Safety Sign Information - The Sign Genius

Driving Signs and Symbols - Shapes

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the standard that dictates all traffic control device installations and maintenance across the United States. It covers every road open for public use - all highways, streets, and bike lanes.

MUTCD standards have been enforced since 1971 by the Federal Highway Administration under the United States Department of Transportation.

These standards keep all of the driving signs and symbols that you see on the road uniform, so there is no confusion between the driving signs and symbols from one state to another. By keeping signs and symbols uniform, safety is greatly increased for drivers and pedestrians on the road.

The shape of a MUTCD compliant sign is standardized to bring familiarity to drivers, and also to convey the level of importance to its message. Driving signs and symbols with more sides are typically more important to immediate safety.

Driving signs and symbols like stop signs (eight sides) and school crossing signs (five sides) warn drivers of immediate hazards, while square signs like those for street signs are less important for dangers as they are for direction.

The six shapes a driver is most likely to encounter for driving signs and symbols are:

• Octagon (stop signs)
• Pentagon (school warning signs)
• Triangle (yield signs)
• Diamond (warning and construction signs)
• Circle (railroad warning signs)
• Square (speed limit signs and parking signs)

For more information about the regulations on driving signs and symbols, visit the MUTCD's webpage.

Pedestrian Crossing Signs Get Some Help

Traffic Flags Increase Visibility

Crosswalk safety is a top concern with many people - pedestrians, drivers, and government officials are all trying to figure out how our different forms of traffic can co-exist safely. This has lead to an increase of the use of in-street pedestrian crossing signs and other traffic signage that helps alert drivers and pedestrians of danger.

These highly reflective crossing signs are installed in the middle of the road to give advanced warning to drivers that a crosswalk is ahead. There are two types of in-street crosswalk panels: yield to pedestrian and stop for pedestrian crossing signs. 

Both types of crosswalk sign are MUTCD compliant and are commonly seen around schools and other areas with many people on foot. These pedestrian crossing signs are more visible than signs installed on posts at curbs, and now there are additional safety tools to keep walkers safe.

Cities and towns across the United States are adopting the use of traffic flags, those orange flags that are seen at construction sites, to help drivers notice people in crosswalks. When someone approaches a crosswalk (which is already set up with pedestrian crossing signs and other safety features), they simply pick up a bright orange flag and wave it while they cross. This greatly improves visibility for drivers, especially at night or when a person is dressed in dark clothing.

These traffic flags, when incorporated with the use of in-street pedestrian crossing signs and other crosswalk signs, will hopefully reduce the number of accidents that occur every year involving drivers and pedestrians.

We live in a distracted age of technology that both drivers and pedestrians are guilty of and this measure, in conjunction with properly installed in-street pedestrian crossing signs, could make this a safer age too.