Editing Traffic sign (section)

==Categories==
[[File:Kuh-Warnung.jpg|thumb|Sign warning of cattle crossing in a rural road of [[Madeira|Madeira Island]], Portugal]]

Traffic signs can be grouped into several types. For example, Annexe 1 of the [[Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals]] (1968), which on 30 June 2004 had 52 signatory countries, defines eight categories of signs:

* A. Danger [[warning sign]]s
* B. [[Priority signs]]
* C. [[Prohibitory traffic sign|Prohibitory]] or restrictive signs
* D. [[Mandatory sign]]s
* E. [[Special regulation sign]]s
* F. Information, facilities, or service signs
* G. [[Direction, position, or indication sign]]s
* H. Additional panels

[[Image:Saskatchewan highway 663 ends.JPG|thumb|Five or more signs may be displayed on one post. Here a [[Canada|Canadian]] end-of-road marker appears together with a rural airport sign.]][[File:Traffic sign in jordan2.jpg|thumb|Speed limit traffic sign in [[Jordan]]|293x293px]]

In the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand signs are categorized as follows:
* [[Regulatory sign]]s
* [[Warning sign]]s
* Guide signs
** [[Street name sign]]s
** [[Highway shield|Route marker]] signs
** [[Limited-access road|Expressway]] signs
** [[Freeway]] signs
** [[Welcome sign]]s
** Informational signs
** [[Recreation]] and [[culture|cultural]] interest signs
* [[Emergency management]] ([[civil defense]]) signs
* Temporary traffic control ([[construction]] or work zone) signs
* [[School]] signs
* [[Railroad]] and [[light rail]] signs
* [[Bicycle]] signs

In the United States, the categories, placement, and graphic standards for traffic signs and [[pavement marker (roads)|pavement markings]] are legally defined in the [[Federal Highway Administration]]'s ''[[Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices]]'' as the standard.

A rather informal distinction among the directional signs is the one between advance directional signs, interchange directional signs, and reassurance signs. Advance directional signs appear at a certain distance from the interchange, giving information for each direction. A number of countries do not give information for the road ahead (so-called "pull-through" signs), and only for the directions left and right. Advance directional signs enable drivers to take precautions for the exit (e.g., switch lanes, double check whether this is the correct exit, slow down).
They often do not appear on lesser roads, but are normally posted on expressways and motorways, as drivers would be missing exits without them. While each nation has its own system, the first approach sign for a motorway exit is mostly placed at least {{convert|1000|m}} from the actual interchange. After that sign, one or two additional advance directional signs typically follow before the actual interchange itself.