Signs are important, especially when it comes to transportation. Direction signs help commuters know where to go and how to get there, as well as how much time they’ll spend travelling between points A and B. But direction signs can do more than just tell you where to go; they can also improve your safety by giving you information that will protect you from harm along the way. If you’re interested in reading more about the importance of direction signs, take a look at this list of five important facts.
1) They direct you to your destination
Without directions, it’s hard to navigate to a destination and find where you need to be. Direction signs serve as landmarks and help you better understand your surroundings. In fact, people are more likely to follow an arrow than a sign or building that simply says “hospital or post office.”
Direction signs also make it clear how far away from your destination you are (in miles or minutes), so you don’t have to waste time trying to figure out how far along you are based on other clues like road conditions or foot traffic.
2) Most people rely on them
Obviously, most people rely on these signs to get around. It would be a whole lot more difficult for everybody if we didn’t have them! We’d all spend extra time driving around looking for addresses and wouldn’t find where we needed to go as fast.
Think about it: how much time do you spend searching for locations each day? Do you ever wish there were more signs? You could make your own map, but that takes time, skill, and money. Would you rather keep driving or get where you need to go faster? The answer is simple, directional signage saves us time and energy—and, in today’s world, who doesn’t want to save some of those resources?
3) Directional signs provide a sense of security
Nothing’s worse than getting lost on your way to an important meeting or a job interview. Having directions in front of you can help ensure that you arrive on time and are properly prepared. It also eliminates unwanted stress, giving you more mental energy to concentrate on what really matters. Direction signs can be a little motivational, too.
Seeing them reminds us that we’re headed somewhere special and encourages us to continue on our journey with enthusiasm. When it comes to business travel, being prepared is key—and having all those directional signs along your route can go a long way toward making sure everything goes smoothly. Even if you aren’t travelling for work, knowing where you’re going and how to get there is often better than not knowing at all.
4) They are useful for those who can’t read well
Non-literate people can go to a doctor or get food at a grocery store if they know how to read and interpret basic directional signs. Directional signs are useful for both outdoor and indoor locations. People with poor vision who can still see well enough to distinguish colours can use them, too. For example, a facility that wants visually impaired patrons to be able to use its building has directional signage on its doorways and stairs as well as exterior entrances.
Parking garages also need such signage in order for patrons to be able to leave when they’re done with their business inside, such as going shopping or going out for dinner. Even private homes need such signage so guests know where each bedroom is located in case they have trouble getting around.
5) You can be confident in their accuracy
Directional signs are, as their name suggests, crucial for getting you where you need to go. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination and being unsure about how to get to where you’re going next or where exactly you parked your car. Knowing whether you have one mile or two left to travel, or if there’s a right or left turn ahead, is a huge relief when travelling with kids or unfamiliar with an area. Not all road signs will be accurate, so it’s always best to double check them before setting off, but they are a great guide and can make travelling less stressful.
Conclusion
Finally, directional signage is an essential part of good transportation planning. They help motorists and pedestrians know where they are and where they’re going. While it’s impossible to have every place-name on every sign, there is one general rule. If people can’t figure out how to get from one place to another by looking at a sign, then that sign is missing something important. If people can understand what each type of sign shows them—without using their GPS—then those signs are doing their job well.