Green signs are the most common of the street signs. Green is the standard color used for street name signs, highway mile markers, distance to upcoming cities or attractions and exit alerts. White signs with green writing are used to dictate parking with certain restrictions such as a limited time allowance for parking.
Blue signs are used to direct travelers to services. On the highway, these are seen near exits to tell drivers if there are gas, lodging or eating accommodations near the entrance to the freeway. In this case, the federal government has limitations on how far the services can be from the exit to be included on the sign. Other blue signs are used to direct drivers to public services such as hospitals and police stations.
Orange signs are used for construction and detours. When you see these signs, they will contain a warning to closed lanes or detours or let you know there are workers ahead. Signs that are white with orange stripes are used to block roads that are closed.
Brown signs signify recreation attractions. These signs are frequently used to lead drivers to parks or other public attractions. When a brown sign is for a park, there are often smaller signs attached to the sign which have images of the available amenities in the park.
Yellow signs are used to alert you to driving hazards. In rural settings, these may be used for deer or other wildlife crossings, curvy roads or steep hills. Pennant-shaped yellow signs are used to mark no-passing zones. In Minnesota, you will also see yellow signs in the winter for potentially icy conditions and snowmobile crossings.
Fluorescent yellow is used to warn drivers of crosswalks and school zones. While these signs used to be yellow, the federal government concluded that the fluorescent shade is easier to see in fog and low-light conditions.
Red signs are used for traffic signals. The red octagon is a stop sign, an upside down triangle tells motorists to yield to other traffic, and white signs with red writing are used to denote no-parking zones.
