I SEE A SIGN — WHAT IS IT TELLING ME? Another factor that plays a major part in understanding sign communication is meaning. As a society, we are bombarded with messages daily. How can we possibly be expected to see and comprehend all of the important signage guiding our paths? The answer — color. Though each sign carries a specific meaning through words and symbols, the color of the sign is the first clue to its meaning. Let’s think about all of the signs we encounter when traveling on roadways. There’s a common theme among most — red signs mean stop; yellow signs mean use caution; green signs mean there’s an exit ahead; and white signs are regulatory, like speedlimitsignage.Thetrafficcontrolindustrycolorisorange. This color is an advanced warning — even traffic cones are orange and carry a warning message all on their own. What types of orange advanced warning signs do we use? Our signage falls into three different types of communication: 1) warning, 2) advising, and 3) directing. EXAMPLE #1 SIGN TYPE EXAMPLE #2 EXAMPLE #3 Warning signs are generally the first indication of a work zone ,  alerting motorists to expect a change in their travel path. The second sign they’ll come across is an advisory sign. These tell motorists more details about the change and give them an idea of what type of action they’ll need to take next. The last sign seen is the directional sign. This is the point at which the action occurs. This type of sign directs traffic through a work zone — safely guiding motorists to the other side. QUALITY COMMUNICATION FOR THE WIN A quality work zone setup includes the correct sign choice in the correct order as specified by federal and state standards. Applying consistent and correct communication within the work zone is a hallmark of good traffic control that keeps the traveling public safe and our communities moving. F I F T E E N WARNING motorists that something is happening 1 ADVISING motorists what to expect 2 DIRECTING motorists what to do 3