STOP (CUSTOMS) signs ignored by AI traffic and placed incorrectly

[quba_eu]

Version of game: 1.43.3.4
PC: Windows 10 64-bit (Steam)
Reproducibility of the bug: Always

Description of the issue

On virtually all border crossings (including map parts from DLCs) there are placed STOP (CUSTOMS) signs (C-16 in Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, II-A.17 in Geneva Protocol on Road Signs and Signals), like can be seen on screenshots at the bottom of the post.

First issue is the fact that AI traffic simply ignores those signs, even though they mean that driver has to stop the car before the sign or in a designated spot (if it is designated, I haven't noticed any designated spots near that signs) - see legal explanation below, for more details.

Second issue is the fact that currently you cannot pass those signs without breaking the road law, as there are no traffic authorities nearby to allow you to continue driving (see legal explanation).

Last issue is the placing of those signs that doesn't make much sense. It is my personal opinion, but I think that stopping in the middle of a highway while crossing a border in Schengen Zone isn't really necessary. And on border crossings with border control they are placed well before Border Force booths, and stopping there doesn't make much sense either.

Additional issue is a "300m" panel under the STOP (CUSTOMS) sign visible on last screenshot. This combination is very unusal (see legal explanation) and a combination of Other Danger sign (A-32 in Vienna Convention) with a "Border Control" panel below would be a better choice.

In conclusion, I believe that an audit of road signs on all border crossings in game is required to correct above issues.

Legal explanation
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This explanation presents my own interpretation of the law. DO NOT USE use this post for legal purposes. If you are unsure about traffic rules always consult your national road law.

Note on international regulations: In this post I refer to (1949) Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (specifically its part - Protocol on Road Signs and Signals) and (1968) Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Those are internatioal treaties regulating traffic rules and traffic signs. All european countries available in the game signed or ratified at least one of those two conventions. So for the general meaning of traffic signs in ETS2 those documents can be consulted instead of consulting national regulations for each country.
Text of the Geneva Convention is available here: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/19 ... _1_2_3.pdf
Text of the Vienna Convention is available here: https://unece.org/DAM/trans/conventn/Co ... 06v_EN.pdf

What is a STOP (CUSTOMS) sign?

The sign I am discussing is defined in Geneva Convention as:

ARTICLE 34
1. The sign "STOP (CUSTOMS)" (II, A.17) shall be used to indicate the presence of a customs house at which the traveller has to stop.
The word "Customs" shall appear on the sign. The translation of the word "Customs" in a language of the neighbouring territory may be added (II, A.17).
2. This sign may be used to indicate other obligations to stop; in this case the inscription "Customs" shall be re-placed by an inscription indicating the reason for the stop.

and in Vienna Convention as:

7. Prohibition of passing without stopping
(a) Notification of the proximity of a Custom-house at which a stop is compulsory shall be given by sign C, 16, "PASSING WITHOUT STOPPING PROHIBITED".
Notwithstanding Article 8 of this Convention, the symbol of this sign shall include the word "Customs", preferably in two languages; Contracting Parties using C, 16 signs shall endeavour to reach a regional agreement to the effect that this word shall appear in the same language on all the signs they set up.
(b) This sign may also be used to notify drivers that passing without stopping is prohibited for other reasons; in this case the word "Customs" shall be replaced by another very brief inscription indicating the reason for the stop

So basically a round sign with wide red border, white (yellow) background and black horizontal bar in the middle means that you MUST stop. The text on the sign doesn't matter. It's just to infrom the driver why they must stop. Some national codes clarify that you must stop before a line on road or before the sign itself.

Although, quoted regulations don't state that explicitly, a "full" meaning of this sign is mostly interpreted as "You MUST stop and not continue driving until explicit permission". To see that, let's compare this sign to the "normal" STOP sign and other Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs.

What's the difference between STOP (CUSTOMS) and STOP sign?

The "normal" STOP sign that is placed before intersections (II-A.16 in Geneva Convention and B-2 in Vienna Convention) is defined as:

(in Gevena Convention)

ARTICLE 33
1. The sign "STOP AT INTERSECTION" shall be used in cases where this is required by traffic rules to indicate that a driver shall stop before entering a priority or a major road.

(in Vienna Convention)

ARTICLE 10
Priority signs
3. Sign B, 2, "STOP", shall be used to notify drivers that, at the intersection where the sign is placed, they shall stop before entering the intersection and give way to vehicles on the road they are approaching. In conformity with Article 46, paragraph 2, of this Convention, each State shall notify the Secretary-General whether it has selected B, 2a or B, 2b as the model for the "STOP" sign.

We can see the difference in the definitions of STOP and STOP (CUSTOMS) signs. STOP sign requires drivers to stop BEFORE entering the intersection TO give way. STOP (CUSTOMS) sign just requires drivers to stop.

In Vienna Convention STOP sign is defined in Priority Sign category and STOP (CUSTOMS) in Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs. That clarifies the difference further. Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs prohibit something under all circumstances not just require the driver to do something before continuing driving. For example, C-2 sign (in Vienna Convention, round sign, white background, red border) means "CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS" and you cannot pass this sign unless you're given explicit permission. Same rule applies to STOP (CUSTOMS) sign.

Some national laws provide more context about this sign.

UK Know Your Signs states:

Vehicles must not go beyond the sign where displayed by a police officer or traffic warden.

So you cannot go beyond this sign.

Polish Road Traffic Law states (in translation):

§ 26. 2. The arrest should take place in a place designated for this purpose, and if it is not designated - in front of the sign. Further movement may take place with the consent of an authorized person or after sending a signal that allows the movement.

So you can only go beyond this sign when given a permission by some authority.

All above shows that ignoring this sign by AI traffic is incorrect and as there are no authories giving signals anywhere nearby STOP (CUSTOMS) signs player cannot pass that sign without breaking the law.

Where STOP (CUSTOMS) sign is used?

STOP (CUSTOMS) sign (or with any other inscription on it) is used whenever vehicles must stop for some kind of control. They are used obviously on border crossings, but also at highway tollgates. Some national laws (Polish, French etc.) state that this sign can be placed even when automatic toll booth is present as the automatic toll both can give traffic signals. In French l’Instruction Interministérielle sur la Signalisation Routière there's an article allowing a usage of "SAUF TELEPEAGE" (EXCEPT TELEPEAGE) panel to indicate that vehicles can pass without stopping when using TELEPEAGE gate.

Photos at the end provide an example where STOP (CUSTOMS) signs are placed in Poland.

Where additional panels are used?

This question refers to the combination of signs visible on the last screenshot.

In Vienna Convention:

Section H
ADDITIONAL PANELS
2. (a) Additional panels H, 1 show the distance from the sign to the beginning of the dangerous section of road or of the zone to which the regulation applies.

Basically H-1 sign (white panel with a distance inscribed) is used before some dangers or special road types (eg. highways) to give the driver some time to prepare for that danger, not to state that Prohibitory or Restrictive Signs becomes effective after some distance. Personally, I find combination from the last screenshot very unsual (and questionably legal). Much better and clear choice would be a use of A-32 sign (in Vienna Convention, triangle warning sign with exclamation mark) with the "BORDER CROSSING" text below.

Additional notes

I report those issues as a one bug report because with current placing of some of those signs making the AI traffic stop would make no sense. In my opinion, their positions should be corrected before making AI traffic react to them or they should simply be moved to places where AI traffic stops anyway (for example, border control booths). There are more road signs in the game that are positioned questionably at best, but in the described case the game forces a player to break the law, which I believe should be changed.

Screenshots

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Photos
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[Madkine]

Please follow the bug reporting process.

Very comprehensive bug report, but you are missing game logs, these are important for a few reasons.

[quba_eu]

I replicated this bug on a new installation with a new game profile (basically, drove through border crossing). Please find the game log from that session attached.