Europeanisms

“Europeanisms” – traffic relevant vocabulary identified and investigated by INFOTERM for understanding throughout Europe – can be vocalized. Exception: Abbreviated SI units, they cannot be vocalized, but have a clear verbal equivalent. This facilitates verbal communication as needed by text-based systems (like RDS) and voice supported (in-car navigation) systems.

Europeanisms as proposed by INFOTERM for use on Variable Message Signs (VMS throughout Europe):

Euro-
peanism
Meaning Existing in Harmonization
effort
@ Internet access available – to be harmonized
BUS bus Vienna Convention (VC), ISO – as Tern Symbol figure 1.4.1.1 (acc. to ISO 7001)
CARAVAN caravan VC, ISO 7001 – as Tern Symbol 3.3.2.10
CENTRE /
CENTER
(city) centre – as Tern Symbol 4.12 (slight variation according to national ortho­graphy could be considered as acceptable)
CONTROL Control – should be considered
ENTRY entry to a building – should be considered
EXCEPT except for … VC – as Tern Symbol 4.3, a green “tick”
EXIT exit from highway, building… Symbol for “exit” on motorways in confirmed countries: A, D, CZ, ES, F – as Tern Symbol 4.8
FULL e.g. parking area full – should be considered
GRATIS access/use etc. free of charge – should be considered
h hour DIN 1355, ISO/R2015-1971 – as given (left)
H / HALT halt (bus, tram etc. stop) H=hospital in VC, or
H= heli­copter landing in the UK, (not an issue for road scenarios)
according to VC: employment of vehicular symbol instead of “H” (as Tern Symbols for Bus [also ISO], Tram (Tern Symbol 3.3.2.3), …
i /INFO information (point/available/…) Symbol: ISO 7001 – as in Tern Symbol 3.3.2.12
km kilometre (per hour etc.) SI, ISO and VC – as in SI, “km” in lower case letters
m metre/meter SI, ISO and VC – as “m” in lower case letters only, acc. to given standards
METRO metro, underground VC not possible, show local carrier logo combined with METRO as in Tern Symbol 3.3.2.2
min minute ISO 31 (series) – confusion with min. = minimum must be avoided
NO not permitted, not allowed, denied as symbols in VC Annex 1, Chapter C harmonize for provisions not touching VC Chapter C
– as Tern Symbol 4.3, a red “x”
OIL Slippery road due to trail of oil – to be harmonized
OK permitted/allowed Other provisions in VC – as Tern Symbol 4.3, a green “tick”
P / PARKING
parking (area/building/…) VC None, harmonisation given.
P+R park-and-ride confirmed countries A, D, DK, FI, HU, NL, SE, UK as Tern Symbol 3.3.2.2 (acc. to VC)
POL / POLICE police 0 – to be considered
RADAR radar (control) – as Tern Symbol 3.1.3
RADIO Traffic broadcast + frequency – should be considered
SMOG polluted air antiquated type of pollution – should be considered
SOS emergency (telephone, vehicle, …) Antiquated sea distress signal since GMDSS (1999) – should be harmonised
STOP “stop” sign VC – is given, however, variations in size, etc. should be harmonized
t ton (weight limit) SI – as given (left), in  lower case letters
TAXI e.g. “for taxis only” Verbal: VC, Symbol ISO 7001 – “TAXI” in upper case letters (slight variation according to national ortho­graphy could be considered as acceptable)
TEL telephone VC, ISO – as Tern Symbol figure 3.3.4
TRAIN Train (crossing…) VC, ISO 7001 – should be considered
TRAM Tram/Tram stop VC, ISO 7001 – as Tern Symbol 3.3.2.3
TRUCK Lorry, truck – as Tern Symbol element 1.4.1.2
via “reach [location ] via [location B]” – “via” in lower case letters only
WC toilet (available…) ON – as Tern Symbol 3.3.2.20
ZONE e.g. parking zone VC – as in VC in upper case “ZONE”

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