-
Road signs protect drivers, their passengers and others on the road. driving 4 image by Andrzej Borowicz from Fotolia.com
The Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation uses a wide variety of traffic and road signs to communicate information and provide the highest level of safety to drivers and their passengers. Traffic and road signs are warnings of the law, so disregarding them is breaking the law. Learning the meanings of road signs is a vital aspect of being a safe driver.
According to the Transportation Research Synthesis report by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in January 2008, there is not much credible research that demonstrates the ineffectiveness of any particular traffic signs. However, MDOT's research found studies with opposing views of traffic warning signs' effectiveness, ranging from the opinion that traffic signs have a "minimal or neutral effect on safety" or that they really are effective in reducing crash rates.
Stop
-
The red, octagonal shape of the stop sign is universally recognized. Its name clearly spells out its meaning: a moving vehicle must come to a complete stop before it.
Intersections controlled by stop signs account for one-third of all intersection crashes and more than 40 percent of fatal crashes, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that nearly half of all urban crashes occur at intersections -- 20 percent of those occur at stop signs. Many accidents are caused because drivers don't see the signs, often because of the placement of the sign or trees.
Speed Limit
-
Speed limit signs indicate the maximum speed a vehicle can legally be driven within a designated speed zone. Keep in mind that it's legal for drivers to drive below a speed limit to a certain degree, unless it creates a hazard to other drivers or is posted. Also, there are some speed limit signs designated for different kinds of vehicles, such as trucks.
Speed increases the severity of crashes, so it is important for speed limits to be enforced to reduce fatalities. Researchers at the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois reported a 3.2 percent increase in deaths in 2009 on all types of roads that correlated with higher speed limits.
Turn and Lane Usage
-
Turn and lane usage signs warn drivers where they can and cannot turn by showing an arrow pointing either straight, to the left or to the right. If certain turns are not allowed, then there is either an arrow contained within a prohibition symbol, or words, such as "No Left Turn." For example, a "No Right Turn" sign at an intersection lets drivers know that they can either continue straight or turn left, but all right turns are prohibited.
Selective Exclusion
-
Selective exclusion warnings are red-and-white signs that notify drivers about prohibited they cannot enter or drive. A familiar example of a selective exclusion warning is the "Do Not Enter" sign.
Movement Regulation
-
Movement regulation signs, which are often in plain black text on a white background, inform drivers how they may and may not maneuver in traffic. For example, a "Do Not Pass" sign informs drivers that they're not allowed to pass other vehicles.
Railroad Crossing
-
Railroad signs are shaped like a large "X" with the words "Railroad" and "Crossing" printed across it. They warn drivers about railroad tracks that might otherwise go unnoticed. When approaching a railroad sign, look both ways to be doubly sure that a train isn't approaching.
As of December 2009, there were 136,041 public railroad crossings in the United States, according to the Federal Highway Administration. About 42,300 have gates, 22,040 have flashing lights, and 1,200 have some type of traffic signage. That leaves about 70,500 without any signage. There were about 675 deaths in 2009 associated with public highway rail crossings.
Parking Prohibition and Emergency Restrictions
-
Parking prohibition and emergency restriction signs warn drivers of any parking restrictions. These signs are either spelled out, such as "No Parking," or they display a capital "P" within a prohibition symbol.
No comments:
Post a Comment