The earliest streets signs were simple in design, made of stone or wood. Just like the modern era, road signs were designed to be installed at the side of the roads is that they can provide necessary directional information to people. The Romans used to use stone road signs that indicated how far travelers were from Rome and how many hours it would take for them to reach. During the glorious Middle Ages, providing multidirectional indicators at various intersections became a common thing. Directional signs were introduced in the United Kingdom and they are still being used up to the present.

The materials of the street and road signs started changing due to the change in design over the few years. In other words, the materials of the street signs are highly dependent on the design, shape, and purpose of the road safety signs.

Types of Street Signs

Here are the top 5 most common street signs that we use today.

Warning Signs

Warning street signs will notify the drivers on the road regarding the potential danger ahead such as sharp turns, sharp bends, an intersection, slippery road conditions, low clearance, steep hills, etc. The warning signs dictate the changing road conditions such as merging traffic, a fire station, reduced speed, deer crossings, etc.

Railroad Crossing Signs

Railroad traffic signs notify the drivers about the upcoming rail crossing. This type of street sign is an emergency notification for cars so that they can safely cross the railroads.

Regulatory Signs

Regulatory signs are one of the most important types of street signs that contain instructions such as no parking, do no enter, no abrupt turning, or the prohibition of hazardous materials. As per Zutobi, you need to obey the regulatory signs at any cost. The regulatory signs also warn drivers about the multi-way stops. Black-and-white regulatory road traffic signs include notifications such as truck weight limits, one-way crossing, divided highways, HOV lane, etc. Some types of regulatory signs are also used for essential movements at intersections such as turns or straight roads.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Road Safety Signs

Pedestrian and bicycle road safety signs come in various sizes, colors, and shapes. They include warnings for the playground, crossings, bike routes, school crosswalks so that no pedestrian or bikers enter the specific route.

How the Street Signs Are Made?

Nowadays, the street traffic signs in designed in such a way that they could last for years. Some manufactures use reflective sheeting on the street signs so that they can offer a great level of retro-reflectivity. Retroreflective sheeting is capable of reflecting a specific amount of light from the headlights of the vehicles back to the driver. This is the main reason why this type of road safety sign is visible at night. However, make sure you’re using illuminated or reflectorized materials in all the places of the signs.

Street signs usually have three basic components: background sheeting, a blank, and a signs copy. Blanks are usually designed of plywood, aluminum, or steel. On the other hand, plywood is one of the most affordable options yet extremely resistant to moderate weather conditions. Aluminum is the most expensive material. Aluminum is not only rust-resistant but also be lightweight. But it should be combined with other metal scraps.

Conclusion

Now you know how and what road safety signs are made of, you can easily purchase the perfect one. Do you have any questions? Comment below to let us know.