Traffic signs can prevent road accidents. Read to learn the importance of traffic signs.
With rapid population growth and the large influx of immigrants, roads in the US are more congested than ever, and the risk of accidents continues to increase. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 36,560 motor vehicle crashes were reported in the US in 2016 alone, killing 33,654 people. That’s an average of 102 crashes a day! Isn’t that alarming?
Traffic signs play a vital role in minimizing crashes. By installing traffic signals and traffic warning signs at appropriate places, we can see a massive improvement in these numbers. In this guide, we’ll study the importance of traffic signs, but before that let’s take a look into the different categories of traffic signs:
Different Categories of Traffic Signs
Different traffic signs have different functions and each type comes in a specific color(s) and shape. A driver doesn’t have more than a few milliseconds to notice and understand the traffic sign. Specific colors and shapes are there to make the sign easily recognizable. They help the viewers identify the sign as quickly as possible, without interrupting their driving. The Road Traffic Management Corporation categorizes traffic signs into 4 main categories, namely:
- Temporary: Prohibition/Command,such as the speed limit signs commonly seen on roads.
- Warning: Direction of movement/road layout,such as the triangular traffic sign with a capital T, informing you that there’s a T-junction ahead.
- Regulatory: Control/ Reservation/Prohibition/ Command,such as the ‘No Entry’ Sign.
- Guidance: Route markers/ location/ direction,such as the sign depicting names of places as well as how many kilometers away you are from the marked destination.
The Importance of Traffic Signs
After going through the different types of traffic signs, you must have already developed a clear understanding of how important traffic signs are. Not only do they display rules to keep everyone safe, but they also communicate valuable messages to pedestrians and drivers to maintain order and reduce the chances of accidents. Ignoring them can prove dangerous.
Why Traffic Signs are Universal
Traffic signs follow a universally recognized set of images or symbols to convey messages. Keeping in mind that people from different parts of the world who speak different languages might be visiting the city, most traffic signs rely on images instead of text. Images are also easily noticed and simple to understand.
All drivers must be aware of what each symbol or image on traffic signs represents. Otherwise, they might misinterpret the sign and end up violating traffic rules. In the worst-case scenario, it may even cause an accident. For highly durable and easily recognizable traffic signs, contact The Sign Studio today.
