UNITED
NATIONS
CONFERENCE ON ROAD TRAFFIC
Vienna,
7 October - 8 November 1968
Final Act
Convention on Road Traffic
Convention on Road Signs and Signals
Conference Des Nations Unies
Sur La Circulation Routiere
Vienne, 7 Octobre - 8 Nombre 1968
Acte Final
Convention su la circulation
routiere
Convention su la signalisation routiere
FINAL ACT AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
Geneva, 1969
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FINAL
ACT AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
I Page
Final Act of the United Nations
Conference
on Road Traffic
II
Convention on Road Traffic
Chapter 1. General Provisions
Article
1 - Definitions
Article 2 - Annexes to the Convention
Article 3 - Obligations of the Contracting Parties
Article
4 - Signs and Signals
Chapter II. Rules of the Road
Article 5
- Status of Signs and Signals
Article 6 - Instructions given by authorized
Officials
Article 7 - General Rules
Article 8
- Drivers
Article 9 - Flocks and Herds
Article 10
- Position on the Carriageway
Article 11 - Overtaking and Movement of Traffic in Lines
Article 12 - Passing of Oncoming Traffic
Article 13 -
Speed and Distance Between Vehicles
Article 14 - General Requirements Governing Maneuvers
Article 15 - Special Regulations relating to Regular Public-Transport Service Vehicles
Article 16 - Change of Direction
Article 17 - Slowing
down
Article 18 - Intersections and Obligations to give Way
Article
19 - Level-crossings
Article 20 - Rules applicable to Pedestrians
Article 21 - Behavior of Drivers towards Pedestrians
Article 22 - Islands
on the Carriageway
Article 23 - Standing and Parking
Article 24
- Opening of Doors
Article 25 - Motorways and Similar Roads
Article
26 - Special rules applicable to Procession and Handicapped Persons
Article 27
- Special Rules applicable to Cyclists, Mopped Drivers and Motor Cyclists .
Article 28
- Audible and Luminous Warnings
Article 29 - Rail-bone Vehicles
Article 30 - Loading of Vehicles
Article 31 - Behaviors in Case of Accident
Article 32 - Lighting: General Requirements
Article 33
- Lighting: Rules for the Use of the Lights specified in Annex 5
Article 34 - Exemptions
Chapter
III. Condition for the Admission of Motor Vehicles and Trailers to International Traffic
Article 35
- Registration
Article 36 - Registration Number
Article 37 - Distinguishing
Sign of the
State of Registration
Article 38 - Identification Marks
Article 39 - Technical Requirements
Article 40 - Transitional Provision
Chapter
IV. Drivers of Motor Vehicles
Article 41 - Validity of Driving
Licenses
Article 42 - Suspension of the Validity of Driving Licenses
Article 43 - Transitional Provisions
Chapter V. Conditions for the Admission of Cycles and Mopeds to International Traffic
Article 44
Chapter VI. Final Provisions
Article 45
Article
46
Article 47
Article 48
Article 49
Article 50
Article 51
Article 52
Article 53
Article 54
Article 55
Article 56
Annex I.
Exceptions to the Obligation to admit Motor Vehicles and Trailers in International Traffic
Annex 2.
Registration Number of Motor Vehicles and Trailers in International Traffic
The Governments of the following states were represented
at the conference by the delegation:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
Canada
Central African Republic
Chile
China
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Federal Republic of Germany
Finland
France
Gabon
Ghana
Greece
Holy See
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Kuwait
Liberia
Libya
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mali
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Romania
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
United Arab Republic
United Kingdom
of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
United States of America
Venezuela
Yugoslavia
The
Governments of the following States had observers at the Conference:
Bolivia
Colombia
Cuba
Guatemala
Nicaragua
The International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization and the International Atomic
Energy Agency were represented at the Conference in a consultative capacity.
The following organizations were represented at
the Conference by observers:
A - Inter-governmental organizations
Commission of the European Communities
Council of Europe
European Conference of Ministers of Transport
International Institute for the Unification of Private
Law
League of Arab States
Organization for the Collaboration of Railways
Nordic Council
B - Non-governmental organizations
European Insurance Committee
International Association for the Prevention
of Road Accidents
International Chamber of Commerce
International Commission
on Illumination
International confederation of Free Trade Unions
International
Criminal Police Organization
International Federation of Christian Trade Unions
International Federation of Senior Police Officers
International Organization for Standardization
International Permanent Bureau of Motor Cycle Manufacturers
International Permanent
Bureau of Motor Manufacturers
International Road Federation
International
Road Transport Union
International Union of Official Travel Organizations
International Union of Public Transport
International Union of Railways
League
of Red Cross Societies
World Federation of Trade Unions
World Touring and
Automobile Organization
3. The conference had before it and used as a basis for discussion a draft Convention on
Road Traffic and a draft Convention on Road Signs and Signals prepared by the Secretary-General.
4. On the basis of its deliberations,
as recorded in the summary records of its plenary meetings and in the summary records of the decisions of its main committees,
the Conference prepared and opened for signature a Convention on Road Traffic and a Convention on Road Signs and Signals.
5. In
addition, the Conference adopted by acclimation the following resolution entitled
"A tribute to the Government
and People of the Republic of Austria"
"The United Nations Conference on Road Traffic, at the
end of its work in Vienna on 7 November 1968, wishes to express its profound gratitude to the people and Government of Austria
and to the City of Vienna for the kind and generous hospitality granted to all delegates at the Conference."
In witness
whereof the undersigned representatives have signed this Final Act.
Done at Vienna this eighth day of November one thousand
nine hundred and sixty-eight in a single copy in the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each text authentic.
The original will be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who will send
certified copies to each of the Governments invited to send representatives to the Conference.
Afghanistan ...................................... ....................... Saadullah Yosufi
Algeria
Argentina.................................................................. Carlos Ortiz de Rozas
Australia....................................................................
John Pennezel
Austria........................................................................ Kurt Waldheim, Otto
Mitterer
Belgium...................................................................... Georges Puttevils
Brazil...........................................................................
Sylvio Carlos Diniz, Borges
Bulgaria........................................................................Demir Bortschev
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.................. Andrei Vasilevich Zubovich
Canada..........................................................................
Gilles Sicotte
Central African Republic
Chile .............................................................................
Miguel Serrano
China............................................................................. Pao-nan Cheng
Costa
Rica ....................................... ............................Franz Jos. Haslinger
Cyprus ..........................................................................
Dnos Nicolaou Aphamis
Czechoslovakia ................................... .........................Josef Dykast
Denmark
........................................ ...............................Kristian Frosig
Dominican Republic......................................................Theodor
Schmidt
Ecuador ......................................... ................................Arseno Larco Diaz
Federal
Republic of Germany......................... .............Otto Linder
Finland..........................................
.................................Ensio Helaniemi
France ............................................................................Jean
Gabarra
Gabon
Ghana........................................... .................................Jonathan W. Decker
Greece ......................................................................... Odysseus N. Papadakis
Ole See ........................................................................
Gerolamo Prigione
Hungary......................................................................... Laszlo Foldvari
India
Indonesia........................................................................Junus Pohan
Iran ............................................
....................................Asian Afshar
Israel .............................................................................
Ezra Kamma
Italy............................................ ....................................Lionello Cozzi
Japan
........................................... ..................................Kinya Niseki
Kenya..............................................................................Shashinant
Kantihal
Kuwait............................................................................ Mohammad Saad Khadr
Liberia..........................................
..................................Tilmon Gardinir
Libya .............................................................................
Abdullah Gihril Salah
Luxembourg...................................... ............................Rene Logelin
Malaysia.........................................................................
Abdul Fatah Bin Zakaria
Mali................................................................................ Mahamar
Maiga
Mexico.......................................... .................................G. Morales Garza
Monaco
Netherlands .................................................................. Johan Kaufmann, Adriaan H. Runberg
Nigeria..........................................
................................Etim Inyang
Norway ......................................... .............................RolfNormann
Torgersen
Peru............................................ ................................Enrique Lafosse
Philippines.......................................
..........................Baltazar Aquino
Poland.........................................................................
Jozef.Wojciechowski
Portugal....................................................................... Armando De Paula,
Coelho, Antonio Brito da Silva
Republic of Korea ................................. .....................Tong Un Park
Romania......................................... ............................Victor Mateevici
San Marino.................................................................
Wilhelm Muller-Femricn
Saudi Arabia............................................................... Abdul Munem Bas
Spain........................................................................... Joaquin Buxo-DuIce
Sudan..........................................................................
Ali Yassin
Sweden ......................................... ............................Bertil G. Homquist
Switzerland
...................................... ........................Oscar Schurch
Thailand......................................................................
Manu Amatayakul
Turkey.......................................... ..............................Gultekin Topcam
Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic........................ Markar Makarovich, Yashnik
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics........................Boris
Tikhonovich Shumilin
United Arab Republic................................................ Mahmoud Younis El Ansary, YoussefEzzeldine
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ..... James Richard Madge
United States of America ............William
J. Stibravy, Charles W. Prisk, Henry H. Kelly
Venezuela........................................ ...........................Francisco
Azpurua Espinoza
Yugoslavia...................................................................Lazar Moisov
The President
of the Conference ...................... ......A. Buzzi Quattrini
The Executive Officer..............................
.................F.D. Masson
CHAPTER 4
DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
ARTICLE
41
Validity
of driving license
1.Contracting Parties shall recognize:
(a) Any domestic driver's
license drawn up in their national language or in one of their national languages, or, if not drawn up in such a language,
accompanied by a certified translation;
(b) Any domestic driver's license conforming to the provisions of Annex 6 to
this Convention; and
(c) Any international driver's document conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to this Convention,
as valid for driving in their territories a vehicle coming within the categories covered by domestic driver's license, provided
that the license is still valid and that it was issued by another Contracting Party or subdivision thereof or by an association
duly answered thereto by such other Contracting Party. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to learner-driver
permits.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph:
(a)
Where the validity of the driving license is made subject by special endorsement to the condition that the holder shall wear
certain devices or that the vehicle shall be equipped in a certain way to take account of the drivers disability, the license
shall not be recognized as valid unless those conditions are observed;
(b) Contracting Parities may refuse to recognize
the validity in their territories of driving licenses held by persons under sixteen years of age;
(c) Contracting Parties
may refuse to recognize the validity in their territories, for the driving of motor vehicles or combinations or vehicles in
categories C, D and E referred to in Annexes 6 and 7 to this Convention, of driving licenses held by persons under twenty-one
years of age.
3. Contracting Parties undertake to adopt such measures as may be necessary to ensure that
the domestic and international driver's documents referred to the in subparagraphs 1(a). (b) and (c) of this Article are not
issues in their territories without a reasonable guarantee of the drivers aptitude and physical fitness.
4. For
the purpose of the application of paragraph 1 and sub-paragraph 2 (c) of this Article:
(a) A motor vehicle of the category
B referred to in Annexes 6 and 7 to this Convention may be coupled to a light trailer, it may also be coupled to a trailer
whose permissible maximum weight exceeds 750 kg (1,650 LB) but does not exceed the unloaded with of the motor vehicle if the
combined permissible maximum weights of the vehicles so couple does not exceed 3,500 kg (7,700 LB);
(b) A motor vehicle of the
category C or of the category D referred to in Annexes 6 and 7 to this convention may be coupled to a light trailer without
the resultant combination ceasing to belong to category C or category D.
5. An international driver's
document shall be issued only to the holder of a domestic driver's license for the issue of which the minimum condition lad
down in the Convention has been fulfilled. It shall not be valid after the expiry of the corresponding domestic driver's license.
Article
42
Suspension
of the validity of driver's licenses
1. Contracting Parties or sub-divisions thereof
may withdraw from a driver the right to use his domestic or international driver's document in their territories if he commits
in their territories a breach of their regulations rendering him liable under their legislation's to the forfeiture of his
license. In such a case the competent authority of the Contracting Party or sub-division thereof withdrawing the right to
use the permit may:
(a) Withdrawal and retain international driver's document until the period of the withdrawal
of use expires or until the holder leaves its territory, whichever is the earlier;
(b) Notify the withdrawal
of the right to use international driver's document, or domestic driver's license to the authority by or on behalf of which
the license issued;
(c) In the case of an international driver's document, enter in the space provided for the
purpose an endorsement to the effect that the license is no longer valid in its territories;
(d) Where it has not applied
the procedure for which provision in made in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, supplement the communication referred to
tin sub-paragraph (b) by requesting the authority which issued the license, or on behalf of which the license was issued,
to notify the person concerned of the decision taken with regard to him.
2. Contracting Parties shall endeavor to notify
the persons concerned of the decisions communicated to them in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1(d) of
this Article.
3. Nothing in this Convention shall be constructed as prohibiting Contracting Parties or sub-divisions
thereof from preventing a driver holding a domestic or international driver's document from driving if its is evident or proved
that his condition is such that he is unable to drive safely or if the right to drive has been withdrawn from him in the State
in which he has his normal residence.
Article 43
Transitional provisions
International
driver's document conforming to the provisions of the Convention on Road Traffic done at Geneva on 19 September 1949 and issued
within a period of five years from the date of the entry into force of this Convention in accordance with Article 47, paragraph
1 thereof shall be accorded, for the purposes of Article 41 and 42 of this Convention, the same treatment as the international
driver's documents provided for in this Convention.
