Mexican Road Signs

Mexican Road Sign Translations from Spanish to English

For those of us who are "Spanish Challenged," driving through Mexico presents a few problems. A big one is knowing what all those road signs mean. Since the literal translation can be more confusing to Gringos than the Spanish, (ie: "CONCEDA CAMBIO DE LUCES" translates literally to " Grant Change Of Lights")

"No Deje Piedras Sobre El Pavimento" is a seemingly strange sign we have seen frequently while traveling through Mexico. It means, "Do Not Leave Stones On The Pavement". It's an interesting sign and necessary. People place stones (or fresh cut branches) on the road behind their car to warn others they are stopped or broken down. The problem arises when these people then drive off and leave the stones in the road, creating another road hazard.

We have listed below most of the signs we have seen on our travels through Mexico and the practical translation for each. We are not Spanish Speakers either, so if you find one or more of our translations to be incorrect, please Email us at Info@Consejo.Bz with the correct translation. On that note, a special thanks to reader Bill Malloy for corrections to spelling and orthography (proper use of accents). For example, SE USARA GRÚA means roughly Tow Truck Might Have Been Used, but SE USARÁ GRÚA means Tow Truck Will Be Used.

The international graphic signs are pretty self explanatory

Stop

Stop

Yeild

Yield

Speed Limit

Speed Limit

Inspection Area

Inspection Area

Two Way Trafic

2 Way Traffic

Keep Right

Keep Right

No Passing

No Passing

One Way

One Way

No Parking

No Parking

Parking OK

Parking OK

No Stopping

No Stopping

Speed Bump

Speed Bumps

Center Divide

Center Divide

No Unloading

No Unloading

Prohibited

These Vehicles
Prohibited


Fresh Cut Branches Or Stones In The RoadBreak Down Ahead
SPANISHENGLISH
ACOTAMIENTOSoft Shoulders
ALTOStop
ÁREA DE DESCANSORest Area
ASCENSO Y DESCENSO DO PASAJEBus Stop Ahead
CALLE SIN SALIDADead End
CAMELLON CENTRALCenter Divider
CAMINO CERRADORoad Closed
CAMINO SINUOSOWinding Road
CARRIL IZQUIERDO SOLO PARA REBASARLeft lane Only for Passing
CARRIL LATERAL SOLO POR VEHÍCULOS LIGEROSLaterals Only for Light Vehicles
CASETA DE COBROToll Booth
CEDA EL PASO AL PEATÓNGive Way to Pedestrians
CICLO PISTA/td>Bicycle Path
CON LLUVIA DISMINUYA SU VELOCIDADIn Rain Reduce Your Speed
CON NEBLINA ENCIENDA SUS LUCESIn Fog Turn on Lights
CONCEDA CAMBIO DE LUCESDim Your Lights for Approaching Traffic
CONSERVE LIMPIO QUINTANA ROOKeep Quintana-Roo Clean
CONSERVE SU DISTANCIAKeep Your Distance
CONSERVE SU DERECHAKeep to Your Right
CRUCE DE ESCOLARESSchool Crossing
CRUCE DE PEATONESPedestrian Crossing
CUANDO TOMA NO MANEJEWhen You Drink Don't Drive
CUIDADO CON EL TRENCareful Rail Road Crossing
CURVA PELIGROSADangerous Curve
DESPACIOSlow
DEPÓSITOS DE BASURA EN CASETAS TELEFÓNICASDeposit Trash at the Telephone Booth
DESVIACIÓN A 500 MTSDetour in 500 Meters
DISMINUYA SU VELOCIDADSlow Down
ELIJA SU CARRIL OPORTUNAMENTESelect Your Lane At Earliest Opportunity
ENTRADAEntrance
ENTRADA Y SALIDA DE CAMIONESTrucks Entering and Exiting
ENTRONQUE PRÓXIMOInterchange Near
ENTRONQUE PELIGROSODangerous Interchange
ESTACIONAMIENTO SOLO PARA EMERGENCIASEmergency Parking Only
ESTA CARRETERA NO ES DE ALTA VELOCIDADThis is Not a High Speed Road
ESTE CAMINO NO ES DE ALTA VELOCIDADNot a High-Speed Road
EVITE ACCIDENTESAvoid Accidents
FELIZ VIAJE REBASE CON PRECAUCIÓNHave a Good Trip - Pass with Caution
CINTURÓN DE SEGURIDADFasten Seat Belt (Safety Harness)
GUARDE SU DISTANCIAKeep Your Distance
HOMBRES TRABAJANDOMen at Work
MANEJE CON PRECAUCIÓNDrive with Caution
MANEJE CON PRECAUCIÓN SU FAMILIA LE ESPERADrive with Caution Your Family Waits For You
MAS VALE TARDE QUE NUNCABetter late than never!
MÁQUINA TRABAJANDOHeavy Machines at Work
NO CIRCULAR POR EL ACOTAMIENTONo Driving On the Shoulders
NO DE FRENTENo Entry
NO DEJE PIEDRAS SOBRE EL PAVIMENTODon't Leave Stones on The Highway
NO DEJE PIEDRAS SOBRE EL ACOTAMIENTODon't Leave Stones on The Shoulder
NO DOBLE RODADONo Trucks with Duals
NO ESTACIONARSE EN ACOTAMIENTONo Parking On Shoulders
NO MALTRATE LAS SEÑALESDon't Damage the Signs
NO MANEJE CANSADODon't Drive Tired
NO REBASE CON RAYA CONTINUANo Passing on a Continuous Line
NO REBASE POR EL ACORTAMIENTONo Passing on Shoulders
NO REBASENo Passing
NO TIRE BASURADon't Throw Trash
NO TRANSITE POR FRANJAS LATERALESDo Not Drive on Shoulders
NO UTILIZAR FRENO CON MOTORNo Engine Braking
OBEDEZCA LAS SEÑALESObey the Signs
PARADEROBus Stop
PAVIMENTO DERRAPANTE AL ESTAR HÚMEDOPavement Slick When Wet
PLAZA DE COBROToll Both
POBLADO PRÓXIMOTown Near
POR TU SEGURIDAD RESPETE LAS SEÑALESFor your Safety Respect The Signs
PELIGROSODangerous
PRECAUCIÓN CRUCE DE PEATONESCaution Pedestrian Crossing
PRECAUCIÓN ZONA ESCOLARCaution School Zone
PRECAUCIÓN ZONA DE GANADOCaution Livestock Zone
PRECAUCIÓN ZONA DE TOLVANERASPrecaution Wind Zone
PRINCIPIA TRAMO EN REPARACIÓNMain Highway Under Repair
PRINCIPIA ZONA DE DERRUMBESBegin Rockslide Area
PRINCIPIA ZONA DE VADOSBegin Area of Dips
PROHIBIDO ESTACIONARSENo Parking
PROHIBIDO TIRAR BASURAThrowing Thrash Prohibited
PROHIBIDO TIRAR BASURA MULTA O CÁRCELThrowing Trash Punishable by Fine or Jail
PUENTE ANGOSTONarrow Bridge
RADAR EN OPERACIÓNRadar in Operation
REDUCCIÓN DE ACOTAMIENTOSReduction of Shoulders
REDUCCIÓN A DOS CARRILESReduction to Two Lanes
REDUCTOR DE VELOCIDADSpeed Bumps
RESPETE LIMITE DE VELOCIDADObey the Speed Limit
RETORNO A 2KM CARRIL IZQUIERDOU-Turn In 2km Left Lane
RUTA DE CAMIONESTruck Route
SALIDAExit
SEMÁFORO EN OPERACIÓNStop Light In Operation
SE USARÁ GRÚATow-Away Zone
SI TOMA NO MANEJEDon't Drink and Drive
TERMINA AMPLIACIÓNEnd of Shoulders
TERMINA ZONA DE DERRUMBESEnd Rockslide Area
TOPESSpeed Bumps
TRAFICO PESADOHeavy Traffic Go Right
TRAMO EN REPARACIÓNRoad Repairs
TRANSITO LENTO CARRIL DERECHOSlow Traffic Keep Right
TRÓPICO DE CÁNCERTropic of Cancer
UN SOLO CARRILSingle Lane
USE EL CINTURÓNDE SEGURO Buckle Up
VADO PELIGROSODangerous Dip
ZONA URBANAUrban Zone Slow Dow