CHAPTER 2D. GUIDE SIGNS—CONVENTIONAL ROADS
Section 2D.01 Scope of Conventional Road Guide Sign Standards
Standard:
Standards for conventional road guide signs shall apply to any road or street
other than low-volume roads (as defined in Section 5A.01), expressways, and
freeways.
Section 2D.02 Application
Support:
Guide signs are essential to direct road users along streets and highways, to inform them of
intersecting routes, to direct them to cities, towns, villages, or other important destinations, to
identify nearby rivers and streams, parks, forests, and historical sites, and generally to give such
information as will help them along their way in the most simple, direct manner possible.
Chapter 2A addresses placement, location, and other general criteria for signs.
Section 2D.03 Color, Retroreflection, and Illumination
Support:
Requirements for illumination, retroreflection, and color are stated under the specific
headings for individual guide signs or groups of signs. General provisions are given in Sections
2A.08, 2A.09, and 2A.11.
Standard:
Except where otherwise specified herein for individual signs or groups of signs,
guide signs on streets and highways shall have a white message and border on a
green background. All messages, borders, and legends shall be retroreflective and
all backgrounds shall be retroreflective or illuminated.
Section 2D.04 Size of Signs
Support:
For most guide signs, the legends are so variable that a standardized size is not appropriate.
The sign size is determined primarily by the length of the message, and the size of lettering and
spacing necessary for proper legibility. However, for signs with standardized designs, such as
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Page 2D-1
Sect. 2D.01 to 2D.04
route signs, it is practical to use the standard sizes that are given in the "Standard Highway
Signs" book.
Option:
Because the size of overhead signs are sometimes limited by factors such as lane width and
vertical clearance, reduced letter height, reduced interline spacing, and reduced edge spacing
may be