Traffic signs provide all types of information for drivers. They allow drivers to determine their location, how much further they need to travel, how fast to go, where to find places to eat and sleep, and what safety precautions to take. There are hundreds of different traffic signs that apply to very specific situations.

To allow drivers to easily understand traffic signs, traffic engineers use sign color and shape to provide consistent messages. Some of the colors used are:

• Red- is used on STOP, YIELD, and prohibition signs like no parking
• Black Lettering on White Backgrounds- indicates regulatory signs
• Black Lettering on Yellow Backgrounds- indicates a warning sign
• Green Background- indicates a guide sign or an information sign

In addition to color, sign shapes assist motorists in determining what type of sign is present. Octogal signs are used only for stop signs, diamond shaped signs indicate warnings, pentagons indicate school zones, and circular signs indicate railroad crossings.

Increasingly, roadway signs use symbols, shapes, and color to convey their message rather than words. This allows messages to be conveyed to drivers regardless of what language they speak.

For example, the following signs use symbols to warn that there is a railroad crossing ahead and that children might be crossing the road:

Signs can be classified into into seven categories:

• Regulatory signs
• Guide Signs
• Warning Signs
• Motorists Service Signs
• Construction Signs
• Recreation Signs
• Railroad Signs

Regulatory Signs tell us what we might legally do and what we might not do. For example, a STOP sign tells us that we must come to a complete stop before

proceeding and a YIELD sign tells us that we must yield to traffic.

 

Guide Signs tell us which highway we are on and how far it is to the next town. For example, the following signs tell us that we are traveling on Interstate 22 and that it is 125 miles to St. Louis.

These signs help us find our way from one location to another, determine which turnoffs to take, and determine our current location.

 

Warning Signs warn us of potentially dangerous road conditions ahead. The signs below tell us to beware of cattle crossing the road and the road ahead has an S-shaped curve.

 

Motorist service signs are blue rectangular or square signs that provide information to motorists about places to eat, sleep, location of rest stops, etc. Construction signs are orange and black diamonds that warn drivers about road and other temporary work that is being conducted. It lets drivers know to slow down and watch for road crews. And, brown recreation signs provide information that direct drivers to areas of cultural interest and recreation. Examples of these signs are shown below.

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