Traffic control signs help to provide drivers with information and direction and remind them of the rules of the road. Each sign has a different shape, color, and purpose, but what they all have in common is that they’re vital for creating safe driving environments on America’s many roadways. Read on to find out about the six most important types of traffic control signs for information or safety to learn how they accomplish this lofty goal.

1. Regulatory Signs

Regulatory signs usually feature white backgrounds with black text, though the color scheme can also be reversed. Speed limit signs are the most common examples, although white-on-red stop signs also fall under this category. All regulatory signs feature information about how fast to drive or when to stop, and following them is essential to maintaining safe sacramento traffic control.

2. Warning Signs

Warning signs usually have a yellow background with black text and pictograms. They’re used to call attention to potentially hazardous conditions on the roadway or adjacent to it and can be used to alert drivers to all kinds of threats. This category is extremely broad and covers everything from school zone signs to falling rock warnings, sharp curve alerts, and more.

3. Guide Signs

Guide signs are usually green with white writing, though some feature blue or brown backgrounds depending on the location and the type of information. They provide drivers with crucial information like route numbers, road names, directions, and distances. They can also provide information to drivers about nearby emergency services or transportation facilities.

4. Information Signs

Information signs are usually blue with white text, though the color scheme can vary. They provide cultural or geographical information and highlight points of interest. Common examples of information signs include signs alerting drivers of upcoming rest areas or scenic overlooks.

5. Service and Attraction Signs

Like information signs, service and attraction signs are usually blue with white text. Instead of highlighting rest areas, scenic overlooks, or important cultural markers, they feature information about where drivers can find essential services like gas, food, and lodging.

Service and attraction signs are most commonly found on nterstates and freeways. Some of them feature detailed information about what kinds of restaurants, hotels, or gas stations drivers will find at a service plaza or off an exit. Others are smaller and show only that motorist services are available.

6. Construction Signs

Unlike all of the other types of signs described in this article, construction signs aren’t permanent fixtures. They’re temporary and designed to be moved from place to place as needed to protect construction crews. Examples include signs to indicate changes in traffic patterns or speed limits or upcoming road work.

Construction signs are fluorescent orange in color and feature black text or pictograms. The placement of these signs is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, with guidelines listed in the DOT’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Traffic Control Signs Keep Everyone Safe

Drivers should always take traffic control signs seriously, whether they indicate a change in the speed limit or an upcoming construction zone. These signs are designed to keep everyone safe on the road and make it easier for motorists to find the services or attractions they’re looking for, so pay attention to them and follow the directions at all times.