SIGNS

Purpose of Traffic Signs

Traffic signs are devices placed along, beside, or above a highway, roadway, pathway, or other route to guide, warn, and regulate the flow of traffic, including motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, equestrians, and other travelers.

Sign should only be placed where warranted by facts and engineering studies.

Signs should be placed as necessary for safety and property regulation of traffic.  However, the use of too many signs in a given location may reduce the effectiveness of all the signs at that locations.

Signs, like any other traffic control device, must meet five fundamental requirements: 

• Fulfill a need
• Command attention
• Convey a clear, simple meaning
• Command respect from travelers
• Give adequate time for proper response

Classification of Signs

There are four general types of signs:

• Warning signs to caution motorists of road conditions.
• Regulatory signs to inform traffic of regulations governing movements, parking, speeds, weights, etc.
• Guide signs to show route designations, destinations (street name signs), directions, distances, services, points of interest, and other geographical recreational, or cultural information.
• Construction signs to caution motorists in advance of and through construction and maintenance activities (may include warning, regulatory and guides signs).

Shapes

Certain shapes have been identified as appropriate for use on signs to convey traffic control information.  The standard sign shapes are as follows:

Octagon -- only to be used for the STOP sign.

Equilateral Triangle -- with one point downward, shall be used only for the YIELD sign.

Round -- used only for advanced warning of railroad crossings.

Diamond -- warns of existing conditions, either on or roadway or adjacent thereto.  The diamond shape is a square sign with one diagonal vertical.

Rectangle -- used for all regulatory signs, except STOP signs and YIELD signs, all guide signs except certain route markers and recreational area guide signs, and for all education and supplemental plates mounted below and on the same post with another warning sign.  The rectangular shape may also be used for unusually large warning signs.

Pentagon -- with one point upward, shall be used for school advance and school crossing signs.

Other shapes are reserved for special purposes; for example, the shield or other characteristic design for route markers.

Colors

Traffic signs are assigned a specific color for its application:

RED is used only as a background color for STOP signs, multi way supplemental plates, do-not-enter messages, wrong-way signs and on interstate route markers, or as a legend color for YIELD signs, parking prohibition signs, the circular outline and diagonal bar prohibitory symbol and symbol STOP AHEAD and YIELD AHEAD and SIGNAL AHEAD signs.

BLACK is used as a background on some ONE WAY signs and certain EXEMPT RXR signs, and as a legend color on white, yellow and orange signs.

WHITE   is used as a background color for regulatory signs (except STOP signs), some route markers, some guide signs, and for the legend on brown, green, blue, black and red background signs.  Where white is specified herein as a sign color, it is understood to include silver-colored reflecting coatings or elements that reflect white light.

ORANGE  is used as the background color for construction and maintenance work zone signs and shall not be used for any other purpose.

YELLOW is used a s the background color on warning signs except in work zones where orange is specified.

BROWN is used as a background color for guide and informational signs related to points of recreational or cultural interest.

GREEN is used as a background color for guide signs (other than those using brown or white), and is a legend color with a white background for permissive parking regulation and signal ahead signs.

BLUE is used as a background for information signs related to highway user services (including police services and rest areas), handicapped parking regulation, and other evacuation route marker.

Sign Maintenance  

The sign crew of Traffic Operations installs and maintains approximately 6,000 traffic signs annually within the City limits.  The crew also fabricates new signs for use all over the City.  The "Sign Shop" utilizes aluminum pre-cut shapes and prepares them with either reflective or non-reflective sheeting.  The letters and/or symbols are computer generated onto transfer sheeting and placed on the sign.

The life span of traffic signs is between 5-7 years for facing, but there are a number of other reasons that signs are replaced sooner.  Accidents, vandalism, graffiti, theft and new construction are among the most common.  Old and damaged signs are recycled and refurbished for future use.

The sign crew also performs periodic sign inspections ensuring regulatory and directional signs are installed at standard heights as required in the Uniform Traffic Control manual.  Additionally, this four-man crew straightens, replaces, and cleans the signs, posts and hardware when necessary.

Should you encounter a traffic sign in need of repair, please use the service request form to report the sighting!