Similar to road sign colors, the meaning of a road sign can be signified by its shape. No matter where you reside, being a driver means you’ll have to see and follow all types of road signs. This is why it’s important to know their meaning. Below are some common shapes seen among road signs, along with their meaning.
Octagon
Any road sign with an octagon shape will be a stop sign. You should come to a halt at any intersection showing this sign. Just do a full stop and stop moving at the marked line or before coming to the crosswalk or before your car enters the intersection. Allow other cars or pedestrians to pass.
Equilateral Triangle
This sign shape is utilized for yield signs in order to show the right way. Slow down and allow the cars crossing your path to pass. If needed, stop right before going on. In case pedestrians are going to or in the crosswalk, don’t move until they have crossed the road, then go on.
Pennant
This road shape is placed on the left side of the road or highway. The pennant shape serves as a warning for a no-passing zone.
Diamond
The diamond road shape also serves the purpose of warning signs. It basically alerts the drivers about distinct road hazards. The specific images or words on the diamond road signs will explain why you should slow down or be more cautious.
Rectangle
This is a guide or regulatory sign. Rectangle road signs instruct what you should or shouldn’t do, like speed limits. On the other side, the horizontal road sign offers information or directions regarding services which are useful for drivers.
Pentagon
This road sign shape refers to a school zone or a school crossing. It’s color is either yellowish green or fluorescent yellow.
Crossbuck
All railroad crossing signs have the crossbuck shape and are positioned at all crossings. Occasionally, there is a number underneath the crossbuck that indicates the number of sets of tracks.
Circle
Any road sign in the shape of a circle refers to a railroad crossing ahead of the road.
Common Regulatory Road Signs
Stop
Referring to the name, this sign instructs you to immediately stop whenever you see it. With all the stop signs almost, there is a line on the road where the drivers have to stop. Most areas instruct you to come to a full stop before driving again.
Yield
This road sign alerts about any potential road hazards, bad road conditions, or upcoming traffic (there are signs that guide you to yield before merging in order to prevent accidents).
The yield signs mean to stop if needed and continue when it’s safe, slow down, or defer to oncoming traffic. For the same purpose, a flashing yellow light at an intersection is used as well.
Read More: What Do Road Markings Mean?
Speed Regulation Road Signs
These road signs are made to suggest the speed at which it is suitable to drive on a specific road. There are some signs that suggest only one speed, whereas some road signs even indicate two speeds – the minimum speed permitted on the road and the maximum speed permitted on a road.
The speeds can be changed under some situations like road work or something similar, and these speed limits should be followed to regulate safety for everyone present on the road.
Speed limit
This indicates the maximum speed allowed on the road for the standard vehicles. This maximum speed is actually the safest maximum speed under common driving circumstances.
Minimum speed
Generally visible on expressways and highways, this road sign refers to the least permitted speed under regular flowing traffic.
Truck speed
On a few roadways, bigger vehicles need to follow various speed limits. The Truck Speed sign indicates the highest speed allowed for bigger vehicles needing trucks.
Combination Speed
This road sign indicates the least and highest speeds for all vehicles present on the road. The Combination Speed sign is usually seen on interstates and highways to prevent accidents.
Selective Exclusion Road Signs
Do Not Enter
Upon seeing this sign, you are being told that you don’t belong here and should keep out. It’s usually seen on the outset of an exit that will soon come out where you are headed.
Wrong Way
Similar to the above sign, this sign tells you that you shouldn’t be here. For instance, you can see this sign on one-way roads opposite the traffic. This way, if a driver is going on a one-way road in an incorrect way, they’ll see this sign.
