Orange: Orange is used for warning and guidance in roadway work zones.

Fluorescent yellow/green: Indicates pedestrian crossings and school zones.

Green: Green shows permitted traffic movements or directional guidance.

Yellow: Yellow conveys a general caution message.

White: A white background indicates a regulatory sign.

The use of red on signs is limited to stop, yield, and prohibition signs. The standards for the design and application of the signs as controlled under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) explain the significance of the colors on road traffic signs. For many drivers, this system eliminates the need to read road signs and allows for quick identification of the intended meaning.įor instance, the colors that make up all road signs are an essential indicator of the information they contain. Understanding the traffic signs and meanings can be as simple as recognizing what the colors, shapes, and symbols on the sign represent. Symbols are quickly becoming the standard for traffic control devices throughout the world. Pictograms and symbols are easier to recognize and understand, cross various language barriers, and often close the communication gap. Department of Transportation (DOT) has increasingly used symbols rather than words to convey the different safety messages on roadways and highways. Unfortunately, one wrong interpretation of road sign meanings can lead to a serious accident or injury. The problem is compounded when language barriers, color vision deficiencies, and illiteracy are factored into the equation. With so many signs on the road, it’s easy to get confused wondering about road signs and meanings.

For that and other reasons, a universal set of guidelines has been established to help people quickly answer, “what do road signs mean?” while driving.

Understanding must also take place while traveling at what may be high speeds. Have you ever passed a road sign and realized you didn’t understand what the message or symbol was telling you to do? Or have you ever wondered if the color and shape of the road sign have a specific meaning? Or simply curious about the road sign meaning?ĭrivers must be able to identify road sign meanings quickly and accurately.

Yellow triangle sign means