2.5 Guide & Information Signs

2.5 Guide & Information Signs

Quick Answer: Guide signs (ป้ายแนะนำ, coded น. in the Thai signing standard) tell you where roads go, how far places are, where services are, and what kind of road you are on. They are usually rectangular. The Thai traffic-safety standard uses five colour types: white with black for route numbers and distances; green with white for advance direction signs; blue with white for services, information, and expressway or motorway guidance; blue with a white square for natural attractions, activities, and communities; and brown for historical and religious sites. Guide signs are one of the categories in the DLT's practice test.

Unlike regulatory signs (2.1 and 2.2), guide signs do not give orders. Some, though, such as one-way, dead end, and bus lane signs, tell you about a rule you must still obey.

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1. The Five Colour Types

Do not confuse shapes: a blue circle is a mandatory regulatory sign that you must obey (2.2). A blue rectangle is a guide or information sign.

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2. Direction, Destination, and Distance Signs

• Advance Direction Signs (ป้ายแนะนำล่วงหน้า): Large green signs placed before a junction or interchange. They show which lane or exit leads to which place, so you can change lanes early. Section 36 requires signalling at least 30 metres before changing lanes, and section 22 requires being in the right lane from where the lane markings begin, so read these signs early.
• Destination and Pointer Signs (ป้ายบอกจุดหมายปลายทาง): Usually white with black lettering and an arrow, placed at the junction itself.
• Distance Signs (ป้ายบอกระยะทาง): List the towns ahead and their distance in kilometres.
• Route-Number Signs (ป้ายหมายเลขทางหลวง): Show the highway number. Thailand's four main trunk highways from Bangkok are Highway 1 (north), Highway 2 (northeast), Highway 3 (east), and Highway 4 (south). Longer numbers are regional routes.

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3. Place and Boundary Signs

Guide signs also tell you where you are:

• Boundary signs: province, district, and local-authority boundaries.
• Place-name signs: villages, rivers, canals, and bridges.
• Junction-name signs: the name of the junction ahead (สี่แยก / ทางแยก), which is useful when following directions or reporting an emergency.
• Kilometre stones and markers (หลักกิโลเมตร): Quote these to 1669 or 1193 after a crash or breakdown so rescuers can find you (see 8.2).

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4. Signs That Describe a Road Rule

Several guide signs describe the road layout or a rule, and exam questions often ask what they mean:

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5. Service and Tourist Signs

Blue service signs point to hospitals (H), rest areas (ที่พักริมทาง), parking, fuel, police, viewpoints, and weigh stations. On a long trip, the rest-area sign is a reminder to take a break about every 2 hours (1.2).

Tourist signs use Type 4 (blue, with the symbol in a white square) for natural attractions, activities, and communities, and Type 5 (brown, with the symbol in a brown square) for historical, archaeological, and religious sites.

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6. Using Guide Signs Safely

1. Plan the route before you set off, and know the highway numbers and towns you are heading for.
2. Read advance signs early. Last-second braking or diving across lanes at a gantry is a common cause of crashes.
3. Never cross a solid line or a gore area to catch an exit you nearly missed.
4. If you miss your exit, carry on. Never stop or reverse on an expressway or motorway (4.3). Take the next exit or a proper U-turn point.
5. Keep your eyes on the road. If you need to check a phone map, pull over first (section 43(9)).

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DLT Theory Test Traps

1. Blue circle vs. blue rectangle: A circle gives an order. A rectangle gives information.
2. U-turn point vs. No U-turn: A blue guide sign shows where you can U-turn. A red-ringed circle with a slash means you must not.
3. One-way vs. No entry: A blue one-way sign tells drivers on the road which way traffic flows. A red No Entry disc tells you not to enter from your side.