ROAD SIGNS
Road Sign Colors
an object, quality, or event whose
presence or occurrence indicates the
probable presence or occurrence of
something else.
Red – Signs which are red in color refer to
situations where you must stop or yield.
Obviously, stop signs and yield signs use the
color red, but other signs such as do not enter and wrong
way signs can also use red coloring.
Green – Green road signs are direction signs.
This color is used for things like street signs
(the names of streets), exit signs, mile markers,
and signs showing you directions to a certain city
or the distance to a specific place.
Blue – Signs that are blue in color are not regulatory
signs. Instead, they display services for
travelers. These signs are normally found
on expressways and highways, directing
motorists to where they can find places
such as rest areas, tourist sites, hospitals, hotels, gas
stations, restaurants, campgrounds, picnic areas, and other
services commonly used by motorists.
Yellow – Yellow road signs are
general warning signs to indicate
potential hazards or changing road
conditions ahead. For example, road
signs that use the color Yellow may
warn you that there is a narrow
bridge ahead, a railroad crossing, a no-passing zone, curves
in the roadway, a merge point, pedestrian crossing, a dead-
end, an uneven surface, a hidden cross street, or any other
number of potential hazards.
Fluorescent Yellow/Green – This color is relatively
new on our roadways, but it is used for signs relating to
pedestrians, bicycles, and school
warning signs. They are increasingly
being used for some constructions
signs as well. This color is used
because it is easier to see during
foggy or rainy weather.
Orange – Orange road signs are usually
temporary signs relating to road work,
temporary traffic control, and
maintenance warnings. When you see
orange road signs, be sure to watch for
workers on or near the roadway.
Brown – Similar to blue road signs, brown
signs are not regulatory signs. These signs
indicate areas of recreation and cultural
points of interest. Brown road signs will
mark or give directions towards historical
sites, parks, picnic areas, and other
recreational areas.
Road Sign Shapes
Octagon – A road sign in the shape of an octagon will always be
a stop sign. Come to a full stop at an intersection controlled by
this sign. Stop at the marked stop line or before
entering the crosswalk or before your vehicle
enters the intersection. Let other vehicles or
pedestrians pass if they are in your path.
Equilateral Triangle – This sign shape is used for yield
signs. Yield the right of way. Slow
down and let vehicles crossing your
path go by. If necessary, stop before
going ahead. If pedestrians are in or
about to enter the crosswalk, stop
until they have crossed the roadway, then proceed.
Pennant – This sign will be on the
left-hand side of the road or
highway. It warns you of a no-
passing zone.
Diamond – Diamond shaped signs are
used as warning signs. These signs
alert you to special road hazards.
Words or pictures on the sign will
show you why you need to slow down
or use extra caution.
Rectangle – These will be regulatory
or guide signs. Vertical signs
indicate what you should or should
not do, such as speed limit signs.
Horizontal signs give directions or
information about services drivers may want.
Pentagon – A road sign in the shape of a
pentagon will refer to a school crossing
or school zone. The color of the sign
may be y ellow or florescent
yellow/green.
Crossbuck – All railroad crossing signs are
this shape and are placed at each crossing.
Sometimes there is a number under the
crossbuck which will show you how many
sets of tracks there are.
Circle – This sign shape indicates a
railroad crossing is ahead.

Standard Regulatory Signs
Stop – This sign, as you might have guessed, means you
need to stop wherever you see one.
They are almost always accompanied by
a line across the road at which you
should stop, and most areas require you
come to a full and complete stop before
proceeding.
Truck Speed – On some roadways, larger
vehicles must abide by different speed limits.
This sign indicates the maximum speed for
larger trucks and vehicles.
Combination Speed – Indicates both the
maximum and minimum speed for all vehicles on
the road; most often used on highways and
interstates to avoid collisions.

Yield – This sign is meant to alert you to any upcoming

hazards, road conditions, or oncoming No Right Turn – This sign is used to
traffic (there are signs which signal indicate a street that you can not turn
for you to yield prior to merging to right onto. Most often, you will see these in
avoid accidents). It means slow down, downtown areas.
defer to oncoming traffic, stop if
necessary, and proceed when it’s safe
to do so. A flashing yellow light at an intersection serves
No Left Turn – This sign is used to indicate a
for this purpose as well.
street that you can’t turn left onto. Again, most
often seen in downtown areas.
Speed Limit – Indicates the maximum
speed on a road for standard vehicles.
This maximum speed indicates the
safest maximum speed during ideal
driving conditions.
No U-Turn – This indicates that a U-turn is
not legal in an area where this sign is
posted. Typically, it is because the area has
too much traffic (for instance, oncoming
traffic as well as traffic coming out of road-side shopping
centers, etc.) to safely allow a U-turn.
Left Turn Only and Right Turn
Only – These will usually be
paired with the no-turn equivalent
of its opposite sign.
Do Not Pass – Indicates, as you might have
guessed, that you can’t pass in an area
where this is posted.
Pass With Care – This one indicates, as
you probably guessed that it is an area
where it’s safe to pass as long as you
use common sense and caution.
Keep Right – This one means you should keep
right. It is usually seen in areas where a
divided median begins, or in construction
areas.
Keep Left – The same as keep right, only now
it’s left.
Do Not Enter – If you see this sign, it means you don’t
belong there, and should probably stay out.
Usually, it’ll be posted at the beginning of an
exit that is meant to come out where you’re
trying to go in but can also be used for
other areas as well.
Wrong Way – Much like the ‘Do Not Enter’ sign, it
indicates that you’re where you shouldn’t
be. For example, you’ll see this sign posted
on one-way roads facing away from flowing
traffic. That way, if someone drives down
a one-way road the wrong way, they will
see this sign.
No Parking – This one means you can’t park
wherever it is. Some no parking signs can be a
bit confusing with different days and times
shown. Be sure to read them carefully.
Emergency Vehicle Parking Only & Fire
Lane – This sign will indicate that only
emergency vehicles such as police vehicles,
ambulances, and firetrucks can park in the
area
One Way: One way signs denote that the
traffic only moves in one direction on that
roadway. One way signs also usually include
an arrow showing the direction of the
traffic. Many drivers who are new to
driving in large cities fail to recognize these signs as they
don’t have any one-way roads where they live. So, anytime
you visit a new area, pay extra attention to make sure
you’re not turning the wrong way on a one-way-road.
No Turn: No turn signs will tell you when
you cannot make a left turn, right turn,
or u-turn. These are typically seen at
controlled intersections. Some stoplights
are designed to only control cross
traffic but does not allow for any turns
left or right. These signs can also be seen frequently in
construction zones where roads are temporarily closed or
turns are otherwise prohibited.
Road Closed: Road closed signs mean
the road is closed to through traffic
and you cannot drive there. These
signs may be placed on roadways that
are permanently closed or temporarily
closed. Some roads are closed
temporarily due to construction, flooding, major accidents,
fires, snow & ice, and a slew of other possible reasons.
Pedestrian Crossing: Pedestrian crossings mean that
there is an area where pedestrians
frequently cross the road. Generally
pedestrians have the right-of-way in a
crosswalk, so if you are able to safely do so,
be sure to slow or stop to allow the
pedestrian to cross the roadway. Nearly 5,000 pedestrians
are killed annually due to car vs. pedestrian strikes and
many more are injured after being hit by a vehicle.
Two Way Traffic: This sign means you are on a
two way road without a barrier, so stay in your
lane. This sign is most frequently seen after a
divided highway or multi-lane roadway merges
into a two lane road with opposite vehicle travel in
each lane. It can be especially difficult at night to
realize that a divided highway with passing lane has reduced to just
one lane in each direction.
Railroad: Most railroad crossings will have a
warning sign placed about 500ft before the
crossing. This warning sign is meant to give
you prior warning that a rail crossing is up
ahead. Many rail crossings are very bumpy
and can cause a loss of control, so prepare for a possible jolt. This is
also the time you’ll want to look, listen, and live! Don’t rely on
railroad crossing signals to be functioning properly. They can and
do fail, so clear the crossing yourself before you cross.
Animal Crossing: Animal crossing signs signal
that there is a high volume of animals in the area
and that you should be ready for them to cross
the road. Typically the sign will show a picture of
the type of animal that is most commonly seen in
the area. These signs are normally posted at known animal
migration points and areas of roadways where animals are more
likely to cross.
Mile Marker: Mile markers are normally only
found on interstates and highways, but these signs
can be seen on any roadway from congested city
streets to, more commonly, rural single lane
roadways.
Exit Sign: On highways, expressways, and other
roadways with exit ramps, you will see an exit sign.
Exit signs are required on the entire U.S. interstate
system. In most states, exit signs will also show a
number.
Street Sign: In some areas, street signs can be
shown in colors other than green. For example,
some city, state, and national park roadways
might be shown in a brown color. Other roads
which have been renamed in someones honor
could be a different color as well.
Freeway Interchange: Freeway interchange signs help you choose
the proper lane before entering an area where
freeways come together. It’s important to pay
attention to these signs as they will indicate in
advance which lane you will need to enter in
order to stay on your existing freeway or change
to a new one.
Local Information: Information signs are usually found on freeways
and highways. They are normally placed before an
exit to show what services are available. These
signs can tell motorists if there is lodging, gas
stations, food, hospitals, airports, and other
services. Some local information signs will also
give specific names of service stations, restaurants,
etc. At the end of an off-ramp, you will normally
see blue signs with arrows pointing in the direction of where you
can find those services.
Emergency Telephone: While not as common since the advent of
cell phones, many rural roadways, highways, and
expressways have emergency telephones on the
side of the roadway. These phones are still
extremely important for those driving in very rural
areas where cell phone reception is minimal.
Handicapped Parking: Handicapped parking can only be
used by obtaining a permit. Handicap
parking areas are marked with blue signs
and if a proper permit is not displayed,
you can be ticketed.
Rest Area: Rest areas can be found on
any roadway, but they are most common on the U.S. interstate
system. Many rural roadways that go long distances without
any services will have rest areas as well.
Rest areas vary greatly in quality and the
services available will vary as well. Some
rest areas have full service restaurants and
gift shops while others will simply be a
parking lot without any bathrooms.
Scenic Overlook: Unlike rest areas, scenic overlooks generally
do not provide any services and are only parking lots. What
they do provide are some of the most
beautiful views in the country. Our nations
roadways cut through all sorts of terrain
from deserts to mountains to coastal
waters and vast open plains.
Historical Site: While America is a rather new country
compared to the rest of the world, we still
have our fair share of historic events.
Historical sites can range from a single tree
that has some historical significants all the
way up to full fledged museums, ghost towns,
monuments, and a whole slew of other historical markers.
National Parks & Public Recreation Areas: The United
States is home to some of the most beautiful
national parks in the world and many of our
countries roadways go right through them,
offering amazing experiences for those choosing
to make some stops and literally smell the roses.
Road Work & Construction Zones: Road work ahead signals
that you are about to enter an area with
construction. These signs usually state the
distance before you reach the road work.
Major roadwork areas, especially on highways,
may be posted 10 or more miles in advance
and continue warning you as you get closer.
Detour: Roadways need a lot of repair and sometimes they
need to be closed for major repairs. Roads can
also be closed due to special events such as
parades. In most cases, a “detour route” will
be set up. Pay attention along your route as
orange signs will point you in the right
direction and the best way to get around the detour.
Road Closed: Unlike detour signs, a
road closed sign does not give you an
alternate route to take. The road is
simply closed and you are left to figure
out a new way to go on your own.
 Regulatory Signs
Safety Signs containing instructions with which failure to
comply constitutes either an offence at law, or a breach of
safety procedures or other directions, depending on which
kind of control has been imposed at the work site or
workplace.
Prohibition Signs.
Signs that indicate that an action or activity
is not permitted. Prohibition signs indicate
an action or behavior that is not permitted.
The sign is shown as a Red Circle with a red
slash over a black icon of the action. Text is
black on a white background.
Mandatory Signs.
Signs that indicate that an instruction
must be carried out. Mandatory signs
provide specific instructions that
MUST be carried out. The icons are in
white reversed out of a blue circle. Text is
black on a white background.
Danger Signs.
Signs warning of a particular hazard or hazardous condition
that is likely to be life-threatening.
Danger signs communicate a hazard,
condition or situation that is likely to be
life threatening. The sign is shown as the
word Danger on a red oval over a black
rectangle. Text is black on a white
background.
Warning Signs.
Safety Signs warning of a hazard or hazardous condition that
is not likely to be life-threatening. Warning
signs warn of hazards or conditions that are
not likely life threatening. These Safety Signs
consist of a black triangle and icon on a
yellow background with supporting black
text if required.
Fire Safety Signs.
Fire safety signs advise the location of fire
alarms and firefighting equipment. They
contain white symbols and/or text on a red
background.
a mark or character used as a conventional representation
of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or
letters standing for a chemical element or a character in
musical notation.
Peace Symbol
Combining a circle, a vertical line and
downward sloping lines, the peace
symbol was designed by dedicated
peacemaker Gerald Herbert Holtom.
He created it on February 21, 1958, as the logo for the
Direct Action Committee against Nuclear War.
Puzzle Ribbon
Adopted in 1999, the puzzle ribbon is the
universal sign of autism awareness. It
reflects the complexity of the autism
spectrum.
The different colors and shapes represent the diversity
of the people and families living with the condition.
The brightness of the ribbon signals hopes that people
with autism will lead full lives, able to interact with the
world on their own terms.
Smiley
Within a perfect circle, there is the simplest,
most childlike depiction of a happy face: two
vertical, oval eyes and a large, upturned semi-
circular mouth.
The choice of yellow as a background color was inspired by
the sun, and it represents radiant unclouded happiness.
Male Symbol
The male symbol is known as the Mars symbol. It’s a
depiction of a circle with an arrow emerging from it,
pointing at an angle to the upper right.
Female Symbol
The female symbol is the astrological symbol for the
planet Venus, and it is also used to represent the female
sex.
The circle reminds us of the inclusive nature of
our universe; it also represents the woman’s
womb.
The cross (added in the 16th century) resting
beneath the circle indicates all matter is born
from a spiritually inclusive, loving womb.
Recycling Symbol Heart Symbol

The origin of this iconic symbol is rooted

These days, the heart symbol
in the very first Earth Day in April 1970.
represents love, emotions, and
romantic relationships, but it had a
Back then, Container Corporation of
completely different meaning in the
America, a paperboard company,
past.
sponsored a nationwide contest for
In Ancient Greece, for example, the heart shape was a
environmentally-concerned art and design students to
symbol for silphium, a species of giant fennel that once
create a symbol representing the paper recycling process.
grew on the North African coast near the Greek colony of
Cyrene.
Skull and Crossbones
Radiation Symbol
This notorious symbol consisting of a human skull and two Consisting of three black wedges arranged
bones crossed underneath originated in the medieval ages at positions 120 degrees apart around a
when it was used to symbolize central circle on a yellow background, the
death. radiation symbol is used to indicate
radioactive sources.
Later on, it was adopted by pirates
who put this symbol on their flags.
These days, it is used as a warning
label on containers of poisonous or dangerous substances.

Crescent
Although the crescent is a very
widespread theme in Islamic
iconography, it is actually not Islamic
in origin, nor exclusive to that
religion.
The emblem has been used in Christian art for many
centuries too. It’s actually one of the oldest icons in human
history.
It has been known in graphic depictions since at least as
early as the Babylonian period in Mesopotamia (2100 BC).
The crescent also represents the Moon itself, and it is a
symbol for silver.
Bluetooth Symbol
The Bluetooth symbol is associated with
ancient Danish ruler Harald Blatand, who
was nicknamed “the blue tooth” for his
affection for blueberries.
The symbol representing the Bluetooth technology is a
combination of two Scandinavian runes: “Hagall“ (the
analogue of Latin ”H“) and ”Bjarkan“ (the equivalent of
Latin “B”) that form the initials of the king’s name.
Power Symbol
The well known on/off power symbol
was the result of the logical evolution in
user interface design.
Originally, most early power controls
consisted of switches that were toggled
between two states marked by the words
“On” and “Off”.
Hammer and Sickle
The hammer and sickle were one of the most
recognized symbols of Soviet power.
The hammer and sickle stand for worker-
peasant alliance: the hammer is a traditional
symbol of the proletariat (upper-class) and the
sickle is a traditional symbol for the peasantry
(lower class).
However, in European religious symbology, the hammer is
also associated with aggressive male force, while the sickle
represents death.
Rod of Asclepius
The Rod of Asclepius is a symbol associated
with medicine and health care.The son of the
god Apollo and the human princess Coronis,
Asclepius was the Greek demigod of medicine.
According to mythology, he was able to restore
the health of the sick and bring the dead back to life.
Maltese Cross
The Maltese cross is a symbol that is
most commonly associated with the
Knights of Malta who ruled the Maltese
islands between 1530 and 1798.
Its eight points denote the eight
obligations or aspirations of the knights, namely “to live in
truth, have faith, repent one’s sins, give proof of humility, love
justice, be merciful, be sincere and whole¬hearted, and to
endure persecution.”
The All-Seeing Eye
The Eye of the Providence, most popularly
known as the All-Seeing Eye of God, is a
symbol containing multiple but similar
meanings. From the earliest days of the
Christian church, the symbol has meant to
represent the ever-watchful eye of God. The
three corners of the triangle representing
the Holy Trinity and the lights emanating
from it are the lights of providence, of glory.

The Political Animals

The Forces Of Yin And Yang
On the subject of symbols
in political logos, perhaps the
two well-recognized
symbols of American politics –
the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant – are
worth a mention.
Star
More often than not, stars carry a positive connotation.
Because of their place in the skies, they
can represent divinity and heavenly
bodies. They’re also a sign of good luck
(pretty sure Disney’s Pinocchio taught us
that one).
Flowers
The flower is a multi-faceted symbol.
It’s widely used to represent young life,
but it’s also a symbol of beauty.
Different types and colors of flowers
mean different things. For example,
roses are associated with love more than any other flower.
A red rose might suggest love and desire, while a white
rose suggests innocence and purity.
Four-leaf clover
By order of Irish tradition, four-leaf clovers
represent luck and good fortune. Since the four-
leaf clover is a rare variation of the three-leaf,
those lucky enough to stumble across one should
treat it as a good omen.
Moon
Commonly recognized as a feminine symbol, the moon has a
lot of meaning behind its full and crescent shapes. The
moon is often equated with sleep (surprise, surprise) and,
more specifically, the middle ground
between consciousness and
unconsciousness. It serves as a
symbol for the soul.
Beats
The logo for Beats by Dre is
pretty simple. The ‘b’ is enclosed
in a circle followed by the brand
name. The circle, though, isn’t
just a circle. It actually represents a human’s head, and
the ‘b’ letterform represents the brand’s headphones. This
gives the brand a personal element, allowing a customer to
see themselves in the headphones.

Cisco

Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking for the internet,

is named after its headquarters’ location in San Francisco.
While its namesake doesn’t have a
hidden meaning, the blue stripes
above the logotype not only
represent an electromagnet but also,
the Golden Gate Bridge.
NBC
NBC’s was developed color televisions
were being introduced (explaining the
rainbow of colors), and the network
wanted a logo that would cause black and
white tv owners to make the switch. So,
they went with the common phrase (at
the time), ‘proud as a peacock’, promoting that they were
proud of their new color system. The six different colors
of the feathers represent the six different divisions of
NBC.
Amazon
Amazon is a powerhouse
when it comes to online
shopping, and their logo
reflects that. The yellow arrow in their logo starts at the
letter ‘a’ and ends at the letter ‘z’, implying that they sell
everything from a to z. The arrow also represents a smile,
with the arrowhead being a stylized dimple or smile line.
The smile indicates the happiness people feel when they
shop with Amazon.
Baskin Robbins
Baskin Robbins is known for its
seemingly limitless flavors of ice cream
(31, if we’re being exact). That famous
number is hidden in the ‘B’ and the ‘R’ of
their logo, acting as the curve of the ‘B’ and the stem of
the ‘R’. The logo represents fun and energy, much like how
you’ll feel during (and after) eating their ice cream.
Roxy
Roxy is Quicksilver’s female
clothing line. To appeal to their
female audience, they use a
heart as their logo, drawing
inspiration from the feminine shape and connotation
behind its meaning. And it’s not any ordinary heart—it’s
actually two Quicksilver logos turned on their ends.
Vaio My Fonts is an online font resource,
allowing users to access a number of
Sony Vaio, aka Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer, is known fonts. The ‘My’ in My Fonts is stylized
worldwide for its technology, but not everyone knows the to look like a hand, giving the impression
meaning behind its logo. Vaio represents the integration of that users can get their hands on
both analog and digital whatever fonts they’d like.
technologies in its
products. The letters ‘va’ AG Low
are made to look like an
AG Low, a construction company, has a
analog wave, while the ‘io’ resemble the numbers 1 and 0,
simple logo. It spells out the name of the
representing a digital signal or binary code.
company — though in a unique way. It’s
laid out to look like the floorplan of a
home.
Picasa

Picasa, Google’s former image Greenlabs

organizer and editor, has an
interesting logo mark. At first Greenlabs, a digital
glance it looks like a simple camera shutter, but the marketing and web
negative space in the center of the shutter actually forms solutions company, uses a
a house. This is because Picasa is considered ‘home’ for all tree as their logo. This accentuates the ‘green’ aspect of
of your photos, and casa in Spanish means home. their brand, but what about the labs? The crown of the
tree is actually a brain, which represents the intelligence
of their staff.
Gamecube
Gamecube’s logo is very interesting to
look at, and for good reason. Not only is
it a cube within a cube, but the outer
cube forms a ‘G’ around the inner cube, leaving a ‘C’ in the
negative space.
Yoga Australia
This logo for Yoga Australia has
a hidden gem in its negative space. In the area between
the arm and the leg it’s grasping is the geographical outline
of Australia.
BMW
BMW’s logo colors come from the Bavarian flag,
which are blue and white. Their logo is derived
from the Rapp Motor Works’ logo, which is very
similar. It is commonly thought that the logo
represents the blades of a spinning propellor, due to their
aviation history and an ad created in the 1920s.
LG
LG is recognized worldwide, and most
people recognize the ‘L’ and ‘G’ in the
logo mark. What most people don’t
realize, though, is that those letters actually help to
create a face. The ‘L’ makes the nose and the ‘G’ makes up
the rest of the face. This gives the brand a human
element, and makes it more inviting and approachable.
Carrefour
French for ‘crossroads’,
the Carrefour logo features two arrows
on both the left and right sides. Hidden
between the two in the negative space is the letter ‘C’,
standing for the brand name.
Unilever
Unilever makes a ton of
products, and to showcase that
they created a ‘U’ out of a
variety of icons symbolizing
some of their core products. It’s a fun way to show
they have their hands in a variety of areas, and gives the
viewer something to piece together.
Toblerone
The popular chocolate
Google
bar, Toblerone, has been
Another incredibly recognizable logo
around for quite some time. It’s current logo features a
worldwide (even after their recent
mountain, symbolizing the Matterhorn Mountain in
redesign), Google’s logo is supposed to
Switzerland. Hidden inside the mountain is a bear,
symbolize that they don’t play by the rules and know how
symbolizing the unique honey flavor found in the chocolate
to have fun. Instead of having a crazy font or symbol, they
and the fact that the chocolate is made in the ‘City of
chose to relay their message with color. They stuck with
Bears’.
the primary color palette but broke it with a secondary
Toyota color, green.
Toyota’s current logo has been
around since 1990. The popular Gillette
car manufacturer’s three
Gillette, a razor company, is razor sharp with
overlapping rings symbolize the unification of the hearts
their logo — literally. The intricate and precise
of Toyota customers and Toyota’s products. The
cut in the ‘G’ and ‘i’ look as though they’ve been carefully
background space represents their technological
removed with an extra sharp Gillette razor.
advancement and the opportunities that lay ahead.

Apple
One of the most recognizable logos
in the world, the Apple logo is
theorized to have come from none
other than the story of Adam and Eve. The apple is
supposed to be the apple Eve bit from in the bible and
represents the fruits from the Tree of Knowledge.
 SCRAPBOOK
IN ENG III

SIGNS
&
SYMBOLS
Submitted by: Glicel E. Castor
BSED FILIPINO IV-B

Submitted to : Ms. Jo-Ann Dolendo