TRAFFIC SIGNS

The use of traffic signs helps to control the flow of traffic among automobiles,
pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicycles, and other road users. Traffic signs are used to warn and
direct drivers.
Municipalities will commission an engineering study to determine the need and utility of
traffic signs in a specific site before they are installed. After all, nobody would want to drive
down a road with signs strewn around carelessly and without reason. As a result, some motorists
might eventually fail to obey the posted speed limits, perhaps resulting in traffic accidents rather
than preventing them.

3 Different Types of Traffic Signs

1. Regulatory Signs
The term "regulatory signs" refers to a variety of signs that are used to indicate or
reinforce traffic laws, regulations or requirements that apply either always or only at certain
times or locations on a street or highway and whose disregard may result in a violation, or
signs that generally govern public behavior in areas that are open to the general public. Stop,
yield, speed limit, do not enter, handicap, one-way, and HOV signs are examples of
regulatory signs.
One type of regulatory signs are traffic signs intended to instruct road users on what they
must or should do (or not do) under a given set of circumstances. Other types may be signs
located on streets and in parking lots having to do with parking, signs in public parks and on
beaches or on or in architectural facilities prohibiting specific types of activities.
Due to the prevalence and importance of regulatory signs, they are one of the first things
a beginner driver should learn by heart. If you intend to drive in traffic, you simply must
know about the common regulatory signs.
Common Regulatory Signs
a. Stop Signs. Indicates you must come to a complete stop before the sign and yield to
all other traffic before proceeding.
b. Yield Signs. Indicates you must slow down on approach and yield to all other traffic.
You don’t have to stop if you are alone on the road.
c. Speed Limit Signs. Indicates a maximum speed limit of 50 mph. This is the
maximum speed at which you may travel under ideal conditions.
d. Night time Speed Limit Sign. Indicates a maximum nighttime speed limit of 45
mph. This is the maximum speed at which you may travel at night.
e. Minimum Speed Limit Sign. This regulatory sign is intended to keep traffic flowing
smoothly, and indicates a minimum speed limit of 40 mph. Do not drive slower than
indicated.
 f. Turn Only Lanes Sign. This sign indicates that traffic may only move in the
directions indicated for each lane. In this case, the left lane may only turn left, the
middle lane may only go straight ahead, and the right lane may only turn right.
g. Advanced Intersection Control Sign. This regulatory sign indicates that traffic may
only move in the directions indicated for each lane. In this case, the left lane may only
turn left, and traffic in the right lane may turn left or go straight ahead.
h. Straight Ahead Only Sign. This regulatory sign indicates that no turns are allowed.
You must drive straight ahead.
i. Reversible Lane Control Sign. This regulatory sign indicates a reversible lane and
specifies at what time the lane is open for traffic. Reversible lanes may be open in one
direction during the morning commute, and another direction in the afternoon.
j. Center Lane Control Sign. This regulatory sign prohibits the use of the center lane
between the specified times.
k. No Right/Left Turn Sign. This sign indicates that you are prohibited from making a
left/right turn here.
l. No U-turn Sign. This sign indicates that you are prohibited from making a U-turn
here.
m. No Left or U-turn Sign. This regulatory sign indicates that you are prohibited from
making a left/right turn here.

2. Warning Signs

Warning signs are intended to inform drivers of impending hazardous or

unexpected conditions that may require them to slow down or take other actions for the
sake of safety and effective traffic flow, such as a bend, diversion, side road, etc.
They often have a diamond-shaped or rectangular sign with a yellow or orange
background and black symbols or inscriptions. Where passing is dangerous, yellow
pennant-shaped signs warn drivers. Round yellow caution signs notify drivers that a
railroad crossing is up ahead.
Common Warning Signs
a. General caution. General warning signs are used in instances in which the
particular hazard, obstacle or condition is not covered by a standard sign.
b. Curves and Corners. These signs indicate that dangerous or unexpected
bends in the road are ahead. Signs typically indicate whether the curves are to
the right or to the left, the angle of the curve and whether it is one curve or a
series of curves.
c. Intersections. These signs warn of road crossings at crossroads, T-
intersections, roundabouts, or Y-intersections. They may also indicate "hidden
driveway" intersecting the road ahead.
d. Pedestrian Crossing. These signs are used to warn drivers of people walking
in the street. They may also be used to warn of children playing, playgrounds,
 bicycle area, deaf child, blind pedestrians, and thickly settled zones where
pedestrians may enter the road.
e. Schools. These signs mark school zones (in which lower speed limits may be
in place), student crossings, crossing guards or signals ahead.
f. Roadwork or Construction. These signs are often temporary in nature and
used to indicate road work (construction), poor roads, or temporary conditions
ahead on the road including flagmen, uneven pavement, etc. 

3. Guides or Informative Signs

Travelers can get distance and orientation information from guide signs. Although
they can be other colors, these signs normally have white writing on green backgrounds.
Highway route markers, street signs, mile markers, exit signs, toll road signs, logo service
signs, and rest area signs are examples of directional signage.
These signs typically serve the following purposes: directing motorists in the right
direction; providing information and geographic feature signs about the distance to the
next significant town; and identifying locations where motorists can find necessities like
gas stations, restaurants, and rest areas.
Examples:  
 Tourist information and tourist destination signs
  Street name signs
  Advance direction signs
 Town names and geographical feature signs