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New green-bordered signs in France suggest speed recommendations, not limits — could Spain be next?
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The new green speed sign in France has confused drivers.
If you’ve recently seen a speed limit sign with a green border instead of the usual red, you’re not alone and no, you’re not imagining it. The new road sign is slowly making its appearance on certain European roads. It may look familiar but its meaning is different. What’s the goal? Encourage safer driving but don’t enforce it with law.
What each color means on the road
The basic rules are: Red means warning, triangles indicate danger, squares provide information, and circles represent rules. But the recent appearance of green-bordered circular speed signs in France is throwing some drivers off — because the colour change changes the meaning.
The green outline does not indicate a mandatory speed limit but rather a recommended one. It’s meant to guide drivers, especially in areas where lower speeds improve safety — but unlike red-bordered signs, it won’t land you a fine if you ignore it.
They first appeared in France and could soon be seen in other European countries. Since most nations follow the 1968 Vienna Convention, which aims to standardise road signage across Europe, it’s only a matter of time before Spain — and others — consider adopting them.
The new green speed signs are not yet official in Spain but the drivers are already confused
Spain’s official traffic regulations have not been updated to include the green-bordered sign. It means that the green-bordered signs you see on Spanish streets are not part of Spain’s legal framework. And here’s where it gets tricky: in some areas, both red-bordered and green-bordered versions of the same speed sign are being placed next to each other — one obligatory, the other just a suggestion.
It’s no surprise that this causes confusion. Drivers aren’t sure which one to follow and that’s a problem, especially when road safety relies on quick, clear decision-making behind the wheel.
In Spain, the hierarchy of traffic signals is clear: First come traffic officer instructions, then temporary signs followed by traffic light, then vertical road signage, and lastly painted road markings.
For now, green is still the winner. If you see both, the red-bordered sign is the one to obey — and the green? This is just a friendly reminder. Keep your eyes peeled: As European traffic systems change, green could become the norm.
