Road signs in Malaysia

Road signs in Malaysia are standardized road signs similar to those used in other nations but with certain distinctions. Until the early 1980s, Malaysia followed closely the Australia-Japan-Switzerland standard of road signs with diamond warning signs and circular signs as restrictive signs to maintain traffic. Signs usually use the FHWA Series fonts (Highway Gothic) typeface also used in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Malaysian traffic signs use Malay, the official and national language in Malaysia. However, English is also used for important public places such as tourist attractions, airports, railway stations and immigration checkpoints. Both Malay and English are used in the road signs that are located along the Pengerang Highway (Federal route JKR|92), which links Kota Tinggi to Sungai Rengit in Johor state.

According to the road category under 333 Act, the Malaysian Road Transportation Act 1987, chapter 67, blue traffic signs are used for federal, state and municipal roads. Green signs are used for toll expressways or highways only. State roads use letters. For example, Negeri Sembilan JKR(N)|70, Melaka JKR(M)|70 and expressways use letters MES-E|--. Federal Roads only use numbers and digits, for example Federal Route JKR|1. However, federal road numbers can also be added with the JKR|FT-- prefix before the route number, which is normally used by the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) and Malaysian police. For example, Federal Route JKR|1 can also be written as Federal Route JKR|FT1. [ms icon [http://www.jkr.gov.my/v2/english/announcement/Brosurpapantanda.pdf Maklumat Mengenai Papan Tanda Arah, Destinasi dan Nombor Laluan Jalan Raya Malaysia] . "Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia". Retrieved on August 23 2008.]

Route number categories

Expressway route numbers

Highway codes

Directional and distance signs

Tolled expressway and highway signs

*White with black letters signs for expressway names of closed toll systems.

*Blue with orange letters for road names.

State border signs
*White with black letters for towns and other settlements.

*White with green letters and Maroon with white letters for tourist destinations.

Warning signs

Malaysian warning signs are diamond shaped and are yellow and black in colour.

Construction signs

Highway concessionaires border limit

Meanings of road signs

Most road signs in Malaysia use Malay (or "Bahasa Melayu"); the official and national language of that country. However, English is still used for important directional signs such as CIQ checkpoints, airports and tourist attractions. Below are the translations for the road signs :

*ARAH = Bound:"Example:" ARAH UTARA = North Bound

*UTARA = North
*SELATAN = South
*BARAT = West
*TIMUR = East
*AWAS = Caution
*KAWASAN KEMALANGAN = Accident Area
*KAWASAN KAMPUNG = Village area
*SELEKOH BAHAYA DI HADAPAN = Sharp corner ahead
*KURANGKAN LAJU = Reduce Speed
*SIMPANG KE = Junction to
*SUSUR KELUAR KE = Exit to
*SUSUR MASUK KE = Entry to "(usually at weighing bridge)"
*PEMBINAAN DI HADAPAN = Construction ahead
*PEMBINAAN TAMAT = End of construction
*BERHENTI = Stop
*JALAN SEHALA = One Way
*BERI LALUAN = Give Away
*ZON HAD LAJU DIHADAPAN = Speed Limit Zone ahead
*HAD LAJU KEBANGSAAN = National Speed Limits
*HAD KETINGGIAN = Height limit
*JALAN = Road
*LEBUH RAYA = Expressway / Highway "(Avenue = usually in Penang only for example "Peel Avenue" become "Lebuh Raya Peel")"
*LEBUH = Street
*PERSIARAN = Drive
*LORONG MEMOTONG DI HADAPAN = Overtaking lane ahead
*IKUT KIRI KECUALI MEMOTONG or IKUT KIRI JIKA TIDAK MEMOTONG = Keep Left Unless Overtaking
*KENDERAAN BERAT SILA IKUT KIRI = Heavy vehicles, please keep left
*KENDERAAN --- KELUAR/MASUK DIHADAPAN = --- Vehicles In/Out ahead
*KECUALI KECEMASAN = Except Emergency
*PERLAHAN = Slow/Slow Down
*LAMPU ISYARAT DI HADAPAN = Traffic lights ahead
*HENTIAN SEBELAH = Layby
*KAWASAN REHAT DAN RAWAT (R&R) = Rest and Service Areas
*STESEN MINYAK = Petrol Station
*KECEMASAN = Emergency
*RESTORAN JEJANTAS = Overhead Bridge Restaurant (OBR)
*TEROWONG = Tunnel
*PERSIMPANGAN BERTINGKAT/PERSIMPANGAN = Interchange
*SUSUR KELUAR = Exit
*NYALAKAN LAMPU ANDA or SILA NYALAKAN LAMPU = Turn on your headlamps/Please turn on headlamps
*ANGIN LINTANG = Crosswind
*GUNAKAN GEAR RENDAH = Shift to lower gears
*LALUAN MOTOSIKAL = Motorcycle lane:*GUNAKAN LORONG MOTOSIKAL = Use motorcycle lane
*KAWASAN SEKOLAH = School area
*AIR TERJUN = Waterfall
*PANTAI = Beach
*KOMPLEKS SEJARAH = Historical Complex
*MASJID = Mosque
*WISMA/BANGUNAN = Building
*LAPANGAN TERBANG = Airport:LAPANGAN TERBANG ANTARABANGSA = International Airport
*LITAR LUMBA = Racing Circuit
*PUSAT KHIDMAT PELANGGAN = Customers Service Centre
*PUSAT PENERANGAN PELANCONGAN = Tourist Information Centre
*JAMBATAN = Bridge
*JAMBATAN TIMBANG = Weighing Bridge
*PLAZA TOL = Toll Plaza
*STESEN KERETAPI = Railway Station
*TANDAS = Toilet
*TELEFON = Telephone
*BANGUNAN IBUSAWAT TELEFON = Telephone exchange building
*MENARA = Tower
*STESEN PENGUATKUASAAN JABATAN PENGANGKUTAN JALAN = Road Transport Department Enforcement Station
*TANJUNG = Cape
*TELUK = Bay
*PULAU = Island
*SUNGAI = River
*PARIT = Canal
*PINTU AIR = Water gate
*KAWASAN TENTERA = Armed forces base area
*KAWASAN LARANGAN = Prohibited area
*KAWASAN BANJIR = Flood area
*KAWASAN KEMALANGAN = Accident prone area

See also

*Integrated Transport Information System
*Malaysian Expressway System
*Malaysian Federal Roads system
*Malaysian Public Works Department
*Malaysian Road Transport Department
*National Speed Limits
*Puspakom
*Transportation in Malaysia

References

External links

* [http://www.jkr.gov.my Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) website]
* [http://www.jkr.gov.my/v2/english/announcement/Brosurpapantanda.pdf Malaysian Road Signs Information Brochure]