What does this sign mean? 1 Why is this important?
Why are signs different colors?
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Why are signs different colors? Driving down the road I’m sure that you realize that not all signs are created equal. They are all different sizes, shapes and colors. But what do these colors mean? It is generally common knowledge that a stop sign is a red octagon with the word STOP emblazoned in white in the middle. But what about all of the other signs along the road? Let’s begin with what the colors mean.  13
As we already discussed, signs like “STOP” signs are red. They fall into the regulatory category which encompasses any signs that reflect a regulation or law (i.e. “No U-Turn”, “Yield”, and “Do Not Enter”). Other signs, which are yellow or orange, provide notices but not necessarily of a regulatory nature. Yellow signs denote warnings such as specific road conditions (“Sharp Curve”, “Hill, etc.) or upcoming road situations (“Signal Ahead”, “Low Clearance Ahead”, or “Advisory Speeds”). Construction signage is orange in color and can highly vary based on the type of project which is underway. Street signs fall under the guide category and like the services and recreation categories provide basic directional and location information. The main differences between the three are color and the type of information that is included within them. Services typically contain information about service locations (gas, camping, and restaurants) while recreation signs include information about historical sites and other points of interest.  14
The shape of signs is also a distinguishing factor for their specific category or purpose. Some signs are more easily distinguishable than others; case in point an octagonal STOP sign or an upside down triangle for YIELD signs. Warning and construction signs are typically diamonds while a significant amount of other signs are some form of rectangle. Additionally there are uniquely shaped signs denoting school zones (square with triangular top) or a railroad crossing (x-shaped). GPS Doesn’t Replace Signs With the advent of personal GPS systems, many thought that they would negate the need for road signs. But that has continually proven to not be the case. To begin with, even though personal GPS systems have been in the marketplace for close to twenty years, not everyone has one. And even if they do they are not always accurate. GPS requires updating to ensure that maps are correct and account for any road modifications. Governments are required to post sign changes (i.e. construction zones, new roads or traffic patterns, etc.) in an expedient fashion but there is no such requirement on GPS providers. Also GPS systems typically only include basic directional signage but not other location and informational signs (such as school zones, posted weights on bridges, or where the nearest gas station is. Though GPS technology continues to evolve it is not a replacement for traditional signage. Additional Resources United States Road Symbol Signs: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/services/publications/fhwaop02084/us_road_symbol_signs.pdf Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD): http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009r1r2/pdf_index.htm 1 www.onehotlap.com 2 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-history.htm 3 http://mentalfloss.com/node/26748&bypass=1 4 http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-295_va.html 5 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/shs_2004_2012_sup.pdf 6 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/shs_2004_2012_sup.pdf, p.34 7 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ 8 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ser-shs_millennium.htm 9 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/shs_2004_2012_sup.pdf, p.34 10http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/06/09/homeland_security_warns_that_digital_road_signs_need_better_defenses_against.html 11 http://floridaits.com/01ITSGC/doc-NL/2003/11-2003_Newsletter/11-2003_Newsletter.htm 12http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/06/09/homeland_security_warns_that_digital_road_signs_need_better_defenses_against.html 13 http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/services/publications/fhwaop02084/ 14 http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-road-highway-signs-image3046807 Download 327.62 Kb. Share with your friends:
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