Traffic Signs 101 Published Feb. 2, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Cierra D. Monroe 99th Air Base Wing Safety Office NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The safety office would not exist if accidents did not happen. The safety career field is about awareness and prevention, and one major area the safety office is focusing on is traffic. In addition to investigating traffic accidents and determining how to prevent them, the safety office is working on bringing awareness to the importance of traffic signs and traffic laws. Below are some facts that everyone should be familiar with, as well as some interesting tidbits related to traffic sign history. For further information on these facts or any other safety topic, contact the 99th Air Base Wing Safety office at 702-652-4095. - According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices: "a (traffic) sign must meet five requirements: fulfill a need, command attention, convey a simple meaning, command respect from travelers and give adequate time for proper response." - The shapes and colors of traffic signs have specific meanings. --- Red means no, do not or stop. --- Green is used for direction or guidance. --- Yellow or yellow-green is used as a general warning. --- White is used as regulatory, a law or rule. --- Orange is for road construction or repair warning. --- Blue is used for driver services such as food or lodging. --- Brown is for recreation and scenic area information. --- Octagons mean stop. --- Diamonds are for warning. --- Rectangles are used for traffic regulations or direction for drivers. --- Inverted triangles yield the right of way. --- A pennant means no passing. --- Pentagons are used for school zones and school passing. --- Circles are used to warn of an upcoming railroad crossing. --- A shield is used to signal a route marker. - The Nevada Department of Transportation has conducted several studies and trend analysis when it comes to traffic fatalities. Below are some of the statistics that have discovered through such studies. --- In a span of six years, there were an average of 407 fatalities and 1,920 traffic-related injuries. --- In 2011, 30 pedestrian fatalities, 23 motorcycle fatalities and one bicycle fatality were reported in Clark County. --- On Nellis Air Force Base property, between Jan. 1, 2011, and Jan. 31, 2012, there were 23 reported traffic accidents, 14 of which involved motorcycles. --- On Jan. 31, 2012, between approximately 5 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received reports of 13 traffic incidents. - Roundabouts, a popular traffic construct in Europe, are sometimes used instead of stop signs. When approaching a roundabout, yield to the person inside roundabout, who has the right of way. When entering the roundabout in the U.S., turn to the right. - Speed limits vary depending on the location and flow of traffic. - Traffic signs developed over time, especially during the 1800s when people began using bicycles, and again in the 1900s when people began using automobiles. - Some cities in America will use the native language of a nearby country. For example, signs in San Diego may be written in both English and Spanish, the language of neighboring Mexico.
