U.S. Road Signs – More Colors and Shapes

Motorist services signs are white on blue. They direct you to services like rest areas, tourist sites, hospitals and hotels, gas stations, eating places, campgrounds, or picnic areas. Blue is also used to identify parking spaces for disabled drivers.

White is used for regulatory signs such as speed limit, keep right, and a few guide signs like route markers. Black is for certain regulatory signs, such as One Way signs and changeable message signs.

The five-sided (pentagon) shape is for school advance and crossing signs.

Fluorescent pink marks emergency traffic incidents.

Destination and distance signs are always green. They direct you to destinations, bike routes, parking areas, and specific exits.

The round or circular shape is for railroad advance warning signs.

A sign showing information about amenities at an upcoming exit is an example of a traffic sign with a blue background.

Yield signs have the shape of an upside-down triangle.

Brown is for recreation and cultural interest areas.

Green signs indicate exits, distance to cities, interstate interchanges, street or route names, and bicycle routes.

Instead of yellow, fluorescent yellow-green may be used for school zone, bicycle, and pedestrian warnings.

Vertical rectangles and square signs are generally regulatory signs. Some warning signs may also have this shape.

Yellow is for general warnings of specific road conditions and dangers ahead.

Orange is for construction and maintenance warning signs. They alert you to possible dangers ahead due to construction and maintenance projects.

Four-sided diamond-shaped signs warn of existing or possible hazards on roads or adjacent areas.

All red signs are regulatory signs, and you must obey them. They indicate stop or prohibition and include signs like stop, yield, do not enter, and wrong way.

The pennant shape warns of No Passing Zones.

Brown is for recreation and cultural interest areas. A sign showing a nearby state park is an example of a traffic sign with a brown background.

Stop signs have an eight-sided form.

Horizontal rectangles give directions or information. When vertical, they give instructions or tell you the law.