Road signs of the United States

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Regulatory

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R1 Series: Stop and Yield

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R2 Series: Speed Limit

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R3 Series: Lane Usage and Turns

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R4 Series: Regulation of Movement

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R5 Series: Exclusionary

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R6 Series: One Way and Divided Highway

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R7 Series: Parking

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Permissive Parking

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No Parking

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No parking signs indicate that loading or unloading there while temporarily stopped is permitted, but parking is not.[1] Some no parking signs display time restrictions, while others are permanent restrictions. There are also temporary versions of the signs, often of similar design to the permanent ones. These signs are specified by the MUTCD to be red on white, although local variations do occur.

No Standing

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No standing signs indicate that stopping temporarily to load or unload passengers is allowed, while parking is not allowed.[1] As with no parking signs, some restrictions displayed on the signs are permanent and some are time based. The signs are also specified by the MUTCD to be red on white, but local variations exist.

No Stopping

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No stopping signs are typically red on white.

R8 Series: Parking and Emergency Restrictions

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The MUTCD's R8 series of signs is for parking restriction and emergency restriction signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

R9 Series: Bicycles and Pedestrians

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The MUTCD's R9 series of signs is for bicycle and pedestrian signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

R10 Series: Traffic Signal

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The MUTCD's R10 series of signs is for traffic signal related signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

R11 Series: Road Closed

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R12 Series: Weight Limits

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The MUTCD's R12 series of signs is for weight limit related signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

R13 Series: Weight Stations

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The MUTCD's R13 series of signs is for weight station related signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

R14 Series: Truck Routes

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R15 Series: Rail and Light Rail

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The MUTCD's R15 series of signs is for rail and light rail related signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

R16 Series: Seat Belts

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The MUTCD's R16 series of signs is for seat belt related signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

Other Local and State Series

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The MUTCD does not cover all situations, so states and local governments have developed their own regulatory signs. In these, the sign categories are assigned series either using the MUTCD style, but higher than 16 (as done in Texas), or use a unique series nomenclature system (as done in California).

Schools

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The S series of signs is specially designated by the MUTCD for use around schools. Some states have additional school warning related signs in the S series, as well as in the W series of warning signs and/or the R series of regulatory signs of the state supplement or state MUTCD. The MUTCD as of 2009 requires school warning signs to have fluorescent yellow-green background color.

Warning

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Warning signs are found in the W series of the national MUTCD. They highlight existing conditions, such as a curve, school, dead end street, or traffic signal. They can also warn possible danger such as bumps, bicycles, low flying aircraft or emergency vehicles. These signs are either yellow or fluorescent yellow in color and with the exception of a few signs are usually diamond shaped and sometimes have square or rectangular smaller signs or plaques associated with them. Most W series signs can also be found in with orange backgrounds, for temporary use in situations such as construction zones. Some of the temporary use signs are only for use in temporary situations.

W1/2 Series: Turns, Curves, Intersections

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The MUTCD's W1/2 series of signs is for warning signs relating to curves, turns and intersections. As not all situations are covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W3 Series: Advance Traffic Control

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The MUTCD's W3 series of signs is for warning signs relating to advance traffic controls such as speed limits and signals. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD. The MUTCD provides options for graphic and text signs.

W4 Series: Lanes and Merges

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The MUTCD's W4 series of signs is for warning signs relating to advance traffic controls such as speed limits and signals. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W5 Series: Road Width Restrictions

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W6/7 Series: Divided Highways and Hills

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The MUTCD's W6/7 series of signs is for warning signs relating to divided highways, hills, and grades. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD. The MUTCD provides options for graphic and text signs.

W8 Series: Pavement and Roadway Conditions

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The MUTCD's W8 series of signs is for warning signs relating to pavement and roadway conditions. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W9/10 Series: Lane Transitions

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The MUTCD's W9/10 series of signs is for warning signs relating to lane transitions. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W11 Series: Advance Warnings and Crossings

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The MUTCD's W11 series of signs is for warning signs relating to advance warnings and crossings. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

Emergency Vehicles

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The MUTCD only provides for a warning of fire stations in the W11 series. Most states have their own signs for other emergency vehicle types which may enter the road.

Children

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The MUTCD specifies no children related signs in the W11 series. Several states have signs for situations as children at play as well as deaf and blind children. Some of these signs vary from state to state as there is no federal standard.

Bicycles

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The MUTCD provides several signs in the W11 series warning of bicycles and for signing bicycle facilities. Several states and localities have their own specific bicycle related signs as well.

Vehicles

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The MUTCD provides several signs in the W11 series dealing with vehicles. Several states have additional signs for other types of vehicles and situations regarding vehicles not covered by the MUTCD.

Pedestrians, Transit, and Aviation

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The MUTCD provides several signs in the W11 series dealing with pedestrians, transit, and aviation. Several states have additional signs for other types of vehicles and situations regarding vehicles not covered by the MUTCD.

Animals

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The MUTCD provides several signs in the W11 series dealing with animals. Several states have additional signs for other types of animals not covered by the MUTCD.

Driveways and Entrances

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The MUTCD does not provide signs in the W11 series dealing with driveways and entrances. Many states have their own sign standards dealing with these situations that they place in their own W11 series.

W12 Series: Low Clearances

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The MUTCD's W12 series of signs is for warning signs relating to low clearances. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W13 Series: Advisory Speeds

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The MUTCD's W13 series of signs is for warning signs relating to advisory speeds. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W14 Series: Dead End Streets and No Passing Zones

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The MUTCD's W14 series of signs is for warning signs relating to dead end streets and no passing zones. As all situations are not covered, several states and local governments have additional signs for other types of situations not covered by the MUTCD.

W15 Series: Playgrounds

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The MUTCD's W15 series of signs is for warning signs relating to playgrounds. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W16 Series: Supplemental Plaques

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The MUTCD's W16 series of signs is for supplemental plaques for warning signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W17 Series: Speed Humps

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The MUTCD's W17 series of signs is for warning signs relating to speed humps. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W18 Series: No Traffic Signs

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The MUTCD's W18 series of signs is for warning signs relating to the lack of traffic signs. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W19 Series: End of Controlled Access Highway

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The MUTCD's W19 series of signs is for warning signs relating to the end of a controlled access highway. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

W20 Series: Road Ends

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W21 Series: Work Zones

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W22 Series: Blasting Zones

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W23 Series: Slow Traffic

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W24 Series: Double Reverse Curves

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W25 Series: Oncoming Traffic Has Extended Green

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The MUTCD's W25 series of signs is for warning signs oncoming traffic having an extended green signal at a traffic light. As all situations are not covered, several states have their own standards in addition to the MUTCD.

Miscellaneous

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The MUTCD does not provide signs dealing with some other road and highway situations. Many states have their own sign standards dealing with these situations.

Guide

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Guide signs include highway route markers (shields), street signs, mile markers, and exit signs.

Interchange signs

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Toll Road Signs

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Chapter 2F of the MUTCD deals with signs for toll roads.

Shield markers

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Note: State markers are illustrative examples; all states may select their own marker shapes or use the default circle For more route shields go to [1] archive copy at the Wayback Machine.

Street Signs

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For more information about highway shields by Kendrick archive copy at the Wayback Machine and AARoads Shield Gallery.

Hospital

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Library

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Airport

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General information

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Motorist services

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Bump

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Non Compliant to MUTCD Signs

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There are many signs that are non-compliant to MUTCD and/or state MUTCD standards seen in actual use on public roads and more often on semi-public roads such as shopping centers and parking lots.

Superseded signs

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These signs have been superseded, but can still be seen in some places.

References

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  1. a b http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter07-manual.htm archive copy at the Wayback Machine NYS DMV Driver's Manual, Chapter 7 Parallel Parking