Last updated 9-3-2024
For a large number of signs, it was determined whether various road numbers are indicated. The following criteria were taken into account:
Road number class (mostly determined by prefix)
Whether the sign is for straight on or turning off
Whether the number also applies to the road one is travelling on when passing the sign
Whether there are other road numbers of other classes on the road the sign is on
Whether there are other road numbers of the same class on the road the sign is on
Whether there are other road numbers of other classes on the road the sign refers to
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.
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.
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In 1.7 % of all cases a wrong number is indicated, instead of or together with correct numbers.
In 2019 a separate analysis of the indication of federal highways (B numbers) on motorways (A) was done, see Indication of B numbers on motorways in Germany.
For the indication of B numbers on other roads see Indication of B numbers in Germany.
Preliminary results based on a non-representative sample of road pictures, mostly on motorways:
Since road numbers are indicated on motorways much better than on other roads, these results are strongly biased towards a good indication of road numbers. Taking arbitrary signs along national roads (with or without E number) will give a much higher percentage with no number at all.
Furthermore the sample size is very small.
See the separate page for N and R numbers Indication of N and R numbers in Ireland.
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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