Regulatory Road Signs Buyer's Guide Regulatory road signs tell drivers, cyclists, and other road users about traffic laws, restrictions, and required movements. They are used to control right-of-way, speed, turning movements, lane use, parking, vehicle access, and other rules of the road. Common regulatory signs include STOP, YIELD, SPEED LIMIT, ONE WAY, DO NOT ENTER, WRONG WAY, NO TURN, KEEP RIGHT, lane-control, parking restriction, road closure, and weight limit signs. What Are Regulatory Signs? Regulatory signs communicate traffic laws or regulations and identify where those requirements apply. Unlike warning signs, which alert drivers to conditions ahead, regulatory signs tell road users what they must do, must not do, or are permitted to do. Examples include: Right-of-way signs: STOP and YIELD signs establish who must stop or yield. Speed regulation signs: SPEED LIMIT signs display the legally established speed for a roadway or zone. Movement signs: NO LEFT TURN, NO RIGHT TURN, TURN ONLY, KEEP RIGHT, and similar signs control permitted vehicle movements. Direction signs: ONE WAY and WRONG WAY signs regulate the direction of travel. Prohibition signs: DO NOT ENTER, NO TRUCKS, NO BICYCLES, and other signs restrict certain movements or road users. Parking signs: NO PARKING, restricted parking, and designated parking signs regulate where and when vehicles may park, stand, or stop. Road and vehicle restriction signs: ROAD CLOSED, weight limit, truck restriction, and similar signs regulate access to a roadway. For roads and site roadways subject to MUTCD requirements, the correct sign should be selected by its MUTCD designation and installed where the regulation applies. What Color Are Regulatory Signs? Most regulatory traffic signs use a white background with black lettering, symbols, and borders. Red is used where additional emphasis is required for stopping or prohibited movements. Black and white: Common for speed limits, lane-use regulations, KEEP RIGHT signs, ONE WAY signs, and many other regulatory messages. Red and white: Used prominently for STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, and WRONG WAY signs. Red prohibition symbol: A red circle and diagonal slash is commonly used over a black symbol to indicate a prohibited movement, such as NO LEFT TURN or NO U-TURN. Some specialized regulatory signs use additional MUTCD-prescribed color combinations. When a sign is being installed for roadway use, choose the standard design for the specific MUTCD sign code rather than selecting colors based only on appearance. What Shapes Are Regulatory Signs? Most regulatory road signs are rectangular, but several important signs have distinctive shapes that allow drivers to recognize their meaning quickly. Vertical rectangle: Used for SPEED LIMIT, parking regulations, KEEP RIGHT, weight limits, and many other regulatory signs. Horizontal rectangle: Common for ONE WAY signs and certain lane or directional regulations. Square: Used for many movement prohibition signs, including NO LEFT TURN, NO RIGHT TURN, and NO U-TURN. Octagon: Reserved for the STOP sign. Downward-pointing triangle: Reserved for the YIELD sign. The MUTCD generally specifies a rectangular shape for regulatory signs unless a different shape is specifically designated for that sign. How to Choose the Right Regulatory Sign Size The correct size depends on the specific sign, roadway type, number of lanes, traffic speed, and required viewing distance. For MUTCD applications, begin with the sign's MUTCD code and then use the applicable size listed for that roadway condition. Common examples for conventional roads include: STOP R1-1: 30" x 30" for a conventional single-lane roadway application and 36" x 36" for a multi-lane conventional roadway. YIELD R1-2: 36" x 36" x 36" for a conventional single-lane roadway and 48" x 48" x 48" for a multi-lane conventional roadway. SPEED LIMIT R2-1: 24" x 30" for a conventional single-lane roadway and 30" x 36" for a multi-lane conventional roadway. Movement Prohibition R3 Series: Common NO TURN symbol signs are 24" x 24" for conventional single-lane roadways and 36" x 36" for multi-lane conventional roadways. Larger sizes can be appropriate where additional visibility or legibility is needed. Expressways and freeways generally require larger signs than conventional roads, and low-volume roadway provisions apply only in qualifying situations. Choosing a Size for Private Roads and Facilities For parking lots, campuses, industrial facilities, private roads, and similar properties, consider the viewing distance, vehicle speed, number of lanes, mounting location, and whether the roadway is open to public travel. A sign that is easy to read at parking-lot speeds may be too small for a higher-speed roadway. When regulatory signs are being installed on a public roadway or another location where MUTCD requirements apply, use the MUTCD size specified for the sign and roadway classification. If you are replacing an existing sign, matching its MUTCD code and required size is usually the best starting point. Choosing the Right Regulatory Road Sign Before ordering, identify the regulation you need to communicate, the MUTCD sign code, the required sign size, and the installation location. Also consider the roadway speed, number of lanes, nighttime visibility, and existing sign posts or mounting hardware. RoadSigns.com offers regulatory road signs for traffic control, parking, property, facility, and roadway applications, including standard MUTCD sign designs and multiple size options for common regulatory signs.

What Is a Construction Sign? A construction sign is a temporary traffic control sign, black legend on an orange background, used to move traffic safely past road work. The orange color is reserved by the MUTCD for work zones, so a driver knows at a glance that the condition is temporary and that people may be working close to the lane. Most of the signs in this category are the W20 and W21 diamond warning series. The category also includes the rectangular Road Closed regulatory signs, the orange Detour guide signs and the plaques that mount under a diamond. Work zone signs are used by highway contractors, utility crews, paving companies, municipalities and property owners. They go up for a few hours around a pothole repair or for months on a highway reconstruction. Either way, the MUTCD requires the same thing: every sign must be in new or like-new condition each time it is deployed. Which Construction Sign Do You Need? Start with the situation a driver will meet, then pick the sign that names it. Each row below links to the sub-category that holds every size, distance and left/right version of that sign. Scroll sideways to view the full table on smaller screens. Situation Signs to use MUTCD codes Work is starting ahead and drivers need a first warning Road Work Ahead Signs, with 500 ft to 1 mile distance versions W20-1, W20-1 with distance Workers are on or next to the road Workers Ahead Signs and Utility Work Signs W21-1, W21-1B, W21-7 A flagger is controlling traffic Flagger Signs W20-7, W20-7B One or more lanes are closing Lane Closed Signs W20-5, W20-5a, W9-3 Two lanes become one Work Zone Merge and Lane Reduction Signs W4-1, W4-2, W4-2D Crew is working on the shoulder Shoulder Closed Signs W21-5, W21-5a The road is closed to through traffic Road Closed Signs R11-2, R11-3, R11-4, W20-3 Traffic must follow another route Detour Signs W20-2, M4-8, M4-9, M4-10 The pavement itself is the hazard Work Zone Road Surface Signs W21-2, W8-7, W8-11, W8-15 Drivers may have to stop or slow in the zone Be Prepared to Stop and construction advisory speed plaques CW3-4, W13-1P A typical lane closure on a two-lane road uses four signs in sequence: Road Work Ahead, One Lane Road Ahead, Flagger Symbol, then Be Prepared to Stop. Our sub-categories are arranged so you can build that sequence one sign at a time. How to Choose the Right Size MUTCD Table 6F-1 sets construction sign sizes by road type. Undersized signs are not allowed on faster roads. Oversized signs are always allowed. 36" x 36" is the standard size for conventional roads and the size most contractors order for street and county work. 48" x 48" is the standard for freeways and expressways, and the right choice on any road posted 55 mph or more. 30" x 30" is the minimum, allowed only on low-speed, low-volume roads such as residential streets and parking lots. Plaques follow the sign above them. A 36" diamond takes a 24" plaque, and a 48" diamond takes a 30" plaque. If your crews work on both city streets and highways, order 48" signs. One size covers every job and the extra cost is small next to a failed inspection. Which Reflective Sheeting Should You Order? High Intensity Prismatic (HIP) meets ASTM Type IV and the MUTCD minimum for ground-mounted work zone signs. It is the standard order for daytime work on conventional roads. Diamond Grade DG3 meets ASTM Type XI and returns about twice the light of HIP. Choose it for night work, high-speed corridors and signs mounted on the left side of the road. Diamond Grade Fluorescent Orange is DG3 with a fluorescent orange face. It is the brightest sign in daylight, dawn and dusk, and the grade most state DOTs now specify for work zones. It is also the best value for crews that reuse signs from project to project. When a state or municipal contract calls out a sheeting grade, match the spec. When it does not, fluorescent orange is the safe default. Where to Place Construction Signs Advance warning signs go in a series before the work, spaced by road type under MUTCD Table 6C-1. On a low-speed urban street the spacing is about 100 feet between signs. On a rural highway it is 500 feet. On a freeway the first sign can sit half a mile ahead of the taper. The first sign a driver sees should always be Road Work Ahead. Mount the bottom of a post-mounted sign at least 7 feet above the pavement in urban areas and 5 feet in rural areas. Portable sign stands may hold the sign as low as 1 foot above the pavement for short-term work. Cover or remove a sign when the condition it describes is not present, for example a flagger sign when no flagger is on duty. A sign that warns about nothing teaches drivers to ignore the next one. Why Buy Construction Signs from RoadSigns.com Our construction signs are made in the USA on .080" aluminum with prismatic sheeting applied to the exact MUTCD legend and border layout. Every size and sheeting combination is priced on the product page, so you can order one sign to replace a damaged one or a full lane-closure set without waiting on a quote. Quantity pricing applies automatically when you order the same sign in multiples. We are a registered federal supplier and ship nationwide from the factory. If your traffic control plan calls for a legend that is not in this category, email us and we will make it. Construction Sign FAQ Why are construction signs orange instead of yellow? The MUTCD reserves orange for temporary traffic control so drivers can tell a work zone warning from a permanent road condition. A yellow curve sign stays for years. An orange curve sign means the curve is part of a detour or a shifted lane and will go away when the work is done. Can I use a 30" x 30" sign to save money? Only on low-speed, low-volume roads. On any conventional road the MUTCD standard is 36" x 36", and on freeways it is 48" x 48". An inspector can shut down a work zone over an undersized sign, so buy the size the road requires. Do I need the distance printed on the sign or a separate plaque? Either works. We stock Road Work Ahead, Lane Closed and Detour signs with 500 ft, 1000 ft, 1500 ft, 1/2 mile and 1 mile printed on the face, which is one less piece to mount. A blank version lets you add your own plaque when the distance changes from job to job. When do I have to replace a construction sign? Before any deployment where the sign is no longer in like-new condition. Look for fading, peeling or cracked sheeting, bent corners and dents that catch light at night. A sign that looks fine at noon can fail a retroreflectivity check after dark, so inspect at night at least once a season and keep spares on the truck. Can I order a custom construction sign legend? Yes. Send us the wording, size and sheeting grade from your traffic control plan and we will produce it on the same aluminum as our stock signs.

Road Warning Signs Road warning signs are the yellow diamond-shaped signs defined in the MUTCD W-series. They alert drivers to conditions ahead: curves and turns, intersections, pedestrian and bicycle crossings, lane transitions, road surface conditions, and advisory speeds. Warning signs are not regulatory; they advise drivers to adjust speed or position rather than impose a legal requirement. Every sign in this collection is manufactured to MUTCD specifications for shape, color, legend, and reflectivity. Choosing the right size The MUTCD specifies 30" x 30" for conventional roads and 36" x 36" up to 48" x 48" for freeways and expressways. A 24" x 24" minimum is allowed on low-speed, low-volume roads posted 25 mph or less. Advisory and supplemental plaques mount below the parent sign, with 24" x 18" the standard plaque size on conventional roads. Most municipalities order 30" x 30" for two-lane roads and 36" x 36" for multi-lane or higher-speed applications. Reflective sheeting options All four sheeting options exceed the MUTCD minimum for permanent warning signs. High Intensity Prismatic (HIP, ASTM Type IV) is the standard for conventional roads. Diamond Grade DG3 (Type XI) returns nearly twice the light for high-speed roads and poorly lit locations. Diamond Grade Fluorescent Yellow adds stronger visibility at dawn, dusk, and in overcast conditions. Diamond Grade Fluorescent Yellow Green is the MUTCD-required color for non-motorized traffic warnings such as pedestrian, bicycle, and school signs, and is not interchangeable with standard yellow. When to replace warning signs Replace any sign that is faded, cracked, peeling, bent, or no longer reflective at night. The FHWA recommends inspecting warning signs at least once a year, including a nighttime retroreflectivity check, and keeping a replacement on hand so a damaged sign location is never left empty.

Speed Limit SignsSpeed limit signs post legally enforceable maximum speeds on public roads, private roads, parking lots, and communities. This collection covers standard Speed Limit signs (R2-1) from 5 MPH to 65 MPH, advisory speed plaques (W13-1P) for curves and speed humps, reduced speed ahead warnings, and Speed Checked by Radar plaques (R2-5E).Regulatory or advisory?An R2-1 speed limit sign establishes the legal limit for a road. An advisory speed plaque recommends a safe speed for a specific condition and mounts below a parent warning sign; it is not enforceable. Radar plaques mount below a speed limit sign to notify drivers of enforcement.Size, material, and sheetingThe MUTCD standard size for speed limit signs on conventional roads is 24" x 30". Every sign is manufactured on .080" aluminum, the industry standard for permanent traffic signs, and finished with 3M retroreflective sheeting: High Intensity Prismatic (HIP) for most installations, or Diamond Grade DG3 for high-speed roads and poorly lit areas. All signs follow the MUTCD R2-series standards for the white background, black legend, and vertical rectangular shape.MountingSigns come pre-punched and radiused for standard post installation on U-channel or square tube posts. The MUTCD requires a minimum mounting height of 5 feet from the bottom of the sign to the road surface in rural areas and 7 feet in urban or pedestrian areas. Posts and brackets are sold separately in our Sign Posts collection.Need a speed, size, or sheeting combination you don't see listed? Email support@roadsigns.com and we will quote it.

Parking SignsParking signs manage parking on streets, in lots, in garages, and on private property. This collection covers four groups of MUTCD-compliant legends: No Parking signs like No Parking Any Time (R7-1), No Parking Fire Lane (R7-200), and No Parking Loading Zone (R7-6) with directional arrow variants; reserved and permissive signs like Reserved Parking (R7-326), Visitor Parking (R7-330), and Employee Parking (R7-341); accessible parking signs that meet ADA and MUTCD requirements, including Reserved Parking with the international symbol of accessibility (R7-8) and Van Accessible variants; and private property signs like No Trespassing, No Loitering, and Do Not Block Drive.Choosing a size12" x 18" is the MUTCD standard for R7-series signs on conventional roads and the most ordered size for parking lots and facilities. Step up to 18" x 24" for high-traffic lots, multi-level garages, and roadside installations, or 24" x 30" where drivers need to read the sign from farther away.Reflective sheetingHigh Intensity Prismatic (HIP, ASTM Type IV) is the standard choice for lots and private facilities and meets the requirements of nearly all municipalities and property management standards. Diamond Grade DG3 (Type XI) returns nearly twice the light of HIP and is typically specified for signs installed along public roadways, in poorly lit areas, or wherever maximum nighttime visibility is critical.MountingEvery sign ships pre-punched for standard post installation. U-channel posts are the standard for roadside and lot perimeter installs, square tube posts give commercial properties a cleaner look, and portable cast iron pedestal bases work in lots where ground mounting is not possible. Posts, brackets, and bases are sold separately in our Sign Posts collection.Need a custom legend or special wording? Email support@roadsigns.com with the text, size, and quantity and we will provide a quote.