Years of highway Engineers' reports and Creative Thinking resulted in the format for signs that are used everywhere
Highway signs are a common sight in the infrastructure imagery of the United States. The most well-known aluminum product in the nation that is mass-produced is arguably the U.S. highway shields. But the numerous green signs that line every road are a subtly important part of millions of travels, from everyday commutes to vacation road excursions. These include all the information required for system navigation, including the distance to distant locations and future exits. Additionally, since the development of the Interstate Highway System, the design of these signs has remained substantially unchanged. But why was green selected as the emblematic color?
The Arizona Department of Transportation claims that the reason why green is utilized is because it is a "cool" hue. The backdrop of the sign is green, which tends to blend in with the greens, blues, and browns of the surrounding environment while simultaneously offering a fantastic surface for white writing to stand out against. This explanation from ADOT outlines the logical line of thinking behind the color selection: "It blends in enough to be considered part of the scenery, but sticks out enough to notice when you need it," said John LaBarbera, an ADOT public information officer.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices is the source of the green standard for guiding signs (MUTCD). The American Association of State Highway Officials (now known as AASHTO), a standard organization made up of officials from each state department of transportation, released the first version of the MUTCD in 1935. The early handbook was largely concerned with the nation's road markings, black-on-yellow-background regulation signs, and black-on-white-background warning signs. Since long-distance driving wasn't as common as it is now, there was no set standard for guidance signs. It was intended that travelers would use their own maps and route markings.
Two years before the Interstate Highway Act was passed, in 1954, guide signs were standardized as white on green signs. The 1948 edition of the MUTCD had a 15-page addendum that contained this important change. Additionally, this addendum stipulated that stop signs must have red backgrounds with white letters. Stop signs may formerly have either black or red writing on a yellow backdrop, similar to the other warning signs.
Two years before the Interstate Highway Act was passed, in 1954, guide signs were standardized as white on green signs. The 1948 edition of the MUTCD had a 15-page addendum that contained this important change. Additionally, this addendum stipulated that stop signs must have red backgrounds with white letters. Stop signs may formerly have either black or red writing on a yellow backdrop, similar to the other warning signs. Due of the lack of fade-resistant red paint finishes in the 1930s, AASHO avoided using red signage.
The guide sign color standard is listed in Section 2D.03.02 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices' 2009 edition:
"Guide signs on streets and highways should have a white message and border on a green background, unless specifically stipulated in this Manual for individual signs or groups of signs. All text, legends, and borders must be retroreflective, and all backgrounds must be lit or reflective.
Without this guideline, the American flag may have had a kaleidoscope of hues. Arizona even tried out directional signs that were color-coded at one point. Westbound signs are blue, eastbound signs are brown, northbound signs are orange, and southbound signs are green.
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