EAL 338: Transportation and Road

Safety

Road Signage
Dr Mohd Rosli Mohd Hasan
 Contents
• Road Signage
– Regulatory sign
– Warning sign
– Information sign
• Road Numbering
 History
• Road signs in Malaysia are standardised road signs similar to
those used in Europe but with certain distinctions.
• Until the early 1980s, Malaysia closely followed Australian,
Chinese and Japanese practice in road sign design
• Signs usually use the FHWA Series fonts (Highway Gothic)
typeface also used in the United States, Canada, and Australia,
as well as New Zealand,
• However, the new format sign for Malaysia used a special
font developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).
– The font called LLM Lettering. The font has two type of typefaces, LLM
Narrow and LLM Normal.
 Language
• Malaysian traffic signs use Bahasa Malaysia (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:
– The road signs that are located along the Pengerang
Highway: links Kota Tinggi to Sungai Rengit in Johor state
– Genting Sempah-Genting Highlands Highway which links
Genting Sempah to Genting Highlands.
 Road Signage
• Placed at the roadsides:
– to provide information to the road users
• Different functions: So shaped differently

Warning

Regulatory Guide
Example sign: Indicate reinforce traffic
laws, regulations or requirements
Example: Warning to the road users

Indicate hazard ahead!!!!

Example: Provide Information
 Color Code and Applications
• According to the road category under 333 Act,
the Malaysian Road Transport Act 1987
• Various:
– Background and border color
– Font color
 Color Codes
• Highway:
– GREEN with WHITE letter signs for major
destinations
• Non-tolled Federal, State and Municipal Roads:
– BLUE with WHITE letters signs for major destinations
• Motorcycle lane:
– Signs are BLUE
• Border signs:
– GREEN for international and state,
– BLUE for district.
 Color Codes
• Towns and other settlements:
– WHITE with BLACK letters
• Government institutions:
– GREEN with ORANGE letters
• Tourist destinations:
– WHITE with GREEN letters
– MAROON with WHITE letters
 Color Code and Applications
Used for federal,
state and
Used for toll municipal roads
expressway and
highways

Tourist
destinations
Road Names

Blue with orange letters

 Entering town and settlements signs

Government institutions (option 1)

Government institutions (option 2)

 Expressway

White with black letters signs for expressway

names of CLOSED TOLL SYSTEMS.

Yellow with black letters signs for expressway

names of OPENED TOLL SYSTEMS.
 Border

International border signboard

Hulu Selangor district border

Selangor state border signboard

Petaling police district border signboard
QUIZ
 Regulatory Signs
• Regulatory signs are ROUND with WHITE backgrounds, RED
borders, and BLACK pictograms
• Mandatory instruction signs are ROUND with BLUE
backgrounds and WHITE pictogram.
• The exceptions are the STOP SIGN and the GIVE WAY sign

• To indicate or reinforce traffic laws, regulations or

requirements which applied either at all times or at specific
times/ places/ road
• Disregarding regulatory signs may constitute an offence
 Warning Signs

• Signs are DIAMOND-shaped, YELLOW and BLACK in colour

• To indicate a HAZARD AHEAD on the road that may not be
readily apparent to a driver
Information Signs
Very legibly printed,
noticeable placards
that INFORM PEOPLE
of the purpose of an
object, or INSTRUCTS
them on the use of
something

Temporary/
construction
signs
 Information signs
• Malaysian information signs are BLUE.
• GREEN: usually found at toll expressways
• Malaysian tourist spot: signs are MAROON
• The construction signs in Malaysia: diamond-
shaped and are ORANGE and BLACK in colour.
 Road Name Sign
• Different colours and styles according the local
authority to design
Others
Usually found at
the bridge

River signs
 Road Numbering
• Expressways use letters E
• Cycle Roads use letters CR
• Federal Roads only use numbers and digits
 Road Numbering
• Used for identification of roads and road
users’ guidance
Labeled with STATE ROUTES Begin with alphabet E
number only

1 E1
J32
FEDERAL ROUTES Labeled with alphabet EXPRESSWAY
and number
State Road Number Category
Alphabet State
A_ Perak
B_ Selangor
C_ Pahang
D_ Kelantan
J_ Johor
K_ Kedah
M_ Melaka
N_ Negeri Sembilan
P_ Pulau Pinang
R_ Perlis
SA_ Sabah
T_ Terengganu
Q_ Sarawak
 Kilometer Posts
• 2 types
– Type A
– Type B
 Type A
Shall be installed every 5 km

Road number

Primary destination

Distance of primary
destination

Secondary destination

Distance of secondary
destination

Road number
 Type B
Shall be installed every 1 km

Primary destination

Distance of primary
destination

Road number
“ The distance indicated on the km
post shall refer to the distance to the
General Post Office (for large town)
and Post Office (for smaller town) of
the destination”
 Speed Limits
• Gazetted under Section 69 of the Road
Transport Act 1987 – precautionary measure
to ensure road safety
• Urban speed limit vary according to locations
National Speed Limits

Road Speed Limit (km/h)

Expressway 110
Federal Road 90
State Road 90
 Weight Restriction Order (WRO)
• All Malaysian roads and
bridges are subjected to
WRO
• Offence to drive a vehicle
through restriction areas
when weight exceeds the
posted weight limit
 WRO sign for
vehicles with Gross

8 T Vehicle Weight
(GVW) not more
than 8 tones
Thank You!!