Significance of Colors and Shapes in Road & Traffic Signs
Streamlining the flow of traffic and effective communication with the traffic environment is possible with standard colors and shapes of signboards. Colors can tell you as much about the sign’s message as the entire sign itself.
Every color used on a sign has a meaning attached to it and tells the driver what to expect ahead.
Following are the different colors used in signs to convey different messages to motorists.
1. Red: The color red is used for signs that tell the motorists to stop or yield. The sign notifies the driver to stop and proceed when it is safe. The rationale of a STOP sign is to limit the driver from entering a crosswalk or intersection, one way and prohibited streets etc. accidentally or at high speed.
2. Green: Green gives highway directions and guides through highway interchanges and tells you how far a place is from where you are.
3. Yellow: A general warning or caution is always depicted through this color.
4. Black / white: This color indicates enforceable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
5. Blue: Blue signs list motorist services. These signs guide you to places such as hotels, gas stations, hospitals, eating places, picnic and campgrounds etc.
6. Orange: At time of construction and work in progress, the work area is protected from traffic by orange warning signs and devices.
7. Brown: Brown color directs you to public recreational areas, national parks, historic points of interest and scenic sites.
8. Fluorescent yellow-green: General warning or caution is demonstrated with fluorescent yellow-green color. The signs using this new color are much easier to see in low light, fog and rain. It shows pedestrian warning, bicycle warning, playground warning, school bus and school warning.
9. Red and White with red letters: Yield signs are red and white in color with red letters. This color combination alerts the drivers of the oncoming hazards on the road. It instructs the driver to slow down, stop when necessary, and proceed safely and be aware of the oncoming traffic.
10. Flashing yellow light: It has the same meaning as a yield sign. This tells the driver should be cautious while passing the road or intersection.
11. Circular red arrow: It forbids moving in the direction where the arrow points. Turning on a red arrow is not allowed.
12. Circular yellow arrow: This indicates that the driver should prepare to stop at the stop line and thus slow down. Motorists should not increase the speed to beat the red arrow that comes next.
13. Circular green arrow: It indicates the right of way to progress through the turn. Before moving ahead, drivers should yield for other vehicle and pedestrians who are still at the intersection.
Shapes can also help identify the signboards:
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