Road numbers on signs in Europe

Last updated 9-3-2024

Contents

Introduction

For a large number of signs, it was determined whether various road numbers are indicated. The following criteria were taken into account:

• 1. Road number class (mostly determined by prefix)

  2. Whether the sign is for straight on or turning off

  3. Whether the number also applies to the road one is travelling on when passing the sign

  4. Whether there are other road numbers of other classes on the road the sign is on

  5. Whether there are other road numbers of the same class on the road the sign is on

  6. Whether there are other road numbers of other classes on the road the sign refers to

  7. Whether there are other road numbers of the same class on the road the sign refers to

For France, this gives more than 1400 different combinations. Below, we only show aggregated values per start/destination road class. More information related to concurrent road numbers (the last four criteria above) will be provided later.

For more details on rules see rules.

France

All motorways and all E roads were taken into account, plus a number of major roads.

This leads to a bias towards expressways and major N and D roads. However, this bias is somewhat positively correlated with the traffic density. Overall, it can be expected that the average N or D road is slightly poorer signposted from motorways than according to the results below, while they are better signposted to and from other roads.

Also, it should be noted that road numbers generally do not continue through built-up areas. Some signs inside cities and towns are included in the statistics below, but relatively few since E roads tend to run along bypasses more than the average N or D road.

Summary table

Aggregated per destination road class

Roads with A and E number

Roads with N and E number

Roads with D and E number

Aggregated per destination road class

A and N roads with and without E numbers:

United Kingdom

In 2019 a separate analysis of the indication of A and B numbers was done, see Indication of A and B numbers in Britain.

Marcel Monterie