10 uncommon road signs in India

10 Uncommon Road Signs in India

By: Soudamini Mujumdar

Indian roads are full of surprises for even the most veteran drivers. Be it the notorious potholes or the unabashed flouting of rules which is so common that drivers in India do not even give it a second thought.

The traffic department tries to communicate the message of safe driving and safety first through a variety of campaigns, road signs, and now through social media. However, there is always scope for better road engineering and better education among people regarding safe driving and road safety.

Road signs and symbols play a very important part in making drivers aware about possible hazards on roads, the dos and don’ts while driving and cautionary information. Broadly, road signs are divided in three parts- mandatory road signs, cautionary road signs and informative road signs.

While some of these signs like No Parking, Stop, Speed Limits, One Way are fairly common and can be seen on Indian roads, there are signs which are not commonly seen on the roads but at needed at many junctions.

Let’s have a look at the come uncommon but needed road signs for Indian roads.

1. Give Way
   On Indian roads, it’s more like you have to fight for your way in a steady stream of traffic. Drivers sometimes get reluctant to allow other vehicles to pass, especially on a road where lane discipline has to be followed. The ‘Give Way’ tells road users to give the fellow road users on their right way ahead.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Cattle Ahead
   Roads in Indian cities too are infamous for being a favorite rumination spots for Indian cattle such as cows and buffalos. In the countryside, they are used by all types of cattle- be it sheep, camels, oxen, goats etc. While this is not a place specific problem of Indian roads, it could be helpful for road users if areas which are around grazing lands used by cattle are marked with this sign, because animals react unpredictably on roads and amidst traffic.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Slippery Road ahead
   A slippery road is a recipe for disaster and accidents. A road can become slippery because of a lot of things. It can be oil or ice or water or any other such substance which can make roads prone to accidents and become accident black spots. What would really be helpful for drivers is a slippery road sign outside places where there is a possibility of oil spillage on roads or any other type of spillage which might lead to accidents.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Loose Gravel sign
   Apart from ice and oil, what causes slippage is loose sand and gravel. This too is a hazard for riders and should be given a fair warning for. The ‘Loose Gravel’ signboard can be placed around construction sites where gravel is used or around depots and godowns where gravel may be spread on the roads while getting transferred.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Crossing ahead
   This road sign was quite common at a time when unmanned railway crossings were built on roads and we could actually see a train passing from in front of our eyes on the roads. However, with the advancement of road infrastructure and building of new bridges, this road sign is a thing of the past.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Falling Rocks
   When driving at higher altitudes rocks falling on roads can be quite a risk. While you cannot really avoid it if rocks fall suddenly on your vehicle, but you can look out for rocks falling in extreme climates if you see this road sign.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Ferry Sign
   This sign does not mean ferry only for humans, but a ferry for your vehicle too. Many rivers or marshes in India do not have a bridge for crossing. The crossing of water bodies is done through boats and ferries which carry the vehicle owner along with their vehicle to the other side. This sign refers to such a provision.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Compulsory Horn
   While Indians are known for the frequent use of horns on roads as compared for foreign countries and rarely does any road in Indian cities seem completely free of the horn sounds, but in some dangerous road turns or bends, horns are quite necessary to be blown to give a heads up to any driver who may be approaching from the other side of a bend and might be unable to see.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Tongas Prohibited
   Tongas used to be a very common mode of transportation in the recent past, but now the situation is no longer the same. Tongas are barely seen on Indian roads let alone them being prohibited on any stretch. Hence, ‘Tongas Prohibited’ is an unusual road sign for today’s era, one which might have been common in the bygone days.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Restriction Ends
    While there are a lot of signs putting restrictions on drivers such as No Parking, No Overtaking etc. there are rarely any roads left in India which can have this sign at them. Every road needs disciplined driving and disciplined driving means restrictions. So this traffic sign is almost a never used traffic sign for Indian roads.

Have you spotted any of these traffic signs on Indian Roads? If yes, tell us where!
Do you think any of these symbols are relevant for a spot where they aren’t present currently? Tell us about them in comments section and we will try to rectify the situation.