United States
Road Symbol Signs

For More Information: https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/
Contact Information: Kevin Sylvester at

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This publication is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information.

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Preface

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 by the
US Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Transportation Operations

FHWA-OP-02-084

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Warning Signs

Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossing Signs

Limited Vehicle Storage Space Between Intersection and Tracks

Temporary Traffic Control Signs

Regulatory Signs

Mandatory Movements in Lanes at an Intersection

Guide Signs

Motorist Services and Recreation Signs

Pedestrian and Bicycle Signs

Pedestrian Detour Signs

Bicycle Guide Signs

Pedestrian Signal Education Plaques

Who Makes Road Sign Decisions

Before traffic signs are placed, municipalities will commission an engineering study to gauge its necessity and usefulness in a particular location. After all, no one would want to travel roadways where signs are placed haphazardly and without just cause. Doing so would eventually cause some drivers to fail to respect the traffic signs, possibly causing traffic incidents instead of preventing them. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration website, because road signs impose legal obligations on all drivers, the signs need to be authorized by the local government. Traffic signs are consistent from one municipality to another ' the reason is simple. Let's say, for example, that a driver is travelling across several states. Construction signs in Texas conform to the same design as construction signs in Colorado (or any other state, for that matter), so that the messaging is not confusing when a driver is operating in unfamiliar regions.

 

What is the Purpose of Traffic Signs

Going back to their overall purpose for a moment, road traffic signs in Colorado are placed for the purpose of warning drivers and maintaining a steady traffic flow; inconsistent messaging would make that difficult (if not entirely impossible) in a highly mobile society with motor vehicle operators travelling unfamiliar regions every single day.

Types of Traffic and Road Signs

Regulatory Signs

An example of regulatory signs are stop signs, yield signs, one-way signs, speed limit, No U-Turn, One-Way, No Parking and Road Closed signs. They regulate the speed and flow of traffic and parking.

Warning Signs

Warning signs are usually in a diamond shape and bright yellow. Warning signs warn drivers of such things as merging traffic, railroad and bicycle crossings and traffic signals ahead.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Signs

These types of road signs indicate pedestrian crosswalks as well as where bike lanes begin and end on main roadways.

Guide Signs

Typical guide signs include interstate and highway signs, destination distance signs, mile markers, roadway junction signs, and highway exit signs.

 

Motorist Services and Recreation Signs

These signs indicate recreation areas like campgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas, gas stations, emergency services, and rest areas.

School Signs

School signs warn drivers that a school is nearby, directing them to drop their speeds and to watch for children and pedestrians.

 

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