Highway signs in Vermont offer directions and warn of dangers. While they offer convenience to drivers, they can also prevent accidents and make your highways safer. As studies on highway signs expand, more design suggestions arise to help their effectiveness. This list describes the ways highway signs can help prevent accidents.
Colors
The use of color in a highway sign is vital. Many warning signs are yellow, and for a good reason: human eyes are conditioned to best see yellow, so by making the announcement of an upcoming hazard yellow, it is more likely that drivers will see it.
There are also associations with certain colors, like red for stop. It is more likely people notice the color before the word, so a stop is more guaranteed and accidents more easily prevented.
Contrasting colors also help with getting signs noticed. People will gravitate to them in order to figure them out. Also, direction signs like “Hotels Next Exit” will contain different colors and graphics for the weary traveler looking to rest. If all signs were stark white with black lettering, it is doubtful they would be noticed as easily.
Traffic flow graphics
If a lane will be closed, an exit is coming up or drivers need to take an exit on the left to get to a particular location, how will they know which lane they need to be in without a sign? Imagine if there were no signs announcing these changes or directions—it would be pandemonium on the highway and likely several fender-benders would occur.
Graphics are instrumental in presenting these conditions too. Direction arrows, quick lane sketches and even crossed-out lanes help the human brain comprehend the change quicker. Not only is there an announcement but a picture of conditions yet to come. Consider the bright orange “detour” sign with the arrow—drivers cannot help but follow it as the big letters, arrow and orange color suggest certain peril if they ignore that direction.
Presentation of conditions
Driving can get interesting in some areas. Deer crossing signs offer drivers a heads-up regarding wildlife. As deer can cause significant damage to a vehicle, this warning helps keep drivers safe. Unpaved roads, speed bumps and flood dangers also require signage to keep drivers from discovering a bad surprise. Sometimes the warning is as simple as “ROCKS” on a yellow sign so drivers know of debris in the road or avalanche danger. These do not give directions or avoidance instruction; they only let drivers know it is possible to encounter danger.
From there, drivers can make the decision to drive slower or pay better attention. After all, with warnings like this, it is never known when or if a road trip will get more interesting.
Always On Time Sign & Design works with WorkSafe to provide effective temporary and permanent highway signs in Vermont. Whether your agency needs to mark construction areas or provide the usual highway warnings or directions, a catalog is available for review. Give us a call to see options today.