Traffic Regulations and Road Signs in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The legal hierarchy
Bosnia and Herzegovina's road traffic law is built on a clear hierarchy: a police officer's directions override traffic lights, traffic lights override signs, and signs override general rules. Many exam questions test exactly this ordering. A hand signal from an authorised official must be obeyed even if the light is green, and a stop sign governs over the general right-of-way rule.
Sign families
Learn signs by family rather than by memorising individual pictures. Warning signs are triangles with a red border on a white field; prohibition signs are circles, usually red-rimmed; mandatory signs are blue circles; information signs are blue or green rectangles. Priority-road and priority-at-intersection signs form their own group. A frequent trap is confusing a circular blue sign (an obligation, such as "keep right" or "minimum speed") with a rectangular blue sign (information).
Right of way
At an unmarked intersection of equal roads, the default rule is yield to traffic approaching from the right. This default disappears the moment the road you are on is marked as a priority road, or when a sign or signal allocates priority. Watch for the wording "unmarked intersection" - if a sign is present, the right-hand rule does not apply. Turning vehicles yield to pedestrians crossing the road they are entering, and to oncoming traffic when turning left.
Speed, distance and stopping
General urban limits are typically 50 km/h and outside settlements 80 km/h, with motorway limits higher; always follow the posted sign, which overrides the general figure. Safe following distance is best judged by the two-second rule: pick a fixed object, and ensure at least two seconds pass before you reach it in dry conditions, doubling in rain or on gravel.
Worked example
You approach an unmarked crossroads at the same time as a car from your right, and a police officer waves you through. The officer's signal wins; proceed carefully and confirm the other driver has seen the situation.