Common Signs On American Roads

Roadway signs are essential for the safety of drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. They also improve traffic flow by guiding drivers in the right direction.

Road signs can also signpost potentially dangerous and hazardous areas, such as construction signs. They can indicate where schools are situated so that drivers know to drive with extra caution.

Learning the Signs on American Roads

When you are learning how to drive at the Ferrari Driving School in Queens, NY, you’ll need to know what different road symbol signs mean. You may be tested on your knowledge of road signs in your driving test.

While you won’t be expected to memorize every single signpost, you should know the most common ones. You should also be able to differentiate between the different kinds of signposts that you will come across as you are driving on the roads in the USA.

Based on the color and shape of road signs, you can easily determine its meaning, even as you’re concentrating on the roads. The main types of road signs include regulatory, warning, and guide signs, but they can be further categorized according to their colors and shapes.

Road signs by color

Signposts can be categorized according to their colors.

Generally, red is used exclusively for stop signs and prohibition signs. They’re the most noticeable, so drivers will spot them easily. The most common red road signs are ‘stop’ and ‘give way’ signs.

Regulatory signs are usually yellow, white, and black. They indicate warning messages and reinforce traffic rules and regulations. For example, a regulatory sign may be used to indicate icy roads, winding country lanes, or the presence of speed bumps.

Green road signs aid traffic flow and direction. Fluorescent green signs are used in school zones and also at pedestrian crossings to make them highly distinguishable.

You’ll find brown near recreational facilities, leisure parks, and historical landmarks. Orange is used for warning-related road signs on construction sites or dangerous work zones

For temporary signs, coral is used. It indicated the presence of car accidents, flooded roads, fallen trees, or hazardous spillages on the roads. Finally, blue is reserved for directional signs that direct drivers and tourists to certain destinations.

Road signs by shape

Signage on American roads can be categorized according to their shape.

Rectangular signposts are associated with regulatory and directional signs, with vertical rectangles beings used for the former and horizontal rectangles for the latter. Diamond signs are exclusively used for warning signs.

The only triangular road sign is the ‘yield’ sign, and the only octagonal sign is the ‘stop’ sign. If you notice a pentagonal sign, this indicates a required change in speed or marks a school zone.

Pennant signs denote a ‘no passing zone’. Finally, circle signs are often used to warn drivers of nearby railway crossings so that they can take action to slow down or come to a full stop.