Directional signage is used to provide information to help guide people to a desired destination or location. Wayfinding is significantly aided by their role in indicating the direction of a place. They facilitate efficient movement for pedestrians, motorists, and other traffic. These elements play a crucial role in guiding individuals from point A to point B.
Named Destinations
Directional arrow signs often accompany the name of the specific destination they are pointing toward. For example, a sign saying “Exit” with a right-pointing arrow is guiding drivers toward the upcoming freeway exit ramp. Or a sign saying “Sector A” with a left-pointing arrow tells pedestrians that following the arrow will lead them to the Sector A section. Specifying the actual name gives clearer information than just having a generic arrow alone. The destination names eliminate guesswork and confirm that you are heading towards the correct place you want to reach.
Directional Arrow Signs
These are the most common types of directional signage. They simply use arrows to indicate the direction of a particular destination or location. The main components are listed below:
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Single Arrows
The most basic directional arrow signs contain just a single arrow pointing the way you should go. For example, in a building, you may see a sign with a single arrow pointing towards the restrooms. Or in a parking lot, a single arrow sign might point towards the exit. These signs have one straightforward arrow that clearly shows you which direction to walk or drive to get to your intended destination. Moreover, the single simple arrows reduce confusion and hesitation by providing clear directional guidance with just a glance.
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Double Arrows
Some directional signs have a pair of arrows stacked one above the other on the same sign. The two arrows are pointing along the same pathway, road, hallway, aisle, trail, or other place where people or vehicles are meant to move. Double arrow signs are very commonly used along one-way roads, drive lanes, aisles, hallways, trails, and anywhere that traffic or flow can only legally go in one direction. Furthermore, these reinforce that single permissible direction of movement or travel.
Overhead Signs
Overhead directional signage is erected above roadways, sidewalks, building entrances, arena concourses, and other pathways where people or vehicles need to make directional decisions. They are placed high up in strategic locations to guide large flows of pedestrian and vehicular traffic towards specific destinations. Overhead signs allow far-off visibility above crowds, so people can spot directional guidance early and head the right way. Additionally, the aerial vantage point also means the signs themselves don’t contribute to walkway clutter or obstructions.
Roadway Signs
On highways, freeways, expressways, and complex intersections, large overhead signs use arrow-shaped markers to point the way along designated main routes and exits. Typical destinations shown on major roadway signs include cities, airports, public transportation stations, and sometimes major attractions or landmarks. Moreover, mileage to upcoming destinations is also commonly provided on the signs. Drivers traveling at higher speeds rely heavily on them.
Indoor/Outdoor Signs
Large facilities like convention centers, airports, sports stadiums, hospitals, college campuses, and amusement parks require ample directional signage both inside and out to guide visitors to different buildings, areas, or locations on the premises. Customized overhead signs with arrows help direct visitor flows once inside cavernous facilities full of halls and concourses.
Outside, overhead directionals guide people across sprawling grounds, parking areas, and roadways between multiple structures. Further, the combined indoor/outdoor signage offers an informational continuum that shepherds visitors along to their endpoints.
Trail Markers
Extensive trail markers are used along hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and other recreational paths and trails. They display various arrow styles, activity-specific symbols, and supplemental information to convey which direction travelers should go along the route. Trail markers reassure users they are on the correct path and alleviate guessing which forks or turns to take. Markers are often placed at regular intervals even when the trail direction is obvious, so followers don’t become lost if they lose sight of the markers up ahead.
Reassurance Markers
Reassurance markers also display arrows confirming the user is still traveling the right way even during lengthy straightaways of the trail when no navigation decisions are immediately necessary. They give followers peace of mind that they are still heading accurately down the correct trail. Reassurance markers are comforting milestones along lengthy stretches of uninterrupted trails between major junctions or landmarks.
Symbols
Instead of plain arrows, some trail markers incorporate hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, wheelchairs, cross-country skiing, or other universally recognized symbols associated with the type of travel the trail accommodates. For example, a horseshoe arrow guides equestrians, while a boot or person hiking arrow directs pedestrians specifically.
Highway Exit Signs
Exit signs with arrows are essential directional signage along highways and freeways that indicate an upcoming exit is approaching. They prepare drivers to safely transition from high-speed through lanes to deceleration lanes, and then eventually off the main highway route via the exit ramp.
Gore Signs
These are directional signs erected at the spot where an exit ramp branches off the main highway onto a separate ramp. Arrows on the gore sign indicate the tight curve of the exit ramp. Destinations, distances, and route numbers on the sign offer last-minute guidance right before drivers must commit to taking the approaching exit or passing it by.
Street Signs
Street signs at intersections also serve directional purposes by visually identifying the intersecting cross streets. This offers orientation to pedestrians and drivers in neighborhoods, downtowns, and urban areas full of crisscrossing streets. Being able to read the names of adjacent streets helps familiarize locals and visitors with navigating through the web of routes.
Traffic Flow Signs
At complex intersections, additional street signs with small directional arrows are often posted below the street names. These arrows indicate allowed traffic movements from certain directions – straight, permitted turns, one-way only, etc. They provide clearer guidance to safely direct the flow of vehicles through the intersection while avoiding dangerous conflicts between cars turning across each other’s paths illegally.
Conclusion
There are many different examples under the umbrella of directional signs. Despite varied contexts ranging from highways to hallways, effective directional signs have common, distinguishing features. Directional signage gives a simple navigational service that reduces uncertainty. At Wurz Sign Systems, we take immense pride in our legacy of crafting exceptional signage solutions that transcend industry standards.
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