The national standard, GB 5768.2-2022 Road traffic signs and markings—Part 2: Road traffic signs, approved on March 15, will be officially implemented on October 1, 2022. The 2009 version of the standard has been revised by SAC/TC 223 on traffic engineering facilities (highway) under the support of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), Standardization Administration of China (SAC) together with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). 

 

Road traffic signs and markings are the guarantees for maintaining traffic order, the rules and guidelines for vehicles and pedestrians to follow, and the basis of traffic management and law enforcement. They are the most fundamental traffic management measures widely used in the world. The 2009 version of the standard has played a key role in improving and normalizing road traffic signs and markings in China, which has boosted the rapid development of road traffic facilities, regulated the road traffic order, improved the operational efficiency of the road network, and raised the public's awareness on traffic safety.

 

Over the past years, the road infrastructure construction has witnessed rapid development with the increasingly faster economic growth and urbanization process. The public's raising demands for a better life and the transformation of passive traffic management towards proactive traffic management have put forward higher requirements for traffic management and infrastructure support. At present, China has completely entered into an automobile society, and the number of motor vehicles has exceeded 400 million. In the automobile era, road traffic signs and markings look like "small facilities", but they imply "great livelihood" for public travel.

 

The standard has been revised at an appropriate time to adapt to the new situation of the automobile era. Adapting the new road infrastructure and the new requirements of traffic management, it adds 18 new traffic signs, for example, "Electric Vehicle Charging Station Sign", "Electric Bike Lane Sign", and "No Electric Bike Sign". Meeting the driver's demand for travel convenience under complex road network and traffic environment, the standard details the sign layout, sign setting, and use requirements. It provides detailed requirements of information volume and selection method on directional signs. The standard strengthens operability, adds traffic sign setting examples appendixes, and gives production illustrations.

 

In the next step, related departments will strengthen cooperation and interaction in a planned manner to improve the new standard promotion, and strengthen industry management, market access, and quality supervision based on the standard, enhance the collection and application of the standard implementation information, and intensify the coordination of the standard implementation effect evaluation, the standard revision and reevaluation, so as to ensure the safe and efficient operation of road traffic in China.