CONVENTION ON ROAD TRAFFIC
(Vienna, 8 November 1968)
(As amended on May 1, 1971)
Chapter I. General Provisions
Chapter II. Rules of the road
Chapter III. Conditions for the admission to the international traffic motor vehicles and trailers
Chapter IV. Drivers of motor vehicles
Chapter V. Conditions for the admission of bicycles and mopeds in international traffic
Chapter VI. Final Provisions
Applications
Contracting Parties, Desiring to facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety through the adoption of uniform traffic rules, have agreed as follows:
CONVENTION ON ROAD TRAFFIC
(Vienna, 8 November 1968)
(As amended on May 1, 1971)
CHAPTER IV
DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
ARTICLE 10
No provision of this Agreement shall be construed as preventing any Contracting Party from taking consistent with the Charter of the United Nations (995_010) and limited to the situation of the measures that it considers necessary for its external and internal security.
ARTICLE 41 Validity of Driving Permits
1. The 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 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 license conforming to the provisions of this Convention, as valid in its territory for driving, the vehicle category, to control the issuing, on condition that the permit is valid and that it was issued by another Contracting Party or subdivision thereof, or of edineniem authorized by such Contracting Party or subdivision thereof. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to driver license learner driver.
3. The Contracting Parties undertake to adopt necessary measures to ensure that national and international driving permit referred to in subparagraphs "a", "b", and "c" of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be issued to the territory without a reasonable guarantee of the ability of the driver to operate a vehicle and his physical readiness.
5. An international driving permit can be issued only on the basis of the national driver's license issued subject to the minimum requirements set forth in this Convention. International driver's license expires on the expiry of the relevant national driver's license number which shall be entered in an international driving permit.
6. This article does not oblige Contracting Parties:
a) recognize the validity of national or international driving permits issued in the territory of another Contracting Party to persons who were in their territory habitual residence at the time of issuance of this permit, or who have had their habitual residence on its territory after such issue;
b) recognize the validity of the above driver's licenses issued to drivers whose normal residence at the time of issue was not on the territory where they were issued or who transferred their residence after the issuance of certificates to another territory.
Article 42 Suspension of driver's licenses
3. Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as preventing Contracting Parties or subdivisions thereof to prohibit drivers with national or international driving license to drive a car if it is evident and proved that his condition is such that he can not drive a vehicle without jeopardizing for traffic, or if he was deprived of the right to drive in the state where he has his habitual residence.
ARTICLE 43 Transitional provision
International driving permits, complying with the provisions of the Convention on Road Traffic, signed at Geneva on 19 September 1949, and issued within five years after entry into force of this Convention in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 47 of this Convention, will be the application of Articles 41 and 42 of this Convention amount to an international driving permits provided for in this Convention.
ARTICLE 53
Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as preventing any Contracting Party from taking consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and limited to the situation of the measures that it considers necessary for its external or internal security.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONVENTION
Traffic on Nov. 8, 1968 *
* Amendments proposed on Sept. 28, 2004.
Paragraphs 2-7
Amend the current text of these paragraphs read as follows:
2. a) The Contracting Parties shall recognize:
i) Any domestic driver's license conforming to the provisions of Annex 6 to this Convention;
ii) Any international driver's license conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to this Convention, provided that it is presented with the corresponding domestic driver's license valid in its territory for the control of the vehicle, the categories of vehicles, by the permits, provided that the permits are valid and that they were issued by another% D
0? Agreed between the parties or one of its territorial units or an association authorized by such other Contracting Party;
b) a driver's license issued by a Contracting Party shall be recognized on the territory of another Party until such time as this territory is the usual residence of the holder;
c) The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to driver license learner driver.
3. National legislation may limit the validity of the national driving license. Validity of international driver's license is limited to the date of expiry of the national driver's license or the expiration date of not more than one, three, five or ten years from the date of issuance of international driving permit, depending on whichever is earlier.
5. An international driving permit can be issued only on the basis of the national driver's license issued subject to the minimum requirements set forth in this Convention. An international driving permit is issued only by the Contracting Party in whose territory the holder has his habitual residence, issuing the driving permit or recognize domestic driving permit issued by another Contracting Party, it is not valid in the territory.
Article 43 (Transitional Provisions)
2. The Contracting Parties shall issue international driving permits in accordance with the new version of Annex 7, not later than five years after its entry into force. International driving permit issued in accordance with the earlier provisions of Articles 41, 43 and Annex 7 of the Convention before the end of this period remain valid subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 41. "
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 - Behaviour 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-bome Vehicles
Article 30 - Loading of Vehicles
Article 31 - Behaviors in Case of Accident
Article 32 - Lighting: General Requirements
Article 33 - Lighting: Rules ofor 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 Licensess
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:
№ Country
1 Afghanistan
2 Algeria
3 Argentina
4 Australia
5 Austria
6 Belgium
7 Brazil
8 Bulgaria
9 Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
10 Canada
11 Central African Republic
12 Chile
13 China
14 Costa Rica
15 Cyprus
16 Czechoslovakia
17 Denmark
18 Dominican Republic
19 Ecuador
20 Federal Republic of Germany
21 Finland
22 France
23 Gabon
24 Ghana
25 Greece
26 Holy See
27 Hungary
28 India
29 Indonesia
30 Iran
31 Israel
32 Italy
33 Japan
34 Kenya
35 Kuwait
36 Liberia
37 Libya
38 Luxembourg
39 Malaysia
40 Mali
41 Mexico
42 Monaco
43 Netherlands
45 Nigeria
46 Norway
47 Peru
48 Philippines
49 Poland
50 Portugal
51 Republic of Korea
52 Romania
53 San Marino
54 Saudi Arabia
55 Spain
56 Sudan
57 Sweden
58 Switzerland
59 Thailand
60 Turkey
61 Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
62 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
63 United Arab Republic
64 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
65 United States of America
66 Venezuela
67 Yugoslavia
The Governments of the following States had observers at the Conference:
№ Country
1 Bolivia
2 Colombia
3 Cuba
4 Guatemala
5 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-govemmental 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.
№ Country Name
1 Afghanistan Saadullah Yosufi
2 Algeria
3 Argentina Carlos Ortiz de Rozas
4 Australia John Pennezel
5 Austria Kurt Waldheim, Otto Mitterer
6 Belgium Georges Puttevils
7 Brazil Sylvio Carlos Diniz, Borges
8 Bulgaria Demir Bortschev
9 Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Andrei Vasilevich Zubovich
10 Canada Gilles Sicotte
11 Central African Republic
12 Chile Miguel Serrano
13 China Pao-nan Cheng
14 Costa Rica Franz Jos. Haslinger
15 Cyprus Dnos Nicolaou Aphamis
16 Czechoslovakia Josef Dykast
17 Denmark Kristian Frosig
18 Dominican Republic Theodor Schmidt
19 Ecuador Arseno Larco Diaz
20 Federal Republic of Germany Otto Linder
21 Finland Ensio Helaniemi
22 France Jean Gabarra
23 Gabon
24 Ghana Jonathan W. Decker
25 Greece Odysseus N. Papadakis
26 Ole See Gerolamo Prigione
27 Hungary Laszlo Foldvari
28 India
29 Indonesia Junus Pohan
30 Iran Asian Afshar
31 Israel Ezra Kamma
32 Italy Lionello Cozzi
33 Japan Kinya Niseki
34 Kenya Shashinant Kantihal
35 Kuwait Mohammad Saad Khadr
36 Liberia Tilmon Gardinir
37 Libya Abdullah Gihril Salah
38 Luxembourg Rene Logelin
39 Malaysia Abdul Fatah Bin Zakaria
40 Mali Mahamar Maiga
41 Mexico G. Morales Garza
42 Monaco
43 Netherlands Johan Kaufmann, Adriaan H. Runberg
44 Nigeria Etim Inyang
45 Norway RolfNormann Torgersen
46 Peru Enrique Lafosse
47 Philippines Baltazar Aquino
48 Poland Jozef.Wojciechowski
49 Portugal Armando De Paula, Coelho, Antonio Brito da Silva
50 Republic of Korea Tong Un Park
51 Romania Victor Mateevici
52 San Marino Wilhelm Muller-Femricn
53 Saudi Arabia Abdul Munem Bas
54 Spain Joaquin Buxo-DuIce
55 Sudan Ali Yassin
56 Sweden Bertil G. Homquist
57 Switzerland Oscar Schurch
58 Thailand Manu Amatayakul
59 Turkey Gultekin Topcam
60 Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Markar Makarovich Yashnik
61 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Boris Tikhonovich Shumilin
62 United Arab Republic Mahmoud Younis El Ansary, Youssef Ezzeldine
63 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland James Richard Madge
64 United States of America Wlliam J. Stibravy, Charles W. Prisk, Henry H. Kelly
65 Venezuela Francisco Azpurua Espinoza
66 Yugoslavia Lazar Moisov
67 The President of the Conference A. Buzzi Quattrini
68 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 license 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 licenses 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 license 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 license 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 license 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 license, 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 license, 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 license 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 license 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 licenses provided for in this Convention