Whether you’re a beginner driver or an experienced one, there are some essential regulatory signs that everyone should know. These include the Stop Sign, Yield Sign, and No Turn On Red.
Regulatory signs usually have a rectangular shape and display rules or general information. There are different colors and symbols on each type of sign, too.
Stop Sign
The Stop Sign is one of the most familiar and critical regulatory signs Seattle WA, on roadways. This distinctive red octagon is easily recognizable nationwide and worldwide as a symbol that demands your full attention and respect.
A STOP sign assigns traffic right-of-way control at an intersection based on engineering criteria. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices outlines a set of warrants that help us decide when a particular hub requires such control.
This sign warns you of existing or possible hazards on the roadway ahead. These hazards can be anything from a steep curve to a merging traffic lane on a highway. The diamond-shaped warnings typically have black words or symbols visually describing the potential hazard. These are often posted before the risk, giving you time to slow down and take a different route if necessary.
Yield Sign
When you see a Yield Sign, you must let other vehicles enter the intersection before proceeding. It also means that you should slow down, do a quick scan of the area, and then move only once you know that there isn’t any other traffic in the vicinity.
This is another one of those regulatory signs that many drivers forget about or don’t fully understand. Unlike Stop signs, which require you to come to a complete stop even if there are no other cars or pedestrians present in the area, Yield signs are less strict.
The YIELD sign is usually a triangle with a red background and a white center. The design changed over the years, but the current version appeared in 1971, and it was adopted as an international standard by the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Regardless of how you remember it, the rule remains the same: always yield to the other traffic on the road.
No Turn On Red Sign
Many drivers may need to learn that it is against the law to turn right on a red light in certain situations. Depending on the case, the local government may prohibit this movement to increase pedestrian safety at an intersection and minimize potential traffic crashes. This is often done in locations with high pedestrian volume and where children cross. A leading pedestrian interval can also help to reduce RTR conflicts.
Regulatory signs communicate legal requirements and restrictions to road users. These include parking regulations, lane usage rules, and speed limits. They are typically shaped and colored to stand out in your field of view. For example, the octagon shape of a Stop Sign and the red crossbuck on railroad crossings are both meant to be easily seen. In addition to these basic shapes, the No Turn On Red Sign is usually yellow to be more visible.
Speed Limit Sign
Every day, thousands of drivers drive their cars on highways and local roads to go to work, run errands, or get somewhere else. Driving is a serious affair that requires alertness and caution, especially when traffic and road conditions deviate from usual standards.
The Speed Limit Sign is one of the most common and essential regulatory signs every driver should know. The rectangular, black-and-white signs tell you the maximum and minimum safe speeds for a given section of road under typical conditions. These signs are posted on freeways and limited access highways, as well as in construction zones and other locations where the speed limits are legally reduced.
Other vital white regulatory signs include the LEFT TURN YIELD ON FLASHING YELLOW ARROW and OPPOSING TRAFFIC EXTENDED GREEN. These are often accompanied by arrow boards that point you to the correct lane for the approaching intersection or turn. The white signs help you make sense of the information presented by color-coded shapes and text.
