USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports


            
            In This Section
        Local and Rural Road Safety Program
                Training, Tools, Guidance and Countermeasures for Locals Practitioners
                Crash Facts
                
                II. SIGN PRINCIPLES AND TYPES
Traffic Sign Principles

While there is much to be said about the design, placement, operation, and maintenance of signs (see, for example, The Traffic Signing Handbook), there are a few key principles that are critical for traffic signs to be effective. As with any traffic control device, a traffic sign should meet five basic requirements stipulated in the *MUTCD*, namely:

Fulfill a need;
	Command attention;
	Convey a clear, simple meaning;
	Command respect from road users, and
	Give adequate time for proper response.Even during maintenance operations, it is important for staff to question every sign that they work on to see if it is needed and meets standards applicable to its use. The decision to use a sign at a particular location should be made on the basis of either an engineering study or the application of engineering judgment. Local jurisdictions that do not have engineering staff knowledgeable of the *MUTCD* should seek assistance from their State transportation agency, another jurisdiction, or traffic engineering consultant. The Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) in each State and tribal area can be a valuable resource for this assistance as well.

Traffic Sign Types

The *MUTCD* specifies three classes of signs defined by their function:

Regulatory signs.
	Warning signs.
	Guides signs.Regulatory Signs

The rules of the road—the laws and regulations—are often communicated through regulatory signs. These are important signs to maintain because the absence of, or damage to, a regulatory sign could result in or contribute to a severe crash.

"Regulatory sign: STOP sign""Regulatory sign: YIELD sign"""Regulatory sign: SPEED LIMIT 50 sign

***Regulatory signs are usually a combination of black, white and red colors as shown by these examples.***

Damaged or missing regulatory signs (especially the STOP, YIELD, ONE WAY, and DO NOT ENTER signs) should be replaced or repaired within hours of the agency having notice of them missing, down, or damaged.

Warning Signs

Warning signs are important because they provide drivers with advance notice of potentially hazardous situations or conditions of the road ahead that may not be apparent. They are particularly helpful to motorists who are unfamiliar with a particular road.

"Warning sign: Turn Ahead sign""Warning sign: Signal Ahead sign""Warning sign: ONE LAND BRIDGE sign"

***Warning signs, such as these, have a yellow background.***

Damaged or missing warning signs should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. As a general rule, deficiencies should be corrected within three days of notice.

Guide Signs

Guide signs are used for driver navigation—to help a driver to get to a particular destination. There are a variety of guide signs that display route designations, destinations, directions, distances, services, points of interest, and other geographical, recreational, and cultural information. The absence of these signs could cause motorists to miss their route and destination, resulting in less than efficient navigation. It can also lead to erratic maneuvers, such as slowing or stopping in the roadway and making abrupt turns. For local roads and streets, common guide signs include: street name signs, route signs, and destination and distance signs. General service signs, e.g. the hospital symbol, and general information signs, e.g. the library symbol, are included within the guide sign group.

"Guide sign: Destination sign"

***Destination sign***

"Guide sign: Street Name sign"

***Street name sign***

"Guide sign: Hospital sign"

***Hospital sign***

***Guide signs are usually white legend on a green background, but can be other backgrounds, such as brown or blue.***

Replacement of damaged or missing guide signs should be done within approximately seven working days from notice, recognizing that timing of the replacement is dependent upon how critical the sign is. For example, a street name sign is essential for emergency responders to find streets and locations on those streets. Also, since many guide signs have to be specially fabricated due to the variation in the sign message, it may take a few days before they can be assembled or purchased.

Signs in Work Zones

Whenever there is construction, utility work, or maintenance being done on the road or roadside, temporary traffic control is necessary, which usually includes temporary warning signs. The warning signs used for this purpose have a black legend and border on orange background. While these are temporary signs, it is important that they be maintained because travel through work zones can be hazardous due to unusual or different conditions that drivers may not expect. These signs should not be allowed to deteriorate much below their original condition. For more information on this topic refer to the *MUTCD*, Part 6. Appendix C provides three typical traffic control applications from the *MUTCD* that would likely be used for sign maintenance activities.

"Warning sign: ROAD WORK sign""Warning sign: DETOUR sign"""Warning sign: Flagman Ahead sign

***In most cases warning signs such as these have an orange background. (Note: for the signs on left and center, the word AHEAD or the distance [e.g., 500 FT] would fit within the dashed lines.)***

The response time frames for correction of missing or damaged signs mentioned above are provided to illustrate relative priority in providing sign maintenance activities. Each agency should adopt a policy that addresses sign repair response procedures and times both for normal work periods as well as after hour needs.
      
  Book traversal links for II. SIGN PRINCIPLES AND TYPES
      ‹ I: INTRODUCTION
                    Up
                    III. SIGN MATERIALS ›
                
                Book:Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports
              I: INTRODUCTION
                II. SIGN PRINCIPLES AND TYPES
                III. SIGN MATERIALS
                IV. SIGN SUPPORTS
                V. SIGN INSTALLATION
                VI. SIGN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
                VII. INVENTORY
                VIII. INSPECTION
                IX. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
                X. REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
                XI. REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING
                REFERENCES AND OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
                APPENDIX A: MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED IN MAINTAINING SIGNS
                APPENDIX B: CLEAR ZONE DESCRIPTION
                APPENDIX C: THREE TYPICAL WORK ZONE LAYOUTS FROM MUTCD U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us