Traffic Signs and Road Markings in Sweden

Swedish road signs are defined in one regulation, the Road Signs Ordinance (Vägmärkesförordningen 2007:90). Every sign has a letter and a number, such as B1 or C31, and the theory test often names signs by their meaning rather than showing the code. Learning the system behind the codes makes hundreds of signs easier to remember.

How Swedish signs are organised

Vägmärkesförordningen (2 kap. 1 §) divides road signs into groups:

A: warning signs (varningsmärken)
B: priority signs (väjningspliktsmärken)
C: prohibition signs (förbudsmärken)
D: mandatory signs (påbudsmärken)
E: guidance signs (anvisningsmärken)
F, G, H and I: direction and location signs, for routes, public facilities, services and tourist destinations
J: information signs (upplysningsmärken)

Transportstyrelsen also uses letter codes for related groups: M for road markings, T for supplementary plates, X for other guidance devices and V for signals given by a flagger.

Signs worth knowing by code

Warning signs (A):

A1: dangerous bend, with the direction of the bend
A10: slippery road
A15: children often cross or are on or beside the road
A19: special risk of animals on or beside the road
A20: roadworks
A34: risk of queues
A40: another danger, described on a supplementary plate

Priority signs (B):

B1, Väjningsplikt: give way to vehicles on the crossing road
B2, Stopplikt: stop before the crossing road, then give way
B3, Övergångsställe: pedestrian crossing
B4, Huvudled: main road. B5 marks where it ends
B6: give way to oncoming traffic. B7: oncoming traffic must give way to you

Prohibition, mandatory and guidance signs:

C27: no overtaking of motor vehicles, except two-wheeled mopeds and two-wheeled motorcycles without a sidecar. It applies until sign C28
C31: speed limit. C32: end of a temporary speed limit
C35: no parking. C39: no stopping or parking
D1: mandatory direction. D3: roundabout
E1: motorway. E5: built-up area. E7: pedestrian street. E9: pedestrian priority area
E11: recommended lower speed (advice, not a limit)

Where a sign applies

Vägmärkesförordningen sets some general rules:

Signs are placed on the right side of the road, lane or track unless stated otherwise (2 kap. 3 §).
Prohibition and mandatory signs placed over the carriageway apply only to the lane they are above. C31 over a lane also applies to the hard shoulder next to it.
A prohibition sign generally applies from the sign to the next junction, unless it is repeated or something else is stated (2 kap. 7 §). C31 is an exception: it applies until another speed limit is signed or until C32, E7 or E9.
A prohibition sign put up together with E5 applies to the whole built-up area unless other signs say otherwise.

Supplementary plates

A supplementary plate (tilläggstavla, T) under a sign adds an extra condition to it. If there are several plates, each one adds to the sign. A plate placed under two or more signs mounted directly above each other applies to all of them (2 kap. 2 §).

Common plates include T1 (length of the stretch), T2 (distance to the place the sign refers to), T6 (times when the sign applies), T13 (all approaches must give way) and T14 (all approaches must stop).

Road markings

Road markings are white unless stated otherwise. Yellow markings may be used for temporary needs, such as roadworks, and then apply instead of the ordinary markings (4 kap. 3 §). The most tested lines:

M1, centre line or lane line: broken line separating lanes, with gaps longer than or equal to the dashes.
M2, edge line: broken line marking the outer edge of the carriageway.
M3, warning line: long dashes with short gaps. It tells you that crossing is unsuitable because of traffic conditions, and can warn of a solid line ahead.
M8, solid line: no wheel may cross it, apart from specific exceptions such as passing an obstacle with special care (Trafikförordningen 3 kap. 11 §).
M9, hatched area (spärrområde): you may not drive on it.
M10 and M11, solid and broken line together: only vehicles on the side of the broken line may cross.
M13, stop line: where you stop for a stop sign or traffic signal.
M14, give way line: the line you should not pass when giving way.
M19, lane arrows: show the suitable lane for the next junction. If the lane is bounded by a solid lane line, you must follow the arrow.

Which instruction wins

The Traffic Ordinance (Trafikförordningen 1998:1276) sets the order in 2 kap.:

A police officer's instruction must always be obeyed (2 kap. 3 §).
An instruction given by a sign, road marking, traffic signal or flagger applies before a general traffic rule if they differ (2 kap. 2 §).
A steady light in a traffic signal applies before a give way or stop sign (2 kap. 2 §).

So at a junction with a working traffic light and a B1 sign, follow the light. If the light is switched off, B1 decides.

Typical theory test traps

B3 and M15 belong together. The M15 crossing marking is painted where sign B3 is put up, and at an unguarded crossing you must give way to pedestrians who are on it or about to step onto it (Trafikförordningen 3 kap. 61 §).
The warning line. M3 does not prohibit crossing like a solid line does, but it tells you crossing is unsuitable.
Prohibition signs after a junction. Most prohibitions end at the next junction. A speed limit does not.
C27 and motorcycles. You may still overtake two-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds where C27 applies.
E11 is not a limit. It recommends a lower speed. C31 sets the legal limit.

FAQ

What do yellow lines mean in Sweden?

Yellow road markings are used for temporary situations such as roadworks and apply instead of the normal white markings.

What is the difference between a warning line and a solid line?

A warning line (M3) tells you that crossing it is unsuitable because of traffic conditions, and it often announces a solid line ahead. A solid line (M8) must not be crossed with any wheel, except in the specific cases listed in Trafikförordningen 3 kap. 11 §.

What is the difference between B1 and B4?

B1 means you must give way to traffic on the crossing road. B4 means you are on a main road, so traffic joining from side roads with give way or stop signs must give way to you.

Signs and markings are some of the fastest points on the theory test once you know the codes. Körkort Hero lets you practise them in 16 languages, with the Swedish sign name shown next to the meaning.

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