If you see a five-sided yellow sign board near a school building then be alert. It is a pentagonal sign board. But did you really know why it is placed on the road and what you should do when you see it?
In this short article, you will know what pentagonal signs indicate, what you have to do and why this shape was chosen for your safety.
What Does a Pentagon-Shaped Sign Mean?
A pentagonal sign board on the road represents that the school zone or school crosswalk is ahead. So, you have to be more careful. Basically, it is used to inform drivers that there may be kids, teachers, or parents on the road.
So, slow down your car and keep an eye on the road because some students are not really aware of road dangers.
Why Pentagon Shaped Sign
Well, there are very few warning signs that use a pentagon shape, which makes it more dominant than other road signs and results in a fast response.
Actually, this is a 5-sided sign board with a bright yellow background to capture your focus from a distance. Plus, a black image of two students is mostly used on it to inform exact hazard to you.
The Evolution of Pentagonal Sign Boards
As you know, the need for traffic signs was realised at the start of the 20th century when vehicles became more common. At that time, traffic authorities started to use different types of shapes and colors for traffic signs. But in the mid-20th century, the number of accidents increased, especially near schools.
That’s why the demand for proper school zones increased. Therefore, in the 1970s a new shape was introduced, “Pentagonal Shape” which was more dominant and unique. Firstly, its standard form was universally used by the United States for the protection of children.
Importance of Pentagonal Signs
When parents pick up or drop off students at school, there is usually more traffic, which increases the risk of accidents. As you know, a pentagonal sign represents a school building. Therefore, as a driver, you mentally get prepared for it, you slow down your car and look in all directions.
Basically, this sign board offers security for everyone (students, teachers, parents and drivers). Moreover, during peak hours, traffic jams are more common near schools; you can also avoid them by changing your lane or route in advance.
What Happens If You Ignore a Pentagonal Sign?
If you ignore a school zone pedestrian crossing sign, you can face many problems. Actually, this small negligence can result in severe accidents. You may hit a student and get stuck in a police case. Plus, in case of traffic sign violation traffic police may cancel your license or you have to pay fines and penalties.
Additionally, these fines are higher than in other areas. So, when you see a pentagonal sign board, slow down your car for the safety of students.
How New Technology Can Improve Pentagon Traffic Sign?
There are many advanced technologies that can be used to make pentagonal sign boards more efficient. Following are some of them so you can read their benefits one by one.
Queue Detection System
You can integrate a queue detection system which uses sensors like cameras, radars or crowd data to detect the movement of vehicles. With the help of this integration you can inform drivers about the exact hazard present on the road.
Advanced Reflective Materials
You can try modern highly visible material (fluorescent sheets, microprismatic retroreflective sheets etc) for your pentagonal sign boards. After this combination, your sign board will be more clear in both normal and bad weather conditions and even at night.
Dynamic Lane Merge System
If you want to avoid traffic jams, you can integrate this system for real-time information. Basically, as a driver you will get real information when there is more traffic near schools. And this technology also displays the lane which is available for you.
Comparison with Other Road Sign Shapes
Shapes of sign boards inform you about the type of warning that you may face on the road. Each shape gives you a different message and has its own meaning.
Diamond Road Sign: A sign board with diamond shape simply tells you about the road condition in advance like potholes and cracks.
Triangular Road Sign: If you see a sign board with inverted triangle shape, slow down your car because it tells you that intersection is ahead. Moreover, it informs you earlier that the lanes will merge.
Circle Shape: This type of shape is mostly used at railway crossings. So, prepare yourself for a train that can cross from here at any time.
Octagon Road Sign: It simply asks you to stop your vehicle and wait until the road becomes safe for you.
Rectangular Sign: Generally, regulatory warning signs are created in a rectangular shape.
Pennant-Shaped Sign: You will find this type of sign boards near urban areas. Actually, it shows you a no passing zone so you can’t overtake at this point.
Trapezoid Signs: These kinds of signs are mostly used to provide you directions for picnic places like parks and camping areas. In addition, this shape is used to inform you about directions in forest areas.
Final Thoughts
We hope you completely understood the meaning of pentagonal signs and why they are important for you. Following traffic rules and signs is every citizen’s duty. So, you should also try your best to follow your local area’s road safety guide. Contact us now for further guidance about all kinds of traffic safety products.
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Road Sign Meaning and Types: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding Traffic Sign Shapes and Their Meanings
