For some colour-blind people, the traffic signs are not understandable because the colours cannot be distinguished. For instance, a traffic sign having red graphical elements on a blue background seems to consist of a uniformly coloured surface to many blind people. This is the case for the “no parking” and “no stopping” signs.

A new article of law allows the traffic authorities to replace traffic signs with – thanks to a small adjustment – new signs that are understandable for the colour blind. Contrasting borders separating differently-coloured graphical elements ensure that these elements do not visually merge. And adding a white border to the red traffic signs makes them more noticeable, especially when it is dark. However, this new measure is not obligatory, and the intention is to replace signs as part of regular maintenance work.