Key:ref:colour

ref:colour=* describes the color of the highway reference as it is found on road signs.

This tag seems to work only in Spain! look at Talk:Proposed_features/ref:color.

Rationale

Add to the highway tagging (highway=*) the ref colour (the colour of road signs) in order to have

• more info
• better orientation
• local flavour
• administrative classification (when colours match)

Sign colour is a geographical "fact"

With this ref:colour scheme, highway tags can describe both features at the same time. We can see physical and administrative highway classification at the same time. and they can be tagged independently.

Tags

ref:colour=* way reference colour
ref:colour_tx=* way reference text colour
ref:colour_bg=* sign background colour

for international references same but with
int_ref:colour_*=*

values

black, white, blue, green, red, orange, brown, yellow, purple, grey

or hex colour number

Render

Render could take in account (highway=*) tags to paint the ways (as it is now),
but should take in account ref:colour=* to paint the shields.

This way we can see physical and administrative highway classification at the same time. and they can be tagged independently

Render example

This is a road that changes physically but has same road signs

Will be in use in OsmAnd (Version > 2.??)

Tagging Examples

ref:colour schema
render	highway=*	ref=*	ref:colour=*	ref:colour_tx=*	ref:colour_bg=*
International route (Europe)
E-5	highway=motorway	int_ref=E-5	int_ref:colour=green	int_ref:colour_tx=white
Spain
	highway=tertiary	ref=SO-P-6001	ref:colour=purple	ref:colour_tx=white
	highway=tertiary	ref=M-516	ref:colour=yellow	ref:colour_tx=black
	highway=secondary	ref=M-513	ref:colour=green	ref:colour_tx=white
(NW stretch from M-40 [1], blue signs. no roundabouts nor crossings)	highway=primary , motorroad=yes	ref=M-503	ref:colour=orange	ref:colour_tx=black	ref:colour_bg=blue
(SW stretch from M-40 [2], white signs. roundabouts and crossings)	highway=primary	ref=M-503	ref:colour=orange	ref:colour_tx=black
	highway=trunk	ref=N-VI	ref:colour=red	ref:colour_tx=white
	highway=trunk , motorroad=yes	ref=N-VI	ref:colour=red	ref:colour_tx=white	ref:colour_bg=blue
	highway=motorway	ref=A2	ref:colour=blue	ref:colour_tx=white	ref:colour_bg=blue