Road safety signs play a critical role in ensuring the safety of road users. Road signs provide important information, warnings, and instructions to help drivers, pedestrians and cyclists share and navigate our roads safely.
At Corsign we are dedicated to public safety and are safety sign specialists. In our business, we are committed to delivering the best quality road traffic signage to keep Perth’s roads safe and compliant with all regulations and laws. Without road safety signs, there would be absolute chaos on our roads. Accidents would be far more frequent and severe. In this article, we will explain the reasons why traffic signs are so vital to road safety and outline our approach to best practices in maintaining standards.
Traffic safety signs are essential for road safety because they help to convey important information and instructions to drivers, pedestrians, and other road users. The following points explain why traffic safety signs are so important:
- Help to prevent accidents: Traffic safety signs warn drivers of potential hazards, such as sharp curves, intersections, or construction zones. They also provide instructions on how to navigate such situations safely. By following these signs, drivers can reduce the risk of accidents and stay safe on the road.
- Promote safe driving habits: Traffic safety signs also remind drivers of the rules of the road, such as speed limits, no parking zones, and pedestrian crossings. By reminding drivers of these rules, they can help to promote safe driving habits and reduce the likelihood of accidents.
- Improve communication: Traffic safety signs use universal symbols that can be understood by drivers from all over the world. This makes them a valuable tool for improving communication and reducing confusion on the road.
- Increase visibility: Traffic safety signs are designed to be highly visible, even in low light or bad weather conditions. This helps to ensure that drivers and other road users can see them and respond accordingly.
Consistency & Conformity
One of the most important functions of road safety signs is to communicate important information to road users. This includes information about speed limits, lane usage, and directions. By providing this information, road safety signs help to ensure that all road users are on the same page and understand the rules of the road. This is especially important for new or visiting drivers who may be unfamiliar with the area or the specific rules of the road.
Road safety signs also provide warnings and instructions that help to prevent accidents. For example, signs warning of upcoming construction zones or sharp curves give drivers time to adjust their speed and driving behaviour accordingly. Signs indicating pedestrian crossings or school zones alert drivers to areas where they need to be extra cautious and watch out for potential hazards. These signs not only help to prevent accidents but also promote safe and responsible driving behaviour.
Another important function of road safety signs is to promote consistency and uniformity on the roads. By using standardised signs and symbols, road safety signs ensure that drivers and pedestrians can easily recognise and understand the information being conveyed. This promotes safe and efficient travel and helps to prevent confusion and misunderstandings that can lead to accidents.
Safety Sign Placement
We all use the same roads, but not all road users are the same. Crucially, as experts in safety signage at Corsign we recognise car drivers, truck drivers, cyclists, motorbikes, and pedestrians are all moving at different speeds and yet they all need to see the same relevant information with adequate time to take effective action. It’s here that the placement of road signage is almost as important as the signs themselves.
Not only that but it’s important to stress that a sign is only as important as the universal understanding of the meaning behind it. Our signs work because a great deal of time, effort and testing has gone into the safety sign design. In addition, vehicle users are required to sit theory and practical tests to prove their competence in understanding the rules of the road and correct interpretation of the signage.
Even so, it is important to point out that many signs are just as effective for children and international visitors and even those who have failed to pass the mandatory tests. As communication tools they are incredibly powerful.
Types of Traffic Signs
There are many different types of traffic signs that are made to keep road users safe, including:
- Warning signs
- Regulatory signs
- Information signs
- Temporary traffic control signs
Warning signs:
Warning signs are installed to alert road users of upcoming potential hazards or changes in the road. Examples of these signs are detour signs, narrow road signs, and construction ahead signs. Warning signs are important to road safety as they inform road users of anything that could potentially cause an accident.
Regulatory signs:
Regulatory signs alert road users of the rules or requirements that must be followed on that particular road. Such signs include speed limit signs, stop signs, and giveaway signs. These signs are important as they instruct road users on how to drive safely and maintain the order of the road.
Information signs:
Information signs are used to give road users information about the road they are on as well as the surrounding area. Tourist information signs, destination signs, and mileage signs are all examples of information signs. Information signs are important to road safety as they give road users the information they need in regards to where they are going without them having to rely on maps, phones or GPS devices, as that can distract them from the road in front of them. Mileage signs can also help road users know when to stop at a service station to refill their petrol and avoid running out of fuel in the middle of a journey.
Temporary traffic control signs:
Temporary traffic control signs are used to control and direct traffic during road works. For example, lane closure signs, detour signs and merge signs may be used when there is road work to divert traffic away from the works. These signs are important for road safety as they ensure that workers who are completing the road works are kept safe and away from traffic. They instruct road users where to go so that traffic still flows smoothly.
At Corsign, we produce all types of traffic safety signage, and we ensure that they are the best quality signs to protect the safety of all road users.
WA Regulations
Traffic signs are regulated to make sure that they provide consistent images so that everyone can recognise and interpret the signs easily. Therefore, in order to be considered safe, traffic signs must be effective and comply with such regulations. The Road Traffic Code 2000 is the piece of legislation that governs all road traffic signs in WA to make sure they are consistent to keep all road users safe. At Corsign, we are experts in making effective signs and ensure we are always compliant with all WA regulations for road signs.
Effective road signs
Traffic signs need to be effective in conveying their message to road users so that road users are able to understand the signs and follow them in order to act safely. Effective road signs have 6 vital elements. They are:
Made by professionals: Make sure that you hire professionals like Corsign to make effective, good quality and regulatory compliant signs.
Relevant: The information that is being displayed by the sign must be relevant. This is done by providing information specific to the location it is installed.
Design: Traffic signs need to be simple and easy to understand so that all road users can quickly understand and follow them. They should use symbols and colours that are universally recognised as well as being easy to read from a far distance.
Visibility: This one is a no-brainer. Traffic signs need to be clearly visible and easily noticeable by all road users. They need to be able to be seen and quickly interpreted by anyone who is using the road, whether it be cyclists, cars, trucks, or pedestrians.
Placement: Traffic safety signs should be placed in an appropriate location where they can be easily seen and the information it conveys is relevant.
Consistent: The traffic signs should be consistent in all areas, making sure that the important safety information they contain is clear and recognizable to all.
As safety sign professionals, Corsign are expert in creating safety signs for Perth and implements all 6 of these factors when making their signs.
Corsign knows how important traffic signs are in relation to road safety, and is happy to provide such top quality safety signs.
Contact Corsign today to discuss your product and service needs.
