Road signs have specific colors and shapes associated with their meaning. This combination of colors and shapes is designed to allow drivers to see and recognize what the sign means from a distance. Pay close attention to signs as you drive. There are four basic categories of signs:

The standards for the design and application of the signs as controlled under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) explain the significance of the colors on road traffic signs. Red: Red generally means stop. The use of red on signs is limited to stop, yield, and prohibition signs.

The DOT also has a standard for the color and shape of particular signs. These colors and shapes are essential to understanding the meaning of road signs. They are also becoming universal. For example, if you see a red and white octagonal sign it’s safe to assume that sign means stop. This goes for most signs that follow the standards.

Red road signs indicate: A. Motorist services guidance. B. A stop or prohibition. C. General warning. Basic Colors in Short – Learn This! Yellow, yellow-green, orange, and pink are used on warning signs. Black, white, and red are used on regulatory signs (signs that tell you what you must do or must not do).