April 17, 2020 Road Warning Signs

Road warning signs you see most often and their meanings.

The roadways around the country are regulated and governed by a set of road signs that are responsible for conveying driving laws, maintaining traffic control, and guiding drivers along the roads and highways. Signs are categorized into permanent and temporary signs, but both categories have some signs that are going to be more important to remember than others. Take the time to study up on road warning signs so that you can be safer on the road.

Although there are some road signs that are more common than others, some people still aren’t familiar with their meaning in many cases. Most drivers have been licensed for so many years that it has been decades since they have actually taken a road test that requires them to identify traffic control signs. As a result, some people may forget what certain signs mean or just not be aware of which ones are the most important to commit to memory.

Road signs can serve any number of purposes. Typically, they are divided into three categories: guidance, regulatory signs, and warning signs. They can point out crosswalks that are ahead, indicate speed limit changes, warn drivers of construction zones or traffic situations, and so forth. Warning signs are the most important of the informational road signs because they typically mean that something is amiss and you need to pay extra attention.

Below, you’ll find a full list of the most common road warning signs and their meanings, so that you can put them at the top of your priority list and keep them in mind to be safer when you are out on the road.

What are the Most Common Road Warning Signs?

It’s going to be nearly impossible for you to memorize the hundreds of road signs that are out there. In fact, it’s highly unlikely that anyone one person will even come into contact with every single road sign that was ever created. There are some signs, though, that you will want to make sure that you absolutely understand and are aware of when you are driving for your safety, as well as for the safety of the other drivers on the road.

• Yield: These signs are designed to advise drivers to yield to oncoming traffic. Typically, they will be white with a red border, although some Yield signs do come in yellow with black printing. Whichever roadway the sign points toward is required to yield to oncoming traffic or other potential hazards.
• Stop: The stop sign is one of the most basic road warning signs. It advises drivers when they need to stop the vehicle before proceeding through an intersection or leaving a parking lot, for example. Stop signs are typically red with a white border, although they come in a variety of styles.
• Speed Limit: Another important and well-known road warning sign is the speed limit sign. This one will tell you how fast you can drive and where you need to slow down for residential or commercial zones, as well as notify you of changing speeds on highways and toll roads. They are rectangular white signs with black printing.
• Emergency Vehicle Warning: These signs are rarer than many common warning signs, but they are definitely among the most important to know. Typically, these signs will have a picture of an emergency vehicle or an emergency light, advising that a fire station or EMS hub is nearby and therefore emergency vehicle traffic may be heavier than normal.
• Keep Right: When a road narrows, this white sign with black printing uses an arrow and a median to advise drivers to move to the right or stay to the right. These are employed when lanes end or when roads are divided, such as in the case of one-way streets turning back into two-way traffic.
• Pedestrian Crossing: These yellow signs are quite common and most people can recognize them easily. They have black printing with an image of a stick figure person, which warns that there is heavy foot traffic in the area so that you can drive with caution. Signs are commonly found near schools and heavily-populated downtown areas.
• No Bicycles: This sign is going to feature black print on a white background, with a red slash and circle over the image of the bike on the sign, which advises that bicycles are not allowed on that particular roadway or area of access. Some signs may also just have the printed words “No Bicycles” rather than an image.
• Men at Work: Any variation of this type of sign, including ones that say “road work ahead” or anything of the like, is a warning sign that temporary work is taking place ahead and you should proceed with caution. Some signs will simply include a picture of a shovel. This may require slowing down or moving over.
• No U-Turn: This warning sign will have some form of an arrow-shaped like a U-turn and either a red slash or another indicator that this is not allowed. These signs are often seen at intersections on divided roadways and medians on freeways.
• Animal Crossing: When you are in a rural area or an area that is frequented by wildlife, such as deer or wild turkeys, you may see warning signs along the roadway that advise of a high animal population in the area or a common crossing area. These signs are typically yellow with black printing and include either text or a picture of the animal of which drivers are being cautioned.

Keeping You Safe on the Road

If you want the best in traffic warning signs with quality signs that are fully compliant, count on Worksafe. Our traffic control signs and supplies ensure that you have all of the road warnings that you need for your next project. Whether you’re replacing signs for a city or just looking for temporary warning signs for a construction project, we have a full selection of traffic control solutions. Visit our website today to learn more.

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