Road signs in Sweden are regulated in Vägmärkesförordningen, VMF (2007:90), and are to be placed 2 metres from the road with the sign 1.6 m from the base for motorized roads. Except for route numbers, there are a maximum of three signs on a pole, with the most important sign at the top. All signs have a reflective layer added on selected parts of the sign as is custom in European countries; most larger signs also have their own illumination.
Most signs are based on pictograms, with some exceptions like the prohibition-sign for stop at customs and signal and speed limit signs.
If the sign includes text, the text is written in Swedish, except the stop sign, which is written in English ("STOP").
Swedish road signs depict people with realistic (as opposed to stylized) silhouettes.
Major differences between Swedish and general European signs
Like other countries in Europe, Swedish signs follow the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.
Whereas European signs usually have white background on warning and prohibition signs, the Swedish signs have a yellow/orange colour. This is for the purpose of enhancing the visibility of the sign during the winter, as white signs would be hard to see in the snow. The prohibition signs have a red line across them if there is a symbol on them, not if it is a numeric value. General European prohibition signs do not usually have such a red line. Swedish warning and prohibition signs also have a thicker border than their European counterparts. Traffic signs in Iceland and Finland are quite similar.
Around 1930 some warning signs and prohibitory signs looking like today's signs with yellow background were introduced. The direction indication signs were however yellow with black text. Around 1965, there was a reform where the colour of those were changed to dark blue with white text. Around 1980, Sweden followed the Vienna convention rule that motorways should have a different colour, so green was introduced for them, and medium blue for ordinary roads.
The reason there is a sign indicating private road, is because they are not strictly private. A private road is a road that is not maintained by the state or municipality, but by a private person or association. An owner of a private road in Sweden can prohibit cars (but not people) from using the road. But if the state pays support for the maintenance, cars can't be prohibited. This is mostly the case if several families live along the road. Then they must form an association for it. The Swedish word for this kind of road is "enskild", that can be both translated to "private" and "individual". The background of the sign is yellow, indicating that the quality is often less good, and warning signs might be missing. Signs indicating roads owned by companies or leading to companies usually have white background instead.
Warning signs are triangular in shape and have red borders, but in contrast with those of most other countries that use triangular warning signs, Swedish signs have yellow backgrounds, rather than white. More types of warning signs for animals are used than in most European countries, such as moose, deer, wild boar, reindeer, sheep, horse, and cow appearing alongside roads.
Dangerous curve to left
Dangerous curve to right
Dangerous curves ahead, first to left
Dangerous curves ahead, first to right
Steep downhill
Steep uphill
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on right sides
Road narrows on left sides
Unprotected quayside or riverbank
Uneven road
Speed refulcation bump
Dip
Slippery road
Loose chipings
Falling rocks (from) right
Falling rocks (from) left
Pedestrian crossing
Pedestrian
Children
Cyclist and mopeds rides on carrigeway
Skiers crossing
Equestrian
Moose
Deer
Cattle
Wild horses
Reindeer
Sheep
Wild boars
Roadworks
End of roadworks
Traffic signals
Low-flying aircraft
Side winds
Two-way traffic
Tunnel
Dangerous shoulder
Crossroad intersection
Crossroad without priority
Right way at crooked intersection
Right way junction from the left or right winding junction from right
Right way junction from the left or right winding junction from left
The pedestrian and bicycle crossing signs are priority signs in Sweden, whereas the pedestrian crossing sign is regarded as a special regulation sign in the Vienna convention on road signs and signals. A sign for bicycle crossing is not yet implemented in the Vienna convention.
Prohibitory signs are circular in shape with yellow backgrounds and red borders, except the international standard stop sign that is an octagon with red background and white border and the no parking and no standing signs that have a blue background instead of yellow.
Times the restriction applies. Weekday; Weekday before Sunday or public holiday in brackets; Sunday and public holiday in red.
Parking permitted for specified period between times shown
No parking between times indicated
Blind persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road
Deaf persons crossing or in the vicinity of the road
All way stop
Parking configuration
Parking configuration
Parking configuration
Parking configuration
Parking garage
Length of stretch of road beginning at specified distance from sign
Length of stretch of road beginning at sign
Prohibition effective in both directions of the sign
Prohibition end at sign
Prohibition effective in the direction of arrow
Parking, effective in both directions of the sign
Parking ends at sign
Parking, effective in direction of arrow
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (lorry)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (handicapped)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bus)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (motorbike)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (bike)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (caravan)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan)
Symbol plate for specified vehicle or road user category (car + caravan)
Soft verges
Forestry vehicle crossing ahead
Direction sign
Direction sign
Direction sign
Direction of priority road at intersection shape
Two-way traffic on cycle and moped track
A Supreme Court case has clarified that if there are multiple individually framed additional panels for a road sign, they add information to the road sign, not to each other. The two panels in the case was Avgift (fee) and the other 4 hours 9-18, which means that there is mandatory fee anytime and maximum 4 hours 9 am-6 pm.[1]
Standard & arrow Red: Stop. Red + yellow: The light is turning to green. Green: Proceed. Yellow: Stop, but only if safe to do so.
Flashing yellow: Traffic light malfunction or out of service.
Cycles and moped lights.
Pedestrian lights. Red: Don't walk. Green: Walk.
Public transport lights. "S": Stop. "S" + "–": The light is turning to "I" / arrow. "I" (or arrow): Proceed (for indicated direction). "–": Stop, but only if safe to do so.
Lane-control signals. Red cross: Lane closed. Yellow arrow(s): Lane closed ahead, change to indicated lane(s). Green arrow: Lane open.
Lights at level crossing. Flashing reds: Stop. Flashing white (optional): Signals are operational.
Light signals at opening or swing bridges, ferries, airfields, emergency service stations etc. Flashing reds: Stop.
Flashing yellow(s), accompanied with a sign: Drive with extra caution.
13.3.1 Slow down 13.3.2 Follow the police car and pull up behind it when it stops 13.3.3 Slow down 13.3.4 Drive off the road and stop in front of the police car