to the Soviet Union".
The Governments of Greece and of the Netherlands informed the Secretary-General that they do not consider themselves bound by the provisions to which the reservation is made, as far as the Soviet Union is concerned.
At the 1949 United Nations Conference on Road and Motor Transport, the Conference placed on record that there would be no objection to a reservation by the United Kingdom in respect of article 26 of the Convention. In the letter transmitting the instrument of ratification of the Convention, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom drew the attention of the Secretary-General to the fact that ". . the reservation made in respect of article 26 of the Convention omits the phrase `and a white surface' between the words `a red reflex reflector' and the words `in accordance with the domestic legislation of the United Kingdom,' which were included in the text of the reservation set out in sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 7 of the Final Act of the United Nations Conference on Road and Motor Transport, 1949. This omission is occasioned by the fact that the white surface requirement has since been repealed by United Kingdom legislation."
The Government of the Republic of Viet-Nam had informed the Secretary-General that it objects to the reservation made to article 33 of the Convention. (See also note 1 under “Viet Nam” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
In a communication received by the Secretary-General on 12 June 1972, the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, upon instructions from his Government, made the following statement:
"Japan has assumed as of May 15, 1972 full responsibility and authority for the exercise of all and any powers of administration, legislation and jurisdiction over "Okinawa" in accordance with the Agreement between Japan and the United States of America concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands signed on June 17, 1971. Under the United States administration, all vehicles were required to keep to the right side of the road in Okinawa. Upon reversion of Okinawa to Japan, the Government of Japan began to take the measures, in conformity with Article 9, paragraph 1 of the Convention on Road Traffic, necessary for shifting the side to which vehicles are required to keep in Okinawa from the right to the left so that there shall be uniformity with the rest of Japan. It is estimated that it will take at least three years before the changes may be smoothly carried out."
Subsequently, in a communication received on 21 August 1978, the Government of Japan informed the Secretary-General that "the said change was completed as of July 30, 1978, there being now the uniform ity in Okinawa with the rest of Japan in conformity with article 9, paragraph 1 of the said Convention".
See note 1 under “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
For declarations and reservations made by these territories upon accession or notification of succession after attaining statehood, see under "Declarations and Reservations" .
In a communication received on 11 May 1971, the Government of the United Kingdom informed the Secretary-General of the follow- ing:
"At the time of the notification of the extension of this Convention to Jamaica in 1959, the Cayman Islands were a dependency of Jamaica, and the extension of the Convention to Jamaica therefore extended it automatically to the Cayman Islands.
"The Convention continued to apply and still applies to the Cayman Islands, which, when Jamaica became independent remained a territory for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible."
Distinctive letters notified to the Secretary-General, prior to the independence of that country, by the Government responsible for its international relations.
As from 15 May 2003. Previously: "RB".
As from 18 November 2009. Previously: "K".
From 1 July 1976 to 1 January 1996: "FR".
Including French overseas territories.
As from 17 December 2015. Previously: "KS"
Including African localities and provinces.
As from 28 September 2021. Previously: "GB".
On 28 June 2021, the Secretary-General received from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in accordance with Article 20 (1) and Annex 4 of the Convention, a notification stating that the United Kingdom is changing the distinguishing sign it had previously selected for display in international traffic on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom, from “GB” to “UK”, and that “this change will apply only to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and will not extend to any territories for the international relations of which the United Kingdom is responsible”. This change will take effect on 28 September 2021, the same date when the change in the distinguishing sign of the United Kingdom under the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic will come into effect.