U.S. Road Signs – More Colors and Shapes

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

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

Brown is used for recreation and cultural interest areas.

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

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

Fluorescent pink is used for emergency traffic incidents.

All red signs are regulatory signs and must be obeyed. They indicate stop or prohibition and include signs like: stop, yield, do not enter and wrong way.

Orange is used as a background color for construction and maintenance warning signs. They alert you to possible dangers ahead due to construction and maintenance projects.

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

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

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

The pennant shape is used for advance warning of No Passing Zones.

The eight-sided shape is exclusively used for stop signs.

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

The upside down triangle shape is exclusively used for yield signs.

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

Motorist services signs are white on blue. They direct you to services, such as 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.

Horizontal rectangles are generally used to give directions or information. When vertical, signs are generally used to give instructions or tell you the law.

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

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