What the word warning sign

For a sign on a boat or building relating to it or its contents, see Placard. For non-traffic warning signs, see Safety sign.

A warning sign is a type of sign which indicates a potential hazard, obstacle, or condition requiring special attention. Some are traffic signs that indicate hazards on roads that may not be readily apparent to a driver.^[1]

Shape and colors of road warning sign used:

   Uses

   Uses

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   Uses , previously used

   Uses , previously used

   Uses a combination of

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While warning traffic sign designs vary, they usually take the shape of an equilateral triangle with a white background and thick red border. In the People’s Republic of China (except for Macau and Hong Kong), they appear with a black border and a yellow background. In Sweden, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Finland, Iceland, North Macedonia and Poland, they have a red border with an amber background. The polar bear warning sign in Svalbard recently changed from displaying a black bear on white background to a white bear on black background (both signs are triangular with a red border). Some countries (like France, Norway and Spain) that normally use a white background have adopted an orange or amber background for road work or construction signs.

Warning signs in some countries have a diamond shape in place of the standard triangular shape. In the United States, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand,^[2] most of South America, and also the Republic of Ireland (diverging from the standards of the rest of Europe) use warning signs are black on a yellow background and usually diamond-shaped, while temporary signs (which are typically construction signs) are black on an orange background. Some other countries also use these standards for some signage.

The warning signs usually contain a symbol. In Europe they are based on the UNECE Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. In the United States they are based on the MUTCD standard and often contain text only.

HistoryEdit

17th-century sign along Salvador Street in Alfama, Lisbon says «Year of 1686. His Majesty commands all coaches, seges and litters coming from Salvador’s entrance to back up to the same part»

British specimen, c. 1860s.

Early Czechoslovak warning signs defined by a 1935 law. The blue signs were later supplanted with red-white-black signs.

Pre-standardization British School Zone with metal-cutout generic Warning symbol embellished with red glass reflector-spheres.

Some of the first roadside signs—ancient milestones—merely gave distance measures. Hazard warnings were rare though occasional specimens appeared, such as the specific warning about horse-drawn vehicles backing up which was carved in stone in Lisbon’s Alfama neighborhood in 1686. The early signs did not have high-contrast lettering and their messages might have been easily overlooked. Signs were written in the local language (example); symbolic signs, though long used on certain tradesmen’s signs (like the pawnbrokers’ tri-ball symbol) were to be used for traffic only much later in history.

Complex signage systems emerged with the appearance of motorcars. In 1908 the automobile association in West London erected some warning signs. In 1909, nine European governments agreed on the use of four pictorial symbols, indicating bump, curve, intersection, and railroad crossing. The intensive work on international road signs that took place between 1926 and 1949 eventually led to the development of the European road sign system.

As the 20th century progressed, and traffic volume and vehicle speeds increased, so did the importance of road sign visibility. Earlier flat-painted signs gave way to signs with embossed letters, which in turn gave way to button copy signs— round retroreflective «buttons» helped to achieve greater night visibility. Flat metal signs reappeared in the 1980s with the widespread use of surfaces covered with retroflective sheeting materials like Scotchlite.

In Europe, 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (which became effective in 1978) tried, among other things, to standardize important signs. After the fall of the Iron Curtain and greater ease of country-to-country driving in the EU, European countries moved toward lessening the regional differences in warning signs.

In modern regulations, U.S. warning signs are classified as Series W signs, such as W1 Series (curves and turns), W10 Series (railroads), et cetera, ending with the W25 Series (concerning extended green traffic lights). Some U.S. warning signs are without category while others like the warning stripes at tunnel portals or plain red End of Roadway signs are classified as Object Markers (OM Series). In the U.S., Stop and speed limit signs fall under the R Series (Regulatory). Modern U.S. signs are widely standardized; unless they are antique holdovers from an earlier era, oddities like a yellow Stop sign or a red Slippery When Wet sign would typically appear only on private property—perhaps at a hospital campus or in a shopping mall parking lot.

Street sign theft by pranksters, souvenir hunters, and scrappers has become problematic: removal of warning signs costs municipalities money to replace lost signs, and can contribute to traffic collisions. Some authorities affix theft-deterrence stickers to the back sides of signs. Some jurisdictions have criminalized unauthorized possession of road signs or have outlawed their resale to scrap metal dealers. In some cases, thieves whose sign-removal lead to road fatalities have been charged with manslaughter.^[3][4][5] Artistically inclined vandals sometimes paint additional details onto warning signs: a beer bottle, a handgun, or a boom box added to the outstretched hand of the Pedestrian Crossing person, for example.

Modern traffic warning sign shapes and colorsEdit

Warning signs can indicate any potential hazard, obstacle or condition requiring special attention. Some of the most common warning signs are the following.

General cautionEdit

Yellow diamond with black symbol

White background red triangle with black symbol

Amber background red triangle with black symbol

General warning signs are used in instances in which the particular hazard, obstacle or condition is not covered by a standard sign. In Europe, they usually comprise an exclamation mark on the standard triangular sign (Unicode U+26A0 ⚠ WARNING SIGN) with an auxiliary sign below in the local language identifying the hazard, obstacle or condition. In Sweden, the general warning sign has only a vertical line instead of exclamation mark; this model was used also in many other European countries until the 1990s. In the United States and other countries using diamond-shaped signs, the explanatory language is often written directly on the diamond-shaped sign, although it may contain only a general warning such as «Caution», and pictograms may also be used.

Curves and cornersEdit

Vienna Convention dangerous bends sign (diamond-shaped)

These signs indicate that dangerous or unexpected bends in the road are ahead. Signs typically indicate whether the curves are to the right or to the left, the angle of the curve and whether it is one curve or a series of curves.

Chevrons and arrowsEdit

Philippines curve chevron

Chevron-shaped symbols or arrows on rectangular signs may be placed at the actual location of the bend or curve to further mark the location of the curve and to assist in the negotiation of the curve. They may also be used to indicate «merge» with other traffic, as for an on-ramp of a limited-access highway.

An unusual occurrence of the rectangular arrow sign appears on the eastbound approach to Dead Man’s Curve in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, a curve so sharp that in places an arrow’s stem is printed on one sign and the arrow’s point is printed on another larger sign further down the road; from the driver’s perspective at a distance, the two signs visually blend together to form one large arrow image.

IntersectionsEdit

Vienna Convention intersection sign (diamond-shaped)

These signs warn of road crossings at crossroads, T-intersections, roundabouts, or Y-intersections. They may also indicate «hidden driveway» intersecting the road ahead. (Compare with bridges, overpasses, viaducts).

Pedestrian crossingsEdit

Vienna Convention pedestrian crossing sign (white triangle)

These signs are used to warn drivers of people walking in the street. They may also be used to warn of children playing, playgrounds, bicycle area, deaf child, blind pedestrians, and thickly settled zones where pedestrians may enter the road.

In California, United States near the Mexican border, there were warning signs showing a running family. This was to warn motorists to look out for illegal immigrants who try to escape authorities by running through freeway traffic. The symbol was created by California Department of Transportation employee John Hood in the late 1980s.^[6]

ObstaclesEdit

Warning signs can be placed in advance of, next to or on a specific obstacle. Obstacles such as railway level crossings may have several warning signs beforehand, while bridge ramparts typically have reflective signs placed directly on them on either side. These signs can be specific to the shape requirements of the obstacle, for example, bridge rampart signs are often tall and skinny so as not to intrude into the lane.

Road conditionsEdit

Vienna Convention slippery road because ice or snow (white triangle)

«Icy road», «Bump», etc. Truck drivers will need to pay attention to «Steep grade» warnings (or «Down grade, use lower gear»), sometimes posted with the percent grade (e.g., 5%). Steep hills may also feature «Runaway truck escape» or «Emergency stop» areas with corresponding signs. The UK has a sign warning of «Adverse camber» on a curve. Also «Loose gravel», «Soft shoulder», «Speed hump», and «Watch for ice».

Traffic signalsEdit

Vienna Convention traffic signal ahead (white triangle)

These warning signs indicate that traffic lights are ahead, and are often used when it is difficult to see that a traffic light may already be showing red, to warn a driver to prepare to slow down. They may be supplemented with flashing light or lighted sign when light is red or turning red. Some countries also have signs warning of signals for ramp meters, fire stations, and airfields.

Warning signs for regulatory signsEdit

Vienna Convention stop ahead sign (white triangle)

As for traffic signals, above, some «stop» or «yield» signs may require additional warning or reminder, especially in dense areas or where the sign has been added recently.

SchoolsEdit

Vienna Convention school crossing ahead (yellow diamond, LHT version)

These signs mark school zones (in which lower speed limits may be in place), student crossings, crossing guards or signals ahead. In the U.S. and Canada, pentagon-shaped signs are used in place of the usual diamond-shaped signs. The shape of the U.S. school zone resembles a one-room schoolhouse and is the only U.S. sign shaped this way. Some Canadian provinces use an identical sign.

BicycleEdit

Vienna Convention bicycle crossing ahead (white triangle)

Bicycle crossing signs warn that bicycles will cross at their location.

Oncoming trafficEdit

Vienna Convention two-way traffic sign (white triangle)

These signs may be used to warn people of oncoming traffic; shown when a motorway becomes a dual carriageway or a normal road without a central reservation or median.

Road work or constructionEdit

New Zealand road work sign

These signs are often temporary in nature and used to indicate road work (construction), poor roads, or temporary conditions ahead on the road including flagmen, uneven pavement, etc. (Note that some «high water» signs are posted to alert drivers of a flood-prone area and do not actually mean that there is a flooded section of road ahead.) In France, Italy, Spain, Norway etc., warning (and speed limit) signs connected with road work have a yellow background in place of the usual white background on signs. In North America and Ireland, signs connected with road work have an orange background.

Lane starts and endsEdit

Vienna Convention carriageway narrows sign (yellow diamond)

These signs indicate when a multilane highway is being narrowed, when a passing lane is ending, or where the road is widening or a passing lane starting. Another type of sign is used to indicate central «two-way» left turning lane in center of roadway. Warning signs may also warn of «Highway ends», where the road changes class or type.

Merge to stay with through trafficEdit

Vienna Convention merging traffic sign (yellow diamond)

In the United States and Canada, there is special signage for lanes that are about to exit, so that drivers who wish to remain on the main road have adequate time to merge. Such lanes are sometimes indicated by special striping («alligator stripes») and the sign, «Through Traffic Merge Left» (or right). On freeways, the green directions sign for the exit ramp may have the additional notation, «Exit Only», and should have black letters on a yellow background for emphasis.

Roads with one entry pointEdit

Canada: pictorial no exit sign

Roadways that only have one entry/exit point — «dead end», «not a through street» or «no outlet».

Animals crossing the roadwayEdit

Vienna Convention wild animal crossing (yellow diamond, LHT version)

These signs warn of wild animals (deer, etc.) or farm animals (cows, horses, ducks, sheep) that may stray onto the road. In the United States, a «share the road» plaque is sometimes placed below these warning signs when used in this manner.

Unusual vehicles in roadwayEdit

United Kingdom: military vehicles crossing.

These signs are found where road users could encounter slow, large or non-typical vehicles such as forklifts, handcarts and military vehicles. They are more common around quarries, airports, industrial zones, military installations and rural areas.

Falling rocksEdit

Vienna Convenntion falling rocks sign (white triangle)

These signs may be used to indicate the hazards of fallen or falling rocks on the road ahead. They are usually pictographs, but may also include wording, such as «falling rocks». In Italy the words may be «caduta sassi» or «caduta massi«; in France «chute de pierres«; in Mexico «derrumbes».

Edit

Vienna Convention low flying aircraft (White triangle)

A warning sign with the image of an aircraft in the middle of it indicates an airport or airfield, where drivers should be prepared for low-flying aircraft.

End of roadwayEdit

U.S. (New York City): roadway ends.

Signs indicating the end point of a roadway.

Crosswinds or side windsEdit

Vienna Convention side winds sign (amber triangle)

Flying socks, as indicated in Poland by a windsock on red triangle or yellow diamond signs, indicate locations where a strong side wind may cause the trajectory of the moving vehicle to change drastically, perhaps even «flying» across lanes, causing an accident.

Level crossing (railway crossing)Edit

Vienna Convention protected level crossing sign (yellow diamond)

These signs are used to warn of level crossings ahead. In most countries, a red triangle warning sign is used, with various pictograms for unguarded crossings, crossings with manual gates, and automatic level crossings. In most of Europe, an old-style gate is used for a crossing with gates, and a steam locomotive for a crossing without gates. Germany uses an electric train. Similar pictograms are also used in Ireland, albeit on an amber diamond sign. In the United States the warning of all types of railway crossings is made using a circular yellow sign. The actual crossing is also marked with crossed «railroad crossing» crossbuck signs (stop, look, listen) and possibly lights, bells, and barriers.

TunnelsEdit

United States (California)

These signs are used to indicate tunnels, where lights are usually required, and a general change in the light level. May also indicate low ceiling clearance. Truck drivers should also watch for prohibited cargo signs (e.g., propane) upon approach to tunnels.

BridgesEdit

Vienna Convention drawbridge ahead sign (white triangle)

These signs are used where traffic may be constricted to a narrow bridge, or where the bridge may have a movable span closed to vehicles while boats pass (e.g., drawbridge). They may also be used for underpass to indicate low overhead clearance.

Fire stationsEdit

Texas emergency vehicles sign.

These signs warn of approach to where firefighters may be entering the road with fire engines or other emergency apparatus, where other drivers will have to stop and wait until they pass.

Traffic warning signs with lightsEdit

Some warning signs have flashing lights to alert drivers of conditions ahead or remind drivers to slow down. In Britain, they are called warning lights. Flashing lights can be dangerous for people with certain forms of epilepsy and/or sensory processing disorder.

• Attached lights

• School zone traffic warning sign in Denmark.

• France red traffic signal ahead.

• Crosswalk alert with solar-powered lit outline.

• Denmark portable multipurpose traffic warning array, displaying Ulykke («accident») and «keep right».

• School Zone sign with single flashing beacon in U.S.

See alsoEdit

A sign warning of no further warning signs.

• Hazard symbol
• Comparison of European road signs
• Comparison of traffic signs in English-speaking countries
• Direction, position, or indication sign — Traffic signs that indicate directions, routes.
• Glossary of road transport terms
• Mandatory sign — Traffic signs that inform of required actions.
• One-way traffic
• Prohibitory sign — Traffic signs that inform of prohibited actions.
• Regulatory sign — Traffic signs that inform of traffic regulations.
• Road signs in Canada
• Road signs in the United States
• Variable-message sign

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

•   Media related to Warning signs at Wikimedia Commons

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Habaneros have a great fruity flavor, but the challenge is that you have to deflect the heat in order to taste the flavor. If you don’t, you’re dead. They should really have a warning sign on them. Deflect the habanero’s heat by pairing it with sweet food.

Bobby Flay

PRONUNCIATION OF WARNING SIGN

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF WARNING SIGN

Warning sign is a noun.

WHAT DOES WARNING SIGN MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of warning sign in the English dictionary

The definition of warning sign in the dictionary is an indication that something is wrong. Other definition of warning sign is a notice or indicator that gives a warning.

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TRANSLATION OF WARNING SIGN

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REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Warning sign [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/warning-sign>. Apr 2023 ».

For a sign on a vehicle or building relating to it or its contents, see placard.

A traffic warning sign is a type of traffic sign that indicates a hazard ahead on the road that may not be readily apparent to a driver.^[1]

In most countries, they usually take the shape of an equilateral triangle with a white background and a thick red border. However, both the color of the background and the color and thickness of the border varies from country to country.

In the People’s Republic of China (except for Macau and Hong Kong), warning signs appear with a black border and a yellow background. In Sweden, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Iceland, the Republic of Macedonia and Poland, they have a red border with an amber background. This is due to the weather, as it is easier to see a red/amber sign in the snowy weather than a red/white sign. The polar bear warning sign in Svalbard recently changed from displaying a black bear on white background to a white bear on black background (both signs are triangular with a red border). Some countries (like France, Norway, Spain) that normally use a white background have adopted an orange or amber background for road work or construction signs.

Warning signs in some countries have a diamond shape in place of the standard triangular shape. In the United States, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, most of South America, and also Ireland (diverging from the standards of the rest of Europe) use warning signs are black on a yellow background and usually diamond-shaped, while temporary signs (which are typically construction signs) are black on an orange background. Some other countries also use these standards for some signage.

The warning signs usually contain a symbol. In Europe they are based on the UNECE Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. In United States they are based on their own standard and often contain text only.

• Sample Shapes and Colors

• 

  Diamond shaped with yellow background

• 

  Circular with yellow background

• 

  Rectangular shape with yellow background

• 

  Triangular with orange-yellow background

• 

  Triangular with yellow background

• 

  Triangular with white background

History

In 1908 the automobile association in West London set the first warning signs.

Warning signs

Warning signs can indicate any potential hazard, obstacle or condition requiring special attention. Some of the most common warning signs are the following.

General caution

General warning signs are used in instances in which the particular hazard, obstacle or condition is not covered by a standard sign. In Europe, they usually comprise an exclamation mark on the standard triangular sign (Unicode #9888: ⚠) with an auxiliary sign below in the local language identifying the hazard, obstacle or condition. In countries using diamond-shaped signs, the explanatory language is written directly on the diamond-shaped sign, although it may contain only a general warning such as «Caution», and pictograms may also be used as it has been initiated at first in Quebec.

• 

  France, Turkey, Germany and Italy caution sign.

• 

  Sweden caution sign.

• 

  Poland caution sign.

• 

  U.K. caution sign.

• 

  Ireland caution sign.

Obstacles

Diamond-shaped with reflectors are placed at point of curbs, dividers, or other lane obstacles. Rectangular signs with diagonal stripes indicate solid objects such as barricades, bridge abutments, utility poles or natural obstacles near the roadway. Left side obstacles are marked with stripes running high to low, left to right; right side obstacle signs use stripes running high to low, right to left; in a sense akin to International symbol of arrow pointing down toward side toward roadway.

• 

  U.S. and Canada divided road ahead sign.

• 

  Alternate U.S. divided highway ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. divided road ahead sign.

• 

  U.S and Canada pass left or right of obstacle sign.

• 

  Australian Divided road ahead sign.

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  Ireland divided highway begins sign.

• 

  Ireland divided highway ends sign.

Animals crossing the roadway

Signs may warn of wild animals (moose, bear, elk, deer, reindeer, polar bears, camels, wallabies, kangaroos, alligators, etc.) or farm animals (cows, horses, ducks, sheep) that may stray onto the road. In the United States, a SHARE THE ROAD plaque is sometimes placed below these warning signs when used in this manner.

• 

  Caltrans migrating bears sign

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  U.S. cattle crossing sign

• 

  U.S. and Canada deer crossing sign

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  Japan animals crossing

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  Italy, Germany and Latvia wild animal crossing sign

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  U.K. wild fowl warning sign

• 

  Norway reindeer crossing sign

• 

  Russia cattle crossing sign

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  Russia wild animal crossing sign

• 

  Kangaroo crossing sign in Australia

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  Frill-necked Lizard crossing sign in Australia

• 

  Camel warning sign in the UAE

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  Ducks Crossing warning sign in Australia

• 

  A sheep warning sign in the U.K.

Odd vehicles crossing the roadway

Also equipment (tractors, forklifts, snowmobiles, Amish buggies etc.) crossing or traveling along the road.

• 

  U.S. tractor/farm vehicle crossing warning sign.

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  New York State motorcycle crossing warning sign.

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  New York State ATV crossing warning sign.

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  Ohio golf cart crossing warning sign.

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  U.S. horse-drawn vehicle ahead warning sign.

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  Horse-drawn vehicle ahead, Ohio.

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  Pennsylvania tank crossing warning sign.

Road works or construction

These signs are often temporary in nature and used to indicate road works (construction), poor roads, or temporary conditions ahead on the road including: flagmen, survey crew, single-lane, detour, bridge out, utility crew ahead, blasting area, bump, dip, frost heaves, flooding (or «High water»), soft shoulder, uneven pavement, freshly oiled road, loose gravel, smoke on road, trucks entering, etc. (note that some high water signs are posted to alert drivers of a flood prone area and do not actually mean that there is a flooded section of road ahead) In France, Italy, Spain, Norway etc., warning (and speed limit) signs connected with road works have yellow background, these countries normally have white background on signs. In America and Ireland, signs connected with road works have orange background.

• 

  U.S. Road work ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. Road work ahead sign, metric version.

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  U.S. and Canada Workers on the road sign.

• 

  Canada construction ahead sign.

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  New York State bridge closed ahead sign.

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  Caltrans traffic fines doubled in work zones sign.

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  New York State increased enforcement area work zone sign.

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  Republic of Ireland road works sign.

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  Austria and Turkey road works sign.

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  Italy construction sign.

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  Norway road works sign.

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  Swedish road works sign.

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  France construction sign.

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  Poland construction sign.

• 

  U.K. road works sign.

• 

  U.K.loose chippings warning sign.

• 

  Netherlands and Turkey loose chippings warning sign.

• 

  Poland loose chippings sign.

Curves and corners

These signs indicate that ahead are dangerous or unexpected bends in the road, some being continuous, others being sharp-ended. Signs may indicate whether the curves are to the right or to the left and whether the degree to which the curves or bends are sharp. They mays also indicate a series of curves or bends ahead.

• 

  U.S. and Canada sharp turn ahead sign.

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  U.S. and Canada sharp curve ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada sharp reverse turns ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada sharp reverse curves ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada winding road ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada winding road ahead sign. (opposite direction)

• 

  Republic of Ireland curve sign.(Advisory speed > 20 mph)

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  Austria and Turkey left curve sign.

• 

  Sweden curve to the left sign.

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  Poland curve to left sign.

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  U.K. right bend ahead.

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  Republic of Ireland series of corners

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  Poland double curve to left sign.

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  U.K. double bend ahead.

• 

  Republic of Ireland series of bends (winding road)

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  Republic of Ireland junction at corner

• 

  Republic of Ireland junction at a bend

• 

  Ireland side road junction on a curve sign.

• 

  U.S. and New Zealand side road junction on a curve sign.

Chevrons and arrows

Chevron shaped symbols or arrows on rectangular signs may be placed at the actual location of the bend or curve to further mark the location of the curve and to assist in negotiation of the curve. They may also be used to indicate «merge» with other traffic, as for an on-ramp of a limited-access highway.

Tunnels

The signs are used to indicate tunnels, where lights are usually required, and a general change in the light level. May also indicate low ceiling clearance. Truck drivers should also watch for prohibited cargo signs (e.g., Hazmat, propane, explosives) upon approach to tunnels.

• 

  U.S. tunnel sign.

• 

  Swedish tunnel ahead sign.

• 

  Norway tunnel sign.

• 

  Czech tunnel sign.

• 

  U.K. tunnel sign.

• 

  Taiwan tunnel warning sign.

• 

  German tunnel sign.

• 

  Polish tunnel sign.

• 

  South Korea tunnel sign.

Bridges

These signs are used where traffic may be constricted to a narrow bridge, or where the bridge may have a movable span closed to vehicles while boats pass (e.g., drawbridge or floating bridge). They may also be used for underpass to indicate low overhead clearance.

• 

  New York State restricted weight bridge ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. narrow bridge warning sign.

• 

  U.S. narrow bridge ahead sign (alternative).

• 

  Italy draw bridge ahead sign. In Latvia, the bridge on the sign is without the rails.

• 

  Russia draw bridge ahead sign.

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  U.K. draw bridge ahead sign.

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  Republic of Ireland bridge height sign. (note: sign now obsolete as units shown are now metric or metric/imperial)

• 

  Singapore height prohibition ahead sign.

Traffic signals

These warning signs indicate that traffic lights are ahead, and are often used when it is difficult to see that a traffic light may already be showing red, to warn a driver to prepare to slow down. They may be supplemented with flashing light or lighted sign when light is red or turning red.

• 

  U.S. and Canada traffic signal ahead.

• 

  U.S. traffic signal ahead (alternative).

• 

  U.K. traffic lights ahead sign.

• 

  Italy traffic signal ahead sign. In Latvia, the color dots are without the black borders.

• 

  Austria traffic signal ahead sign.

• 

  Australian traffic signal ahead sign

Warning signs for regulatory signs

As for traffic signals, above, some «stop» or «yield» signs may require additional warning or reminder, especially in dense areas or where the sign has been added recently.

• 

  U.S. and Canada stop sign ahead.

• 

  U.S. stop sign ahead (alternative).

• 

  U.S. and Canada yield ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. yield sign ahead (alternative).

Level crossings and intersections

These signs warn of road crossings at even level (crossroads, T-intersection, forks (Y-intersection), rotary/roundabout). They may also indicate «hidden driveway» intersecting the road ahead. (Compare with bridges/overpasses/viaducts).

• 

  U.S. and Canada Intersection ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada Intersection ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada Intersection ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada Intersection ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada Intersection ahead sign.

• 

  Hidden intersection, Delaware.

• 

  U.K. crossroads ahead sign.

• 

  Japan crossroads sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland crossroads with a major road sign.

• 

  Italy and Latvia crossroads with right-of-way from the right sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland junction with a minor side-road sign.

• 

  Italy and Latvia junction with a minor side-road sign.

• 

  Swedish intersection with a minor cross-road sign.

• 

  Swedish intersection with minor side-road sign.

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  Italy and Latvia junction with a minor cross road sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland staggered crossroads with roads of equal importance sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland junction at corner with a minor road sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland junction with dual-carriageway sign.

• 

  Australia, New Zealand and Samoa crossroads ahead sign.

• 

  New Zealand, Ontario and Samoa crossroads ahead sign.

• Roundabouts/Rotaries

• 

  U.S. and Canada roundabout/traffic circle ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. Traffic circle ahead sign.

• 

  U.K. mini roundabout ahead sign.

• 

  U.K. large roundabout head sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland roundabout ahead sign.

• 

  Italy and Latvia roundabout ahead sign.

• 

  Finland roundabout sign.

• 

  Roundabout ahead sign in Poland.

• 

  Australian roundabout sign.

Lane starts and ends

These signs indicate when a multilane highway is being narrowed, when a passing lane is ending, or where the road is widening or a passing lane starting. Another type of sign is used to indicate central «two-way» left turning lane in center of roadway. Warning signs may also warn of «Highway ends», where the road changes class or type.

• 

  U.S. and Canada right lane ends sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada divided highway ahead sign.

• 

  Alternate U.S. divided highway ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. divided road ahead sign.

• 

  Canada New York State one lane road ahead sign.

• 

  New York State one lane road ahead sign.

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  Japan lane decrease sign.

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  U.K. road narrows on both sides ahead sign.

• 

  U.K., Italy and Latvia road narrows from the right sign.

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  U.K. road narrows from left ahead sign.

• 

  British, Hong Kong & Singapore «end of dual carriageway» sign

Roads with one entry point

Roadways that only have one entry/exit point — «dead end», «not a through street» or «no outlet».

• 

  Pennsylvania No Through Street sign.

• 

  Pennsylvania loop street sign.

• 

  U.S. No Outlet sign.

• 

  U.S. Dead End sign.

• 

  New York City Dead End sign.

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  New York City End sign.

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  Swedish dead end sign.

• 

  European dead end sign.

No passing zones

Vertical yellow signs in triangular shape are used in U.S. to supplement solid yellow lane stripe where it is dangerous to overtake another vehicle, especially where roadway may be obscured by snow or other precipitation.

• 

  Japanese No Passing sign

• 

  U.S. No Passing sign (placed on left side)

• 

  U.S. No Passing sign (placed on right side)

• 

  U.K. No Overtaking sign.

• 

  Korean No Passing sign

Pedestrian crossings

The signs are used to warn drivers of people walking in the street. They may also be used to warn of children playing, playgrounds, bicycle area, deaf child, blind pedestrians, and thickly settled zones where pedestrians may enter the road.

In California, United States near the Mexican border, there are warning signs showing a running family. This is to warn motorists to look out for illegal immigrants who try to escape authorities by running through freeway traffic. The symbol was created by California Department of Transportation employee John Hood in the late 1980s.^[2]

• 

  U.S. and Canada pedestrian crossing sign.

• 

  Blind pedestrian crossing sign, Pennsylvania.

• 

  Special Needs Child Crossing, New York City

• 

  Blind child, Delaware.

• 

  Hearing impaired child sign Pennsylvania.

• 

  Deaf child area sign, New York State.

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  Deaf child, Delaware and Canada.

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  Deaf children near sign, California.

• 

  Autistic child warning, USA

• 

  U.K. Zebra crossing ahead sign.

• 

  U.K. pedestrians on road ahead sign.

• 

  Netherlands pedestrian crossing sign

• 

  Poland pedestrian crossing ahead sign

• 

  Sweden pedestrian crossing sign (Used to warn ahead)

• 

  Russia pedestrian crossing sign.

Schools

The signs mark school zones (in which lower speed limits may be in place), student crossings, crossing guards or signals ahead. In the U.S. and Canada, pentagon shaped signs are used in place of the usual diamond-shaped signs. The shape of the U.S. school zone resembles a one-room school house and is the only U.S. sign shaped this way. Some Canadian provinces use an identical sign. Ontario uses a white on blue version of this sign.^[3]

• 

  Canada and former U.S. school zone sign.

• 

  U.S. school zone sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland children crossing sign.

• 

  Norway children crossing sign.

• 

  Poland children crossing sign.

• 

  Russia children sign.

Bicycle

• 

  U.S. bicycles ahead sign.

• 

  New York City share the road sign.

• 

  Pennsylvania share the road sign.

• 

  Maryland share the road sign.

• 

  San Francisco bike lane sign.

• 

  U.S. Bikeway narrows sign.

• 

  Cycling on road prohibited sign.

• 

  Poland bicycle crossing warning sign.

• 

  Russia bicycle crossing warning sign.

Other signs with unprotected people

• 

  U.S. playground ahead sign.

• 

  Norway skiers crossing sign.

• 

  Sweden skiers crossing sign.

Fire stations

These signs warn of approach to where firefighters may be entering the road with fire engines or other emergency apparatus, where other drivers will have to stop and wait until they pass.

• 

  U.S. and Canadian Fire Station sign.

• 

  Delaware Emergency Vehicles sign.

• 

  Wisconsin fire trucks entering when signal flashes sign.

• 

  Texas Emergency Vehicles sign.

• 

  New York State Fire House sign.

• 

  Maryland Firehouse Signal sign.

Oncoming traffic

The signs may be used to warn people of oncoming traffic; shown when a motorway becomes a dual carriageway or a normal road without a central reservation or median.

• 

  U.S. two-way traffic sign.

• 

  U.K. Traffic has priority over vehicles from the opposite direction.

• 

  Republic of Ireland two-way traffic sign.

• 

  Italy and Latvia two-way traffic sign.

• 

  Sweden two-way traffic sign.

• 

  Poland two-way traffic sign.

Level crossing/Railway crossing

These signs are used to warn of level crossings ahead. In most countries a red triangle warning sign is used, with various pictograms for unguarded crossings, crossings with manual gates, and automatic level crossings. In most of Europe an old style gate is used for a crossing with gates, and a steam locomotive for a crossing without gates. Similar pictograms are also used in Ireland albeit on an amber diamond sign. In the United States the warning of all types of railway crossings is made using a circular yellow sign. The actual crossing is also marked with crossed «Railroad Crossing» crossbuck signs (Stop, look, listen) and possibly lights, bells, and barriers.

• Crossing with Gate

• 

  U.K. level crossing with gate or barrier sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland level crossing with gates sign.

• 

  Italy rail crossing with gates sign.

• 

  Sweden crossing with gate sign.

• 

  Russia crossing with gate sign.

• Unguarded Crossing

• 

  Railway level crossing without gate or barrier ahead.

• 

  Railway or tramway crossing without gate or barrier.

• 

  Republic of Ireland unguarded level crossing sign.

• 

  Italy rail crossing without safety arm.

• 

  Sweden unguarded crossing sign.

• 

  German unguarded crossing sign.

• 

  Russia unguarded crossing sign.

• Other Crossings

• 

  U.S. railroad crossing sign (general).

• 

  Caltrans light rail crossing ahead sign.

• 

  U.S. rail line in highway median of cross street

• 

  U.K. tramcars crossing ahead sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland automatic level crossing sign.

• 

  Finland tram crossing sign.

• 

  Russia tram crossing sign.

• Warning at Crossing

• 

  U. S. railroad crossing sign, MUTCD R15-1.

• 

  Canadian railway crossing sign

• 

  Caltrans light rail crossing sign.

• 

  Norway signal track level crossing sign.

• 

  Netherlands track level crossing sign.

• 

  Austrian railway crossing sign.

• 

  Russia single-track railway sign.

• 

  Russia multiple-track railway sign.

Falling rocks

These signs may be used to indicate the hazards of fallen or falling rocks on the road ahead. They are usually pictographs, but may also include wording, such as «fallen rock», «falling rock», or «rock slide». In Italy the words may be «caduta sassi» or «caduta massi»; in France «chûte de pierres»; in Mexico «derrumbes».

• 

  New York State fallen rock sign.

• 

  Pennsylvania falling rocks sign.

• 

  North Carolina falling rock sign.

• 

  Idaho watch for rock sign.

• 

  Caltrans rock slide area sign.

• 

  New York State rock/mud slides warning sign.

• 

  British & Hong Kong «falling rocks» warning sign.

• 

  Norway falling rocks sign.

• 

  Japanese «falling rocks» sign.

For example, a warning sign with the image of an aircraft in the middle of it indicates an airport or airfield, where drivers should be prepared for low-flying aircraft.

• 

  New York State low flying planes sign.

• 

  Delaware low flying aircraft.

• 

  Pennsylvania balloon launch area.

• 

  Low flying airplanes cross here sign, Wisconsin.

• 

  Norway low flying aircraft sign.

• 

  Russia low flying aircraft sign.

Road conditions

«Slippery when wet», «grooved pavement» (warning to motorcyclists and bicyclists), «Open joints on bridge», «Icy Road», «Bridge freezes before roadway» and variants thereof, and «bump» or «dip» ahead (not related to construction). Truck drivers will need to pay attention to «Steep grade» warnings (or «Down grade, use lower gear»), sometimes posted with the percent grade (e.g., 5 percent). Steep hills may also feature «Runaway truck escape» or «Emergency stop» areas with corresponding signs. The UK has a sign warning of «Adverse camber» on a curve. Also «Loose gravel», «Soft shoulder», «Speed hump», and «Watch for Ice.»

• Slippery Pavement

• 

  U.S. and Canada slippery when wet sign.

• 

  Slippery road ahead sign.

• 

  German slippery pavement sign.

• 

  Swedish slippery pavement sign.

• 

  Poland slippery pavement sign.

• 

  Slippery Road Surface sign used in Australia and New Zealand (Unicode: ⛐ U+26D0 CAR SLIDING)

• Steep Grade

• 

  U.S. and Canada steep grade/hill sign.

• 

  U.S. steep hill sign.

• 

  Delaware hill sign (alternate).

• 

  U.S. and Canada steep grade/hill percentage sign.

• 

  Idaho steep grade percentage sign.

• 

  Caltrans watch downhill speed sign.

• 

  Japan steep descent sign.

• 

  Austria steep grade sign.

• 

  U.K. 10% down grade sign.

• 

  Netherlands 10% grade sign.

• 

  France 10% down grade sign.

• 

  Norway steep grade sign.

• 

• 

  Korea steep descent sign.

• Bumpy Road

• 

  U.S. bump sign.

• 

  New Jersey bumps sign.

• 

  U.S. rough road sign.

• 

  Republic of Ireland bumpy road sign.

• 

  Japan bumpy road sign.

• 

  Korea bumpy road sign.

• 

  Germany bumpy road sign.

• Other

• 

  New York State rumble strips ahead sign.

• 

  Idaho occasional blinding dust storms sign.

• 

  Nebraska, may be icy ahead.

• 

  Bridge ices before road.

• 

  Bridge may be icy

• 

  Road floods during high tide, Hawaii.

• 

  Frost heaves, Idaho.

• 

  Severe storm area, Idaho.

• 

  U.S. Dip.

• 

  Ferry crossing, Missouri.

• 

  Fog area, Ohio.

• 

  Poland icy or snow covered roads sign.

Crosswinds or Side winds

Flying socks, as indicated by a windsock on red triangle or yellow diamond signs, indicate locations where a strong side wind may cause the trajectory of the moving vehicle to change drastically, perhaps even «flying» across lanes, causing an accident.

• 

  New York State crosswinds sign.

• 

  Pennsylvania high cross winds sign.

• 

  Idaho frequent high winds sign.

• 

  Japan cross winds sign.

• 

  U.K. side winds likely ahead warning sign.

• 

  Sweden side winds warning sign.

• 

  Norway cross winds sign.

• 

  Poland side winds sign.

Slow down

General caution signs warning motorists to slow down are sometimes used at least in U.S. and China.

Merge to stay with through traffic

In the United States and Canada, there is special signage for lanes that are about to exit, so that drivers who wish to remain on the main road have adequate time to merge. Such lanes are sometimes indicated by special striping («alligator stripes») and the sign, «Thru Traffic Merge Left» (or right). On freeways, the green directions sign for the exit ramp may have the additional notation, «Exit Only,» and should have black letters on a yellow background for emphasis.

• 

  U.S. and Canada merge from right sign.

• 

  Caltrans W74 all traffic merge left sign.

• 

  U.S. and Canada Added Lane traffic sign.

• 

  Japan join sign.

• 

  Italy merge from right sign.

Warning signs with lights

Some warning signs have flashing lights to alert drivers of conditions ahead or remind drivers to slow down. In Britain, they are called warning light.

Evacuation routes

Some areas have special evacuation route signs that are to be followed in case of certain disasters. The signs point to routes either to safety or to less danger.

Evacuation signs are common in areas where there is a high risk of dangers such as flash flooding, volcanic activity and lahar, tsunami, hurricane and storm surge. For example, along the Japanese shorelines, the tsunami warning signs are linked with a network of warning sirens, typically at the top of the cliff of surroundings hills.^[4]

Non-traffic warning signs

Warning signs are also found on other potential dangerous sites. At the base of electricity pylons or fences of substations or radiotechnical equipment with open parts leading high voltage, there are signs warning of high voltage. Warning signs can be found at the top of inclines. «Beware of Dog» is a typical warning of the presence of a dog, but there is no standard sign design.

See also

• Hazard symbol

Notes

Last Updated:
12 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences