High-quality, Federally Compliant Traffic Control Signs from Zumar

Before there were traffic signs like we see today, there were simple stone or wooden milestones. The Romans are the pioneers of milestones which were in the form of erected stone columns placed throughout the empire to indicate distance and directions to major cities. During Middle Ages, multidirectional signs at intersections giving drivers directions to destinations became the norm.

Since then, many countries have adopted pictorial signs and other standard signs to quickly give drivers and pedestrians instructions and information for their safety.

U.S traffic control signs

In the U.S, traffic control signs and their placement, categories, and graphic standards are set out in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices which was created by the Federal Highway Administration. The same is true for pavement markings.

Traffic control signs are classified as;

• Warning signs
• Regulatory signs
• Guide signs which include informational, street name, expressway, route market, freeway, welcome, and recreation/cultural interest signs
• Emergency management or civil defense signs
• School signs
• Bicycle signs
• Railroad and light rail signs
• Temporary traffic control or construction and work zone signs

Federal standards and regulations for traffic signs

There are a number of standards and regulations that traffic signs must have. One of them is in regard to uniform color. There are colors which are prescribed by the US Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. They are;

• Red is used with white for stop signs and to forbid actions such as No Parking signs
• Green with white letters on informational signs such as place markers which indicate distances and give directions
• Brown with white letters indicates recreational landmarks and facilities such as forests, parks, camping grounds, historic sites, and ski areas.
• Blue with white symbols or business logos is used to mark service areas such as hospitals, motels, and gas stations
• White with black or red letters is for regulatory signs such as parking areas and speed limits
• Yellow with black symbols and letters are used on warning signs such as school zones and curves
• Orange with black symbols or letters are used to temporarily control traffic (i.e., diversions due to road construction or bad weather)
• Purple marked lanes should only be used by vehicles with registered electronic toll collection accounts such as those with an EZPass
• Black with white arrows or letters to indicate lane use
• Fluorescent pink with black letters and symbols is to be used for incident management signs
• Fluorescent yellow-green with black symbols is to be sued for school
• Fluorescent orange for construction signs

There are also regulations for the typefaces that should be used. The typefaces that are most commonly used are known as the FHWA alphabet series. These are typefaces with letters that are shaped and spaced in a specific way as laid out in the Standard Alphabets for Traffic Control Devices.

Quality, compliant traffic signs

If you need high-quality traffic signs that are compliant to the above federal standards and regulations, choose Zumar. Zumar has been making high-quality signs that are compliant with federal regulations since 1947.

We make signs for schools, home associations, construction companies, and others who need signs to relay warnings, information, and directions. We make school signs for children crossing, speed limits for gated communities, and parking signs in commercial buildings to name just a few of the signs we make.

Contact Zumar and place your order with confidence. High-quality signs made according to federal standards and regulations is our guarantee; quality and integrity is our tradition.