The document summarizes existing guidelines for traffic signs in Bangladesh. It outlines the key classifications of signs, including regulatory, warning, and information signs. It describes the standards for sign placement, materials, maintenance, and road markings that complement signs. The conclusion notes that the existing guidelines need to be updated to provide more uniformity, address public places and transportation hubs, and consider needs of disabled people.

1. Review of Existing Guidelines For
“Signs” in Bangladesh
Sabrena Jahan Ohi
Student ID: 15BR903
M1 Student
Transportation and Urban Engineering Laboratory

2. Outline

3. Introduction
• Any object, device, line or mark on the road that convey to road users
restrictions, prohibitions, warnings or information, of any description.
• Includes not only signs on posts, but also road markings, delineators,
road studs, traffic signals and other traffic control devices.
• This presentation focuses mostly on signs on posts.
Definition
Signs should -
meet a need
command attention
be legible
convey a simple, clear meaning at a glance
be placed so as to give road users time to respond
command respect
Key Requirement
• The Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983 provides the legal basis for
traffic signing in Bangladesh
• Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (i.e Ministry of
Communication ） introduce new manual in March 2000.
History
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf
Primary
sign
Post
Ground Level
Supplementary
Plate

4. Classification
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

5. Regulatory Sign (Category A)
•40 Regulatory sign (A1-A40)
•2 Special Sign (A1-A2)
•23 Prohibitory sign (A3-A25)
•15 Mandatory sign (A26-A40)
A9
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

6. Regulatory Sign (Category A)
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

7. Warning Sign (Category B)
B25
• 57 types of Warning
sign (B1-B57)
• Place at left-hand
side of the read
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

8. Warning Sign (Category B)
http://www.brta.gov.bd/index.php/traffic-signs

9. •35 Information sign (C1-C35)
•27 Facility and Civic sign
(C1-C27)
•8 Route sign (C28-C35)
Information Sign (Category C)
•C9
•Facility Info.
•Shape:
Square
•Background
: Blue with
White inset
•Symbol:
Black with
Red
crescent
•Border:
White or
none
•C25
•Civic Info.
•Shape:
rectangular
•Background:
White
•Text: Black
•Border:
Black
•C28,C29,C30,C31
•Route Info.
•Shape:
Rectangular
•Background:
-Green (NH)
-White (Other)
Symbol and
Text:
-White (NH)
-Black (Other)
•Border:
-White (NH)
-Black (Other)
C29
C17
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

10. Information Sign (Category C)
Advance Direction sign
Mounted Over head with lane information
Direction sign(at Junction) Direction sign(at junction)
(National Highway) (Regional Road)
Route Confirmation Sign
http://www.brta.gov.bd/index.php/traffic-signs
Advance Direction sign
Map type
(National Highway)
Advance Direction sign
Stack type
(National Highway /Regional Road)

11. Supplementary Plates (Category D)
• 27 types of Supplementary plates (D1-D27)
• Give additional information or clarify the message given by the
main signs.
• Mostly used with regulatory or warning signs.
• Normally mounted below the primary sign leaving a gap of
75mm between them.
• Where the message on the sign is in both Bangla and English
the Bangla will be at the top.
• The English text will have a capital letter height of 60mm.
•D10
•Supplementar
y Plates
•Shape:
Rectangular
•Background:
White
•Text: Black
•Border:
Black
D10
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf
Main sign
Supplementary
sign

12. Lettering Style
•Font: Sulekha TE Bold
•Heights: 211 mm
Bangla
•Font: Transport Heavy
•Heights: 143 mm
•All letters
in English
Should be
in Capital
Letters
English
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-2.pdf

13. Mounting Position
Position Distance
Mounting height
over shoulder
1.8m above highest point of
roadway
Mounting height
over a footpath
2.1m above Footpath level
Overhead
mounting
5.7m Above the carriageway
Clearance from
uncurbed road
edge
Minimum 600mm from
shoulder edge
Minimum 1000mm from road
edge
Clearance from
curbed road
edge
Minimum 300mm from curb
face
Supplementary
plate
75mm below primary sign
Speed (km/h) Visibility distance to sign (m)
50 75
60 100
70 150
80 200
•clearly visible from the
appropriate distance
•no confusion about the
road being referred
•do not obstruct the view
of drivers
•not placed where they
could be struck by
vehicles
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

14. Mounting Position
Roundabout
Crossing
T-Junction
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

15. Materials and Maintenance
• Inspection:
 Missing sign
 Loose plates or posts
 Pointing wrong direction
 Damage or corrosion
 Hidden by tree or bushes
• Cleaning:
Twice a year
 Prioritize
 Cut tree branches, bushes
 Wash signs with water
and mild detergent
• Repair:
 Minor on-site
repairs
 Repainting
in dry weather
• Standard:
British standards (BS873 ‘Road Traffic
Signs and Internally Illuminated Bollards’
– Part 6, 1983) or the equivalent
American standards
• Color:
Luminance factor taken from BS873: Part
6:1983
• Reflectorisation:
Either Full or none
• Sign plate:
 Aluminum (2mmthick)(recommended)
 Steel (1.5-2mm thick)
• Mounting post:
Galvanized steel tube with 50mm internal
diameter and a cap over the top
• Foundation:
Mass concrete or RCC with sloppy
surface
M
a
t
e
r
i
a
ls
M
a
i
n
t
e
n
a
n
c
e
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

16. Road Marking (Category E)
 Classification
• Transverse line
• Longitudinal line
• Pedestrian crossing
• Miscellaneous
 20 types of Road
marking (F1-F20)
 Use reflectorized
lines when justified
for better night
visibility
 Use Reflective
Road studs at
critical sections like
sharp curve
 Road signs and marking Complement each other
F6
F6
F7
F5
F6
F8
Reflective
Studs
F7
http://www.rhd.gov.bd/Documents/ConvDocs/Road%20Sign%20Manual%20Volume-1.pdf

17. •Broken
•Covered with poster or
ink
•Missing
•Hidden behind tree or
objects
Physical Condition
Photo credit: Abdullah Bin Al Islam

18. Conclusion
• For each sign, the Manual describes:
 when to use it
 what its layout or design should be
 what size it should be
 where it should be placed
 how it should be manufactured and erected
• As the former manual contained drawings of just 30 signs, many road authorities
and projects have designed and installed their own traffic signs which resulted in a
wide variation in sign designs and practices. These signs need to be replaced by
the authority for uniformity and less confusion.
• Signs must only be used where there is a clear need for them.
• The incorrect or unnecessary use of a sign makes drivers lose respect for the sign
• As a result vital signs becomes ineffective in situations where it is really needed.
• Public placed lack sufficient sign as there are no specific guideline
• Lack of signs at bus/train station confuse pedestrian and tourists
• Existing guide line need to incorporate need of handicapped people