The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-08-28
UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ROAD
SIGNS

At a meeting held in Washington
on August 8 and A., the Joint Board
of Interstate Highways adopted
system of interstate roads and
series of standard danger, caution,
direction and international signs
which it will recommend for use in
marking and signing the system
selected.
The system adopted will now be
mapped and as promptly as~possible
full report will be made to the
Secretary of Agriculture, by whom
the board was appointed last
February.
The selected routes were num-
bered in accordance with system
evolved by subcommittee. of the
board at the session on August a.
The standard route marker will be
typical United States shield painted
white ON which will appear, in
black, the name of the appropriate
State, the initials of U. S., and the
route number. II possible the route
number will be limited to two digits
for easy reading, and steps will be
taken to prevent the use of the
standard marker for any purpose
other than for the marking of the
selected system of interstate roads.
Other standard signs adopted by
| he board were as follows:
A white shield in smaller size
:han the route marker on which will
be printed the letters r or l. as
| precautionary warning on the ap-
| proach of curves or turns in the
routes. A similar sign, with the ad-
lition of an arrow pointing in the
| proper direction, will be posted i'm
mediately at the turn.
A circular sign "a inches in di-
lmeter with a yellow background
and bearing the familiar railroad
cross in black with the letters r r
also in black in the upper quadrants
| has been adopted for use at rail-
road grade crossings in all States in
which existing laws permit the use
of such sign; and the, board rec
ommends that the use OF the sign
be authorized by suitable legislation
in all States.
The standard stop sign adopted is
regular octagon with the word
"Stop" in black letters on yellow
| background.
The caution signs are diamond
shaped, with yellow background
on which are the warning words anc
symbols giving notice of curves
Hills, loose gravel, ETC., ahead. In
addition to these cautionary signs
provision has been made for the
use of "look" or attention" signs
TO be used sparingly on approaching
| schools and other points at which
caution will be necessary. These
signs will be square, with yellow
| background and black letters.
In the selection of colors ano
shapes the board has been guided
by the principle that all signs in
| QlcdLlnS Cn0 u0C0aSlIy loA any
degree of caution will be yellow
The degree of caution required will
be indicated by the shape of the
signs as well as by the words and
symbols. A circular sign will al
ways indicate a railroad crossing;
an octagon sign will indicate positive
| danger and will call for a complete
stop; a acknowledged sign will be
equivalent to command to pro-
coed with caution; and square,
yellow sign will call attention to the
need of a lesser degree of caution.
In addition to the warning and
cautionary signs standards were also
adopted for various forms of infor-
national and directional signs, all
of which are to be rectangular ir
,orm and to have a white back
ground with black letters.
With respect to luminous signs
the action of the board at its April
Meeting remains unchanged. The
;olors approved are red for DANCED
Or stop, yellow for caution and
green to indicate Co."