Signed at Geneva on 19 September 1949

Austria 19 Sep 1949 2 Nov 1955

Belgium 19 Sep 1949 23 Apr 1954

China4,5

Denmark 19 Sep 1949 3 Feb 1956

Dominican Republic 19 Sep 1949 15 Aug 1957

Egypt 19 Sep 1949 28 May 1957

France 19 Sep 1949 15 Sep 1950

India 19 Sep 1949 9 Mar 1962

Israel 19 Sep 1949 6 Jan 1955

Italy 19 Sep 1949 15 Dec 1952

Lebanon 19 Sep 1949 2 Aug 1963

Luxembourg 19 Sep 1949 17 Oct 1952

Netherlands 19 Sep 1949 19 Sep 1952

Norway 19 Sep 1949 11 Apr 1957

Philippines 19 Sep 1949 15 Sep 1952

South Africa 19 Sep 1949 9 Jul 1952

Sweden 19 Sep 1949 25 Feb 1952

Switzerland 19 Sep 1949

United Kingdom 19 Sep 1949 8 Jul 1957

United States of America 19 Sep 1949 30 Aug 1950

Yugoslavia 19 Sep 1949 8 Oct 1956

Declarations and Reservations
(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made
upon ratification, accession or succession. For territorial applications, see hereinafter.)

Albania

The Government of the People's Republic of Albania does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 33 of the Convention, which lays down that disputes between Contracting States concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention may be referred to the International Court of Justice by application from one of the parties to the dispute. The Government of the People's Republic of Albania declares, as it has done hitherto, that in each separate case the agreement of all the parties to the dispute is required for the submission of any dispute for arbitration.

Australia

"Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1 of this Convention, annexes 1 and 2."

Austria

15 October 1971

"Austria will not in future apply annex 1 to the Convention."

barbados8

In the notification of succession, the Government of Barbados declared that it wished to maintain the declarations and reservations subject to which the Convention was extended to Barbados by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and which were the same as those made by that Government in its own instrument of ratification.

botswana

"Excluding annexes 1 and 2."

bulgaria9

With reservations to the following provisions:

(a) .....

(b) Annex 1 to the Convention on Road Traffic, which provides that cycles fitted with an auxiliary internal combustion engine having a maximum cylinder capacity of 50 cm3(3.05 cu.in.) shall not be considered as motor vehicles, provided that they retain all the normal characteristics of cycles with respect to their structure.

(c) Section II, paragraph (c) second sentence, of annex 6 to the Convention on Road Traffic, which stipulates: "However, motor cycles with an engine of a maximum cylinder capacity of 50 cm3 (3.05 cu.in.) may be excluded from this obligation."

chile

Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1 of this Convention, annex 1 from the application of the Convention.

CYPRUS

Reservations:

"(1) In connexion with article 24 of the said Convention, the Government of Cyprus reserve the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily in Cyprus, if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward or for the carriage of goods and (ii) the driver of such vehicle would by the domestic legislation of Cyprus be required to have a special vocational licence.

"(2) In connexion with article 26 of the said Convention, cycles in international traffic admitted to Cyprus shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light to the front, and to show to the rear a red light or a red reflex reflector in accordance with the domestic legislation of Cyprus."

Declarations:

"(1) In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of Cyprus excludes annexes 1 and 2 from its application of the Convention.

CZECH REPUBLIC 6

DENMARK

Subject to a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, excluding annex 1 from its application of the Convention.

dominican republic

[The Dominican Republic declares] excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1 of this Convention, annexes 1 and 2 from the application of the Convention and renewing the reservation concerning paragraph 2 of article 1 of the Convention already made in plenary meeting.

fijic

In its notification of succession, the Government of Fiji declared that it wished to maintain the declarations and reservations made on behalf of Fiji when the Convention was extended to Fiji by the Government of the United Kingdom on 16 December 1965.

finland

Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1 of this Convention, annex 1.

france

ghana

Reservations:

"(i) Cycles in international traffic admitted to Ghana shall from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary show only a white light to the front and show to the rear a red light, a reflex reflector and a white surface with regard to article 26 of the Convention.

"(ii) In accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, annexes 1 and 2 should be excluded."

guatemala

Article 33 of the Convention shall apply without prejudice to the provisions of article 149, item 3, of the Constitution of the Republic.

26 September 1962

1. Excludes annex 1 from its application of the Convention.

2. Will only permit that one trailer be drawn by a vehicle and will not permit articulated vehicles for the transport of passengers.

hungary9, c

iceland

Declaration:

"The Government of Iceland excludes, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention, annex 1 from the application of the Convention."

india

"Subject to a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, excluding annexes 1 and 2 from its application of the Convention."

ireland

"1. Annexes 1 and 2 are excluded from Ireland's application of the Convention.

"2. In relation to annex 6, the number of trailers drawn by a mechanically propelled vehicle may not exceed that permitted under Irish legislation."

israel

"Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1 of this Convention, annex 1."

jamaica

"(a) In connexion with article 24 of the said Convention, the Government of Jamaica reserve the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily in Jamaica, if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward or for the carriage of goods and (ii) the driver of such vehicle would, by the domestic legislation of Jamaica, be required to have a special vocational licence.

"(b) In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the said Convention, annexes 1 and 2 shall be excluded from Jamaica's application of the Convention.

japan

"Subject to a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, excluding annex 1 from its application of the Convention."

malawi

"Excluding annexes 1 and 2 from the application of the Convention."

malaysia

"Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, of this Convention, annexes 1 and 2."

malta

"In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of Malta excludes annex 1 from its application of the Convention."

monaco

netherlands

Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1 of this Convention, annex 2.

new zealand

"Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, of this Convention, annexes 1 and 2."

norway

Subject to a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, excluding annex 1 from its application of the Convention.

papua new guinea

"1) Excluding, in accordance with article 2 paragraph 1 of the Convention, annexes 1 and 2.

2) In connection with article 24 of the Convention, the Government of Papua New Guinea reserves the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily, in Papua New Guinea if:

(i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward, and

(ii) the driver of such vehicle would, by the domestic legislation of Papua New Guinea, be required to have a special vocational licence.

3) In accordance with section IV (b) of annex 6 of the Convention, the Government of Papua New Guinea will only permit that one trailer be drawn by a vehicle. It will not permit an articulated vehicle to draw a trailer and it will not permit articulated vehicles to be used for transport of passengers for hire or reward."

philippines

"Subject to a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, excluding annex 1 from its application of the Convention."

portugal

romania9, c

The Romanian People's Republic does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 33, under which any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention may be referred to the International Court of Justice for decision by application from any of the States concerned. The position of the Romanian People's Republic is that the agreement of all the parties in dispute is required in each case for the submission of any dispute to the International Court of Justice for decision.

Russian Federation9, c

The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 33 of the Convention on Road Traffic, which lays down that disputes between Contracting States concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention may be referred to the International Court of Justice for decision by application from any of the States concerned, and declares that the agreement of all the States in dispute is required in each separate case for the submission of any dispute to the International Court of Justice for decision.

san marino

Excluding, in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2, annex 1.

Senegal

Excluding, in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1 of the Convention, annex 1.

Sierra Leone

Reservations:

"(1) In connexion with article 24 of the said Convention, the Government of Sierra Leone reserve the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily in Sierra Leone if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward, and (ii) the driver of such vehicle would, by the domestic legislation of Sierra Leone, be required to have a special vocational licence.

"(2) In connexion with article 26 of the Convention, cycles in international traffic admitted to Sierra Leone shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light to the front and show to the rear a red light in accordance with the domestic legislation of the territory."

Declarations:

"(1) In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of Sierra Leone excludes annexes 1 and 2 from its application of the Convention.

Singapore

The Government of Singapore does not wish to maintain the reservation made by the Government of the United Kingdom at the time of notification of territorial application of the Convention to Singapore.

SLOVAKIA6

south africa

"Subject to a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, excluding annexes 1 and 2 from its application of the Convention."

sweden

"Subject to a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of this Convention, excluding annex 1 from its application of the Convention."

trinidad and tobago

"Subject to the exclusion of annexes 1 and 2."

united kingdom of great britain and northern irelandc

"Subject to the following reservations:

"(1) In connexion with article 24 of the said Convention, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reserve the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward or for the carriage of goods and (ii) the driver of such vehicle would, by the domestic legislation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, be required to have a special vocational licence.

"(2) In connexion with article 26 of the said Convention, cycles in international traffic admitted to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light to the front, and show to the rear a red light and a red reflex reflector in accordance with the domestic legislation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"(3) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reserve the right, in applying the said Convention to any of the other territories for whose international relations they are responsible, to apply it subject to reservations similar to those set out above.

"Furthermore, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare:

"(1) That, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the said Convention, they exclude annexes 1 and 2 from their application of the Convention.

venezuelac, c

Article 31:

Amendments to the Convention shall not enter into force with respect to the Republic of Venezuela until the relevant constitutional requirements have been complied with.

Article 33:

The Republic shall be bound by the terms of Article 36 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. That is to say, no case may be submitted to the International Court of Justice except by agreement between the Parties.

Territorial Application

Declarations and Reservations made upon notification of territorial application
(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made upon ratification, accession or succession.)

netherlands

Netherlands New Guinea

Excluding annexes 1 and 2.

Netherlands Antilles

Excluding annexes 1 and 2.

new zealand

Trust Territory of Western Samoa

"Excluding annexes 1 and 2."

portugalc

Portuguese Overseas Provinces
(excluding Macao)

Subject to the declaration made on accession by the Government of Portugal.

united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

Isle of Man

The Convention is applied to the Isle of Man subject to declarations and reservations the terms of which are identical to those of the United Kingdom set out under Nos. 1 and 2 above.

Bailiwick of Guernsey

Reservations:

"(1) The provisions of the said Convention concerning motor vehicles shall not apply in the Island of Sark, in which Island the use of motor vehicles, except motor tractors for use for certain limited purposes, is prohibited.

"(2) In connexion with article 24 of the said Convention, the Insular Authorities of the Bailiwick of Guernsey reserve the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily in the Bailiwick if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward and (ii) the driver of such vehicle would, by domestic legislation of the Bailiwick, be required to have a special vocational licence.

"(3) In connexion with article 26 of the said Convention, cycles in international traffic admitted to the Bailiwick of Guernsey shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light to the front and show to the rear a red reflex reflector, in accordance with the domestic legislation of the Bailiwick."

States of Jersey

Reservations:

Aden Colony, British Guiana, and Seychelles

Reservations:

[With the same declarations and reservations as those made on behalf of the Governments of Aden Colony, British Guiana, and Seychelles; see above.]

Gibraltar

Reservation:

British Honduras

Reservations:

Uganda

Reservation:

Reservation:

Reservations:

Mauritius

"In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of Mauritius excludes annex 2 from its application of the Convention.

Reservations:

"(2) The Government of Mauritius reserves the right not to apply the provisions of paragraph 1 of annex 8 of the said Convention whereby the minimum age for driving a motor vehicle under the conditions set out in article 24 of the Convention shall be eighteen years."

"In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of Singapore excludes annexes 1 and 2 from its application of the Convention."

"In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of Malta excludes annex 1 from its application of the Convention."

Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasalandcc

"In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland exclude annexes 1 and 2 from their application of the Convention."

St. Vincent

Reservations:

North Borneo

Reservations:

Reservations:

"(1) In connexion with article 26 of the said Convention, cycles in international traffic admitted to the territory shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light to the front, and show to the rear a red light and a red reflex reflector in accordance with the domestic legislation of Hong Kong.

Bahamas

"In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, the Government of the Bahamas exclude annexes 1 and 2 from their application of the Convention."

Swaziland and Grenada

"Subject to the reservations contained in the United Kingdom instrument of ratification."

Fijic

"Subject to the same reservations and declarations made in respect of the United Kingdom on ratification."

Distinguishing Sign of Vehicles in International Traffic

(Distinctive letters notified to the Secretary-General)

Albania AL

Algeria DZ

Andorra AND

Argentina RA

Australia AUS

Austria A

Bangladesh BD

Barbados22 BDS

Belgium B

Benin DY

Botswana RB

Brazil BR

Bulgaria BG

Cambodia K

Canada CDN

Central African Republic RCA

Chile RCH

Chinac RC

Congo RCB

Costa Rica CR

Côte d'Ivoire CI

Cyprus CY

Democratic Republic of the Congo CGO

Denmark DK

Faroe Islandsc FO

Dominican Republic DOM

Ecuador EC

Egypt ET

Fiji FJI

Finland SF

France (including French overseas territories) F

Gambia22 WAG

Georgia GE

Ghana GH

Greece GR

Guatemala GCA

Haiti RH

Holy See V

Hungary H

Iceland IS

India IND

Indonesia RI

Iran (Islamic Republic of) IR

Ireland IRL

Israel IL

Italy I

Jamaica JA

Japan J

Jordan HKJ

Kenya22 EAK

Kyrgyzstan KS

Lao People's Democratic Republic LAO

Lebanon RL

Lesotho22 LS

Luxembourg L

Madagascar RM

Malawi MW

Malaysia MAL

Mali RMM

Malta M

Mauritius22 MS

Mexico MEX

Monaco MC

Morocco MA

Myanmar BUR

Namibia NAM

Netherlands NL

Surinam SME

Netherlands Antilles c NA

New Zealand NZ

Nicaragua NIC

Niger NIG

Nigeria22 WAN

Norway N

Pakistan PAK

Papua New Guinea PNG

Paraguay PY

Peru PE

Philippines PI

Poland PL

Portugal P

Republic of Korea ROK

Romania R

Russian Federation SU

Rwanda RWA

Samoa22 WS

San Marino RSM

Senegal SN

Sierra Leone WAL

Slovakiac SK

Singapore SGP

South Africa ZA

Spain (including African localities
and provinces) E

Sri Lanka CL

Swaziland 22 SD

Sweden S

Switzerland CH

Syrian Arab Republic SYR

Thailand T

Togo TG

Trinidad and Tobago TT

Tunisia TN

Turkey TR

Uganda EAU

United Kingdom GB

Aden ADN

Alderney GBA

Bahamas BS

British Honduras BH

Brunei BRU

Distinguishing Sign of Vehicles in International Traffic

(Distinctive letters notified to the Secretary-General)

Gibraltar GBZ

Guernsey GBG

Hong Kong c HK

Isle of Man GBM

Jersey GBJ

Seychelles SY

Southern Rhodesia RSR

Tanganyika22 EAT

Zanzibar22 EAZ

Winward Islands

Grenada WG

St. Lucia WL

St. Vincent WV

United States of America USA

Uruguay U

Venezuela YV

Yugoslavia YU

Zambiac RNR

NOTES:

c Amendments to the Convention were proposed by the Governments of Austria (communicated by circular letter 8 October 1962) and France (communicated by circular letter of 11 March 1964). The proposed amendments were not put into effect since the conditions set forth in article 31 of the Convention were not met.

c The Republic of Viet-Nam had acceded to the Convention on 2 November 1953 notifying VN as a distinguishing sign of vehicles in international traffic. See also note in chapter I.2 and note in chapter III.6.

c On 6 and 10 June 1997, respectively, the Governments of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland notified the Secretary-General of the following:

In addition, the notification made by the Government of China contained the following declaration:

1. In accordance with paragraph 1 of article 2 of the Convention, annexes 1 and 2 to the Convention are excluded from application in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

2. In accordance with section IV (b) of annex 6 to the Convention, in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region an articulated vehicle is neither permitted to draw a trailer nor to be used for the transport of passengers.

3. In connection with article 26 (c) of the Convention cycles in international traffic admitted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall, from nightfall and during the night or whenever atmospheric conditions render it necessary, show only a white light in front and show to the rear both a red light and a red reflex reflector.

4. In connection with section II of annex 6, in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region every motor vehicle other than a motor cycle with or without a sidecar, shall be equipped with direction indicators of one of the types described in paragraph (1) of section II.

5. The Government of the People's Republic of China has reservation to article 33 of the Convention.

6. The accession by the Taiwan authorities on 27 June 1957 by usurping the name of "China" to the Convention is illegal and therefore null and void.

It should also be noted that, upon succession, the Government of Slovakia had selected the distinctive letters "SQ" in application of paragraph 3 of annex 4. Subsequently, on 14 April 1993, the Government of Slovakia notified the Secretary-General that it had replaced those letters by "SK".

c In communications addressed to the Secretary-General with reference to the accession by the Republic of Korea, the Permanent Representatives of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Bulgaria, Mongolia and Romania stated that their Governments considered the said accession as null and void since the authorities of South Korea had no right or competence whatsoever to speak on behalf of Korea.

c The Government of the United Kingdom has informed the Secretary-General that it is unable to accept [the reservation to article 33 of the Convention] because in its view it is not of the kind which intending parties to the Convention have the right to make.

cc The Government of the United States of America has informed the Secretary-General that it has no objection to this reservation, but "considers that it may and hereby states that it will apply this reservation reciprocally with respect to Romania".

c The Government of the United States of America has informed the Secretary-General that it has no objection to this reservation, but "considers that it may and hereby states that it will apply this reservation reciprocally with respect to the Soviet Union".

The Governments of Greece and of the Netherlands informed the Secretary-General that they do not consider themselves bound by the provisions to which the reservation is made, as far as the Soviet Union is concerned.

c The Government of the Republic of Viet-Nam had informed the Secretary-General that it objects to the reservation made to article 33 of the Convention. (See also note in chapter III.3 on this subject.)

cc In a communication received by the Secretary-General on 12 June 1972, the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, upon instructions from his Government, made the following statement:

"Japan has assumed as of May 15, 1972 full responsibility and authority for the exercise of all and any powers of administration, legislation and jurisdiction over "Okinawa" in accordance with the Agreement between Japan and the United States of America concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands signed on June 17, 1971. Under the United States administration, all vehicles were required to keep to the right side of the road in Okinawa. Upon reversion of Okinawa to Japan, the Government of Japan began to take the measures, in conformity with Article 9, paragraph 1 of the Convention on Road Traffic, necessary for shifting the side to which vehicles are required to keep in Okinawa from the right to the left so that there shall be uniformity with the rest of Japan. It is estimated that it will take at least three years before the changes may be smoothly carried out."

Subsequently, in a communication received on 21 August 1978, the Government of Japan informed the Secretary-General that "the said change was completed as of July 30, 1978, there being now the uniformity in Okinawa with the rest of Japan in conformity with article 9, paragraph 1 of the said Convention".

cc See note in chapter I.1.

cc In a communication received on 11 May 1971, the Government of the United Kingdom informed the Secretary-General of the following:

"At the time of the notification of the extension of this Convention to Jamaica in 1959, the Cayman Islands were a dependency of Jamaica, and the extension of the Convention to Jamaica therefore extended it automatically to the Cayman Islands.

"The Convention continued to apply and still applies to the Cayman Islands, which, when Jamaica became independent remained a territory for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible."

c From 1 July 1976 to 1 January 1996: "FR".

cc Distinctive letters notified to the Secretary-General, prior to the independence of that country, by the Government responsible for its international relations.