For More Information: https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/
Contact Information: Kevin Sylvester at Kevin.Sylvester@dot.gov
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Roadway signs in the United States increasingly use symbols rather than words to convey their message. Symbols provide instant communication with roadway users, overcome language barriers, and are becoming standard for traffic control devices throughout the world. Familiarity with symbols on traffic signs is important for every road user in order to maintain the safety and efficiency of our transportation facilities.
The color of roadway signs is an important indicator of the information they contain. The use of red on signs is limited to stop, yield, and prohibition signs. A white background indicates a regulatory sign; yellow conveys a general warning message; green shows permitted traffic movements or directional guidance; fluorescent yellow/green indicates pedestrian crossings and school zones; orange is used for warning and guidance in roadway work zones; coral is used for incident management signs;** blue indicates road user services, tourist information, and evacuation routes; and brown is for guidance to sites of public recreation or cultural interest.
Sign shape can also alert roadway users to the type of information displayed on a sign. Traffic regulations are conveyed in signs that are rectangular with the longer direction vertical or square. Additional regulatory signs are octagons for stop and inverted triangles for yield. Diamond-shaped signs signify warnings. Rectangular signs with the longer direction horizontal provide guidance information. Pentagons indicate school zones. A circular sign warns of a railroad crossing.
The illustration below shows how the shape and color of a sign indicate the nature of the message.
Test your Sign IQ by taking the interactive shape and color quiz available on the web at https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov. On the navigation bar under Knowledge, select Sign Shape/Color.
Standards for the sign design and application of the signs shown here as well as for other traffic control devices are contained in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Dimension drawings for signs can be found in the Standard Highway Signs book. Both of these books are available in electronic format online at https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov. This web site also contains information on standard lettering used on highway signs and pavement markings and on highway sign color specifications.
Hard copies of the MUTCD can be purchased from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (http://www.aashto.org); the Institute of Transportation Engineers (http://www.ite.org); the American Traffic Safety Services Association (http://www.atssa.com); and the US Government Printing Office (http://www.gpo.gov). The Standard Highway Signs book can be purchase from the US Government Printing Office and the American Traffic Safety Services Association through the web sites listed above.
Prepared in 2002 by the
US Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Transportation Operations
FHWA-OP-02-084
Remind road users of specific rules that apply in each traffic situation where they are posted.
STOP Sign (red octagon) – requires a mandatory stop at the white line. Check that you may proceed safely after yielding to all road users that do not have to stop.
YIELD Sign (a red and white triangle pointing downward) – requires that you slow and give the right of way to the other traffic.
WRONG WAY Sign – prohibits you from entering the roadway. traffic is moving in an oncoming direction on this roadway.
DO NOT Enter Sign , Do not rass, RAILROAD crossbuck, SPEED limit sign, one way street, Line use control sigs, other regulatory signs.
The yellow diamond shape indicates the danger is up ahead.
Draw the attention to imminent danger or upcoming regulatory signs. School signs, Advance regulatory and turn or curve sign, crossing signs other .
Provide information : road markers, directions, destinations, services, point of interest or recreation , etc.
Draw the attention of road users to road repairs, detours, special road crossing for sports events, etc.
Do you want to learn more about traffic signs and regulations ? Welcome for pre-licensing class every Friday at 5pm and Sunday at 10am at 1601 Gravesend neck RD, Brooklyn, NY
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