Talk:Warning sign

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Early article development comments[edit]

The section on "Obstacles" currently conflates object markers (which in the US are not actually warning signs) and warning signs dealing with medians, diverges, etc. When I have time and motivation, I'll try to come up with better language that better differentiates and defines each of these.

RCMoeur 15 May 2005


Evacuation markers are guide signs, and this section should be moved accordingly. Triskele Jim 19:13, 1 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]


Mexian Sign[edit]

Where's the link for the mexican sign.

Try to be a bit more PC? Anyway, I made it link to the article, but I don't know how to make the description of the footnote look anything more than a caret, so if someone can do that, that'd be great. Mmmkay? La Bicyclette 20:11, 14 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Warning Sign song[edit]

Warning Sign by Coldplay is a song that I want to request. --Numberonedad 17:44, 17 May 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I requested it. --Numberonedad 17:49, 17 May 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Example warning signs in each section[edit]

I've added a disproportionate quantity of Irish road signs as examples of the various types of warning sign. The reason is that they're good quality and a lot of types are uploaded.

We really need a majority of the example signs to be of the red triangle variant, as this is what most of the world uses. I do suggest however that each type of warning sign have a table with 6 (or 12) example signs on one (or two) row(s). Each row could have 2/3 triangle signs, 2/3 diamond signs, and 1/2 oddities (local signs), with double that where useful.

I would scrap the big images at the top of page, as they do not have any labelling, so while useful, could be superceded by individual labelled examples under the appropriate section.

I also suggest removing some/all of the photos, as they are cluttered (showing more than just the sign). People know that a road sign sits on a pole. All we need are good quality example images of the signs themselves.

One or two really good quality photos could be added to the top of page (I don't consider any of the current ones suitable). Something with just the sign in the foreground and sky, and wilderness/desert would be good. I'm specifically thinking of the stereotypical image of the kangaroo warning sign from Australia here, but the point is that only a properly composed photo is worthwhile putting in here as opposed to just example images.

zoney talk 12:46, 24 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

no further comments about this for seven years! but the consensus among those actually working on the page is clearly in the other direction: lots of specimens. the article is much more interesting and informative because of that. Cramyourspam (talk) 14:13, 9 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Added {{Globalize}}, because The main page only cover US-specifed signs --AzaToth talk 15:50, 18 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]


Actually, this tag can be removed as well.

Cleanup[edit]

I placed the cleanup tag on the article because there are currently far too many pictures — in fact, I believe that the images are taking up more space than the article text itself! We don't need multiple examples for each one; I think it'd be best to create an image gallery on commons: and link to that at the bottom of the page with {{commons}}. The article could use some serious copyediting and reorganization as well. æle 00:42, 15 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I will remove this tag now -- the page looks good, and since it's discussing SIGNS there's a good reason why it's filled with images.

Obstacles[edit]

The current section is unclear:

Diamond-shaped with reflectors are placed at point of curbs, dividers, or other lane obstacles. Rectangular signs with diagonal stripes indicate solid objects such as barricades, bridge abutments, utility poles or natural obstacles near the roadway. Left side obstacles are marked with stripes running high to low, left to right; right side obstacle signs use stripes running high to low, right to left; in a sense akin to International symbol of arrow pointing down toward side toward roadway.

What country's signage is this describing? The second sentence does a poor job of explaining what the signage actually looks like (really an image would be needed). As for the third sentence, it is even less clear what the (semi) described signage actually looks like.

Stay left
Stay either side
Roundabout (traffic flows anti-clockwise around)

Is this section describing hazard signage at the likes of traffic islands? I.e., signs which in Europe (and probably most of the world but not the US) for example, usually are circular, with a blue background, and a white arrow (or arrows) pointing diagonally down towards the road lane, directing traffic around the island. A special version is usually used for roundabouts, consisting of a blue circular sign, with three white arrows following each other around the circular sign in the direction of traffic flow (i.e. clockwise for UK, anti-clockwise on the continent). See images to right. zoney talk 15:59, 11 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Blue circular signs are not warning signs. They are signs giving orders, you must do this. The examples shown are "keep left" (you must go to the left of this sign), "pass either side" and "Roundabout" (you must go round in the direction shown. Warning signs are as stated, triangles with red borders. TiffaF (talk) 11:16, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
While it's largely irrelevant now, (this was from back in 2006), I know what the original quoted sentence is talking about. United States Object Markers.... The United States uses them to warn of fixed objects within/beside the roadway. Some areas use them on islands, medians and points where roads diverge, like shown here Type 2 Object Markers (Note the two yellow square on point/diamond mounted on the posts.) Type 3 Object Markers are being described in the 2nd sentence, Type 3, are used to warn drivers to keep to the direction indicated of a fixed object that it would be bad to collide with. Example, going right of this object marker, would mean driving either into a immobile bridge support or crashing into a creek, and drivers should stay to the left of the sign. They're also found at beginning of guard rails. The United States classifies all object markers as warning signs.--The Navigators (talk)-May British Rail Rest in Peace. 10:01, 9 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Fair use rationale for Image:Volcanoevacuationroute.jpg[edit]

Image:Volcanoevacuationroute.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

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BetacommandBot 23:21, 13 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Italy and Latvia[edit]

Can we remove all those "Italy and Latvia" things (with Latvia always as wikilink)? Not to offend Latvia, but it's a bit annoying...--88.103.17.38 (talk) 00:32, 29 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Too many state versions[edit]

I think that there are too many US state versions shown for some of these signs. WP is meant to be encyclopedic, but that doesn't mean comprehensive. Too many examples will make this article become a repository of images. - ¢Spender1983 (talk) 04:34, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm thinking of moving the whole galleries to Commons, since thats what Commons is there for, and just keeping some examples. Bidgee (talk) 04:53, 7 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]


no. the state variations are useful. Cramyourspam (talk) 02:36, 26 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

What about non-traffic warning signs?[edit]

In the workplace-safety realm there is a hierarchy of sign types (INFORMATION, NOTICE, CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER) with associated colors and warrants for each leavel. I came here looking for information about these signs and don't see anything (either here or at the disambiguation page). Perhaps some of the redundant traffic signs can be moved out and information added about standard non-traffic warning signs. This commercial site references the two primary styles seen in the U.S., ANSI Z535.5 and OSHA 1910.145. 121a0012 (talk) 06:46, 10 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

How about creating a stub called "Warning sign (industrial)" or the like, and we'll start adding things to that? There are lots of variations worldwide, not to mention OSHA, fire service, and other US regulatory signs. Lupinelawyer (talk) 23:37, 29 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Standards[edit]

Actually, now that I think more about it, this article would be a great deal more useful if it concentrated on the various standards for the signs (describing in general terms their history, evolution, and design principles) rather than showing page after page of mostly-identical pictures of signs. What pictures do remain should identify the sign shown by reference to the appropriate standard (e.g., for U.S. signs they should reference the Federal MUTCD, Standard Highway Signs, or a state traffic manual). And it should also mention other kinds of warning signs as I described above. 121a0012 (talk) 06:58, 10 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I dunno, but I think editors of this article need to read WP:IUP before carrying on with this article..--Crossmr (talk) 07:02, 10 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

might be interesting to see some obsolete types: wood, painted metal, metal with glass-sphere reflectors, the pre-reflective era perhaps. Cramyourspam (talk) 03:45, 26 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

some specimens in the 0ct 2012-added history section. Cramyourspam (talk) 14:10, 9 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

signs still needed please[edit]

still to go if anyone wants:

  • usa massachusetts text: LANE DROP
  • usa text: PASS WITH CARE
  • usa text: RR 2 TRACKS
  • usa text: RR 3 TRACKS
  • usa text: RR MULTIPLE TRACKS
  • usa text: RR SKEWED CROSSING
  • usa text: HIGH WATER
  • usa text: SMOKE AREA
  • usa text: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT AHEAD
  • usa graphical: FALLING ROCK (cliff crumble image)
  • usa graphical: HUMPED RR CROSSING TRUCK TRAILER SCRAPE / STATIC HAZARD (image)
  • usa graphical: RR SKEWED CROSSING
  • usa graphical: RAMP SLOW TRUCK TIPOVER HAZARD (image)

lots of global others too. interesting article! Cramyourspam (talk) 02:53, 26 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

there's been a lot of progress in the past year. Cramyourspam (talk) 14:08, 9 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

The "diamond shape" shown is actually a square.[edit]

Many people refer to "diamond-shaped" warning signs (as does the MUTCD Standard Highway Signs book [[1]]), when most are, in fact, square signs with a 45-degree rotation from horizontal. Many US warning signs are also rectangular, including arrows and chevrons. Just so you know, and don't waste time looking for "diamonds" instead of squares.Lupinelawyer (talk) 00:03, 30 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

German unusual sign - wrong translation[edit]

It is not about private trains crossing, consequently I corrected the translation. I am a German....--92.76.2.14 (talk) 22:07, 3 March 2013 (UTC)[reply]

File:Pink sign
yellow sign

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.228.10.236 (talk) 19:26, 6 October 2013 (UTC)[reply]

pink sign[edit]

File:Pink sign
road sign

the pink sign is danger too. the road of the pink sign is yellow sign. the pink sign and green lines is the first pink sign is in 1695. the danger of the some is pink and danger some is green. the pink sign is danger sign. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.228.10.236 (talk) 19:25, 6 October 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Anybody know what this incoherent mess is supposed to mean? --66.92.237.118 (talk) 18:43, 20 February 2014 (UTC)[reply]

green sign[edit]

the green sign and black line is the danger. the green sign is yellow sign. the rainbow and green line is the first green sign and 1607-1685. the some danger sign is green some danger is pink. the green and blue sign is and 1785-1851. the green sign is danger. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.228.10.236 (talk) 19:32, 6 October 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Split Article[edit]

I believe the article is excessively long See WP:LENGTH, comments?Johnscotaus (talk) 08:20, 22 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Splitting proposal - Non-traffic warning signs/wet floor signs (Safety signs)[edit]

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.
The result of this discussion was to split article using draft AngusWOOF (barksniff) 17:30, 30 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I propose the section Non-traffic warning signs be split into a separate page called Safety sign, using Draft:Safety_sign. The section's content seems off topic with the majority of the article. The redirect for Safety signs was assigned to Warning sign in 2007 when a newly created article was deleted/blanked due to none of the material having sources. At the time the Warning sign page was about traffic warning signs, and it has consistently been about traffic warning signs with non-traffic warning signs tacked on at the end. For more information about the draft and it's Article's for Concideration reeview, please refer to this conversation at Usertalk:AngusWoof discussions the AfC submission. --The Navigators (talk)-May British Rail Rest in Peace. 09:21, 29 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Update: The conversation refereed to above was archived. This is a current link: User Talk:AngusWOOF - Archive 8. Remember that this is a link to an archive and the conversation there should not be edited.--The Navigators (talk)-May British Rail Rest in Peace. 21:32, 7 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, the organization of these articles is confusing. Danger, warning, and caution all redirect here, however they are not covered in this article. Comfr (talk) 16:36, 1 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds like a good idea Motorracer (talk) 00:38, 7 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I think it is quite a need to split up ! --Olga Ernst (talk) 12:36, 7 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Usage in graphical user interfaces (icons)[edit]

Shouldn't there be some description of how these signs are used as symbols in graphical user interfaces (icons), like alert dialog boxes? --Mortense (talk) 10:04, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@Mortense:Elaborate a little bit as to what you mean. This is a article on roadway warning signs. I'm a little unclear as to what you mean about their use in user interfaces. (Also, could you be looking for hazard symbol, because the General Alert symbol is mentioned there.)--The Navigators (talk)-May British Rail Rest in Peace. 10:07, 9 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Rename?[edit]

I somehow missed the split discussion. While I don't dispute that the article was quite long, I don't think this is an optimal result. This article is now soleley about traffic warning signs, and it seems it was just decided that all other non-traffic signs, even those explicitly use the word "warning" are now "safety signs". That just seems wrong to me, thought I'd see if anyone else sees it that way before formally proposing renames. Beeblebrox (talk) 05:16, 9 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Sign picture needs to be moved to a different section in the article[edit]

In my opinion, the picture of a sign in the 'See also' section of the article needs to be moved to a different place within the article as in my opinion it looks out of place in its current section. Xboxsponge15 (talk) 16:19, 1 December 2020 (UTC)[reply]

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