At Least 25% of Drivers Don’t Know What These Common Road Signs Mean

Whether you’re heading on a road trip or simply commuting to work, you need to know what the road signs mean. And while it might have been a long time since you went to the DMV to take your driver’s license test, forgetting the meanings of common road signs is not a good, or safe, look.

A group of ophthalmologists and optometrists surveyed 1,060 American drivers on their knowledge of road signs and their meanings. Most of these drivers had had their licenses for about 25 years, yet many failed to recognize even the simplest and most common road signs.

Road signs that American drivers have trouble figuring out

Photo: myvision.org

While it’s worrisome that 16 percent of those surveyed couldn’t recognize a school zone sign, the fact that 27 percent of them can’t recognize an obvious road work sign or that 35 percent don’t know the sign indicating an upcoming road turn is plain scary.

Here’s a refresher on some of the most common aspects of road signs:

What does the color of a road sign mean?

The color of a road sign is the first indication of its importance. The Department of Transportation lists all road sign colors and the meaning behind them. Here’s the gist of the most important ones you need to know:

Red: stop, yield, and prohibited areasYellow: warning messageOrange: temporary signage for warning and guidance in a work zonePink: temporary signage used for accidentsGreen: direction and traffic movementFluorescent yellow and green: school zones and pedestrian crossingsWhite background: rules to followWhat does the shape of road signs mean?

Like the color, the shape of a road sign is significant and indicates the potential danger or rules to follow. Here are the ones you absolutely need to know before getting behind the wheel:

Octagon: stopInverted triangle: yieldDiamond: warningPentagon: school zoneRound: railroad crossingVertical rectangles or square: rules of the road More like thisTravel7 Countries You Can’t Enter if You Have a DUI