Czechia to get new road traffic signs for 2024: Do you know what they mean?

A lot of Czech road traffic laws will change in 2024, including higher parking fines and changes to the penalty system. Motorists in Czechia will also notice different-looking road traffic signs nationwide – as well as some brand-new ones. Online road transport site Garáž.cz has summarized the changes: here is everything you need to know.

Five new traffic signs will appear from 2024, designed to deal with changing laws and also to provide further clarity to existing markers.

These signs illustrate a shared zone – a designated area where special traffic rules apply to all types of motorists and pedestrians. The left sign is presented upon the start of the shared (also known as “meeting”) zone, and the right sign upon exiting. 

The purpose of a shared zone is to improve the traffic situation in city centers with a mix of cars, public transport, cyclists, and pedestrians. In the shared zone, all modes of transport should adhere to a maximum speed limit of 20 kilometers per hour.

This road sign illustrates a parking lot specifically designed for motorists who park their vehicles and then enter another vehicle to carpool (an arrangement between people to make a regular journey in a single vehicle). The "P" refers to parking and "D" to carpooling. It has been introduced to cater to Czechs' growing tendency to carpool.

This traffic sign signifies a service point specifically for the sanitation of facilities in motorhomes and caravans. It indicates a designated area where motorhome and caravan owners can access services such as grey-water discharge and the cleaning of their toilets.

Starting next year, privately owned electric scooters will need to have valid compulsory liability insurance. To regulate their operation, Czechia has introduced a new sign that will display various messages. These include reminding the public about the need for insurance and also highlighting no-entry areas for the scooters.

Specific social service workers will receive a designated symbol for their vehicles that will exempt them from needing to pay for specific parking areas and other tolls. A road sign will correspond to the sticker, informing drivers that it is valid in a certain area.

Several signs will be updated and modified in accordance with new traffic laws. Here are the most significant you should know about.

This sign conveys essential information about the recommended safe distance (bezpečný odstup) to maintain between moving vehicles. Thee new version of the symbol shows the addition of a car. The two arrows positioned between two successive vehicles indicate the minimum safe gap that should be maintained on a road, considering the maximum allowed speed and standard road conditions.

The significantly updated informational sign, known as the "traffic sign for cyclists," provides more important information. It conveys details such as the direction of a cycling route, as well as the path’s placement at intersections and crossing points.

The revised sign designates a dedicated lane or path for cyclists. Directional arrows have been added to increase clarity on where the cyclists can ride.

The electric car symbol has been significantly updated, featuring a familiar motor vehicle pictogram with the addition of an electric plug extending from the car. It will apply to drivers who wish to charge their electric vehicle or park it in a designated spot.

Several currently existing Czech road signs will be supplemented with a text-based road marker that gives further instruction – or meaning – to the original sign. For example, this will be used when specifying certain types of vehicles (such as trucks) can or cannot enter an area. The image below features the text "Apart from loading vehicles," illustrating that only these types of automobiles can enter or park in a specific area.