One of the best ways to help drivers prepare for road closures are roadway signs that warn them ahead of time. An additional detour sign then guides the driver to their destination. There are other sign strategies as well for keeping drivers informed on upcoming road conditions.
Keeping drivers aware of road conditions serves several purposes, from providing safety to giving directions. Roads can get cluttered with debris in the wintertime, which can take days to clean up. A caution sign, in the meantime, prepares drivers to slow down and be on the lookout for debris that might block the road or cause tire damage.
Sometimes storms can be so severe in the winter, trees or dangerous power lines can be knocked over and block the road. Mudslides and rockslides can even shut roads down for several months, which has happened on Pacific Coast Hwy 1 along the California coast. Vacationers planning to make long drives to destinations can be greatly helped by roadway signs that inform them of closures and detours.
When road work is conducted, signs are especially helpful to locals as well as travelers, so that they can plan their commutes accordingly. Google Maps and GPS are usually handy tools to help get to places quicker, but they don’t normally take into account road work that causes slowdowns or detours that are necessary due to closures. Not even radio traffic reports, that usually only include main arteries, can give drivers a clear picture of what to expect when roadwork is being done in certain locations. Signs then take over as primary guides to drivers.
Roads can sometimes be shut down indefinitely, yet the change in status won’t show up on internet maps, causing confusion among drivers who assume that online maps are state-of-the-art technology, so they can’t be wrong. Once again, roadway signs can play an important role in telling the story of what drivers should know and can expect.
Making roads safer and more efficient for drivers should be top priorities for all communities. One of the best ways to achieve safer roads with minimal traffic issues is to use appropriate signage that informs drivers on road conditions ahead. For more information about roadway signs call Zumar at our Arizona, California or Washington location.