The C23 'Maximum Axle Load' sign indicates that vehicles with an axle load exceeding the specified value are prohibited from proceeding. This sign is crucial for protecting road surfaces, bridges, and underground structures from damage caused by excessive concentrated weight. As a driver, you must ensure that the load on any single axle of your vehicle does not exceed the number shown on the sign. If your vehicle's axle load is too high, you must find an alternative route. This prohibition applies from the location of the sign onwards for the designated road section.
Learn the key details of the C23 - Maximum Axle Load road sign, including its function, what it communicates to drivers, and how it applies in real traffic situations in Sweden. Use this overview to understand the sign clearly and recognise it confidently during the Swedish driving theory exam.
This sign sets a maximum permitted axle load for vehicles using the road section ahead. It protects road surfaces, bridges, and underground structures from concentrated loads that can cause damage. The number shown indicates the highest allowed load on any single axle. Vehicles exceeding this axle load must not enter beyond the sign and should use a suitable alternative route. The restriction applies from the sign location for the regulated section.
Vehicles with an axle load above the value shown are not allowed.
Get clear, practical answers to the most common questions about the C23 - Maximum Axle Load road sign. Learn how the sign works, what rules it represents, and how it affects real driving situations. This FAQ strengthens your understanding and supports accurate decision making for the Swedish driving theory exam in Sweden.
The C23 sign means vehicles with an axle load exceeding the weight indicated on the sign are not allowed to continue on that road. It's a prohibition sign designed to protect road infrastructure like bridges and road surfaces from damage caused by heavy loads concentrated on a single axle.
If you see the C23 sign, you must check the load on each axle of your vehicle. If any axle's load exceeds the limit shown on the sign, you are prohibited from proceeding on that road and must find an alternative route. This is important even if your vehicle's total gross weight is legal.
A common trap is assuming that if your vehicle's total weight is within legal limits, you can ignore the axle load sign. The C23 sign specifically restricts the load on *each* axle. Proper load distribution is key; even a legal total weight can result in an illegal axle load if not distributed correctly.
The C23 sign applies to all vehicles exceeding the stated axle load limit. If your axle load is too high, you may be able to adjust your load distribution lawfully to reduce the weight on individual axles before proceeding. If this is not possible or permissible, you must reroute.
High axle loads concentrate significant stress on road surfaces, bridges, and culverts. Exceeding these limits can cause premature wear, structural fatigue, and even catastrophic failure, leading to expensive repairs and potentially dangerous situations. The C23 sign is a preventative measure to maintain road safety and longevity.
A clear reference image of the C23 - Maximum Axle Load road sign used in Sweden.
The C23 - Maximum Axle Load road sign may also be known by these alternative names or terms.
The C23 - Maximum Axle Load road sign is part of the Prohibitory Signs (C) category, which groups together signs with similar rules and functions.