It comes both ways. As an European when watching US daschcam videos I often wonder why US roadsigns are so complicated. So many unnecessary writen instructions instead of pictograms. Who have enough time to read it all while driving?
Moreover, roadsigns in Europe are taught in elementary school together with such trivia like 'before crossing the road, check if there's no incoming traffic'. It takes a teacher 2 hours to get the entire population to understand them.
It doesn't even matter that there are language barriers. It is simply much better to have clear signs instead of text. A driver shouldn't have to read to understand a sign, it should be understood immidiately.
Also, kids in Kindergarten can learn pictograms Reading takes longer to learn So the kiddies can participate in life round the roads and know what to look out for
Color is used extensively on american road signs, but it is used for categories. Green for wayfinding, white for regulations, yellow for cautions and hazards, red for high stakes commands (esp life safety issues), neon green for cautions about vulnerable road users (pedestrians crossing especially children; cyclists, etc.), purple for tolls and fees, blue for local information, brown for parks and recreational faciluties, blaze orange for roadwork and construction, magenta for emergency management… In short: the issue is not the use of color on signs.
On this, the bikes disallowed and bikes allowed signs actually provide a grt example of how to very clearly illustrate smth to be understandable to even those who cant see any colour at all
The bikes disallowed sign not only has a smaller bike with a circle around it, which clearly is diff than a bike inside a circle; and the disallowed sign uses a black outline to rep the bike, whereas the allowed one uses a white outline.
So someone learnin traffic signs there just needs to know that if its inside a circle and white, its allowed; if its got a circle around it and its black, its disallowed
They dont even need to actually know what the symbol inside the circle is for that matter for it to provide that info; unlike needin to know what the word BIKE means to be able to decipher that meanin.
Someone who sees that sign with a bike depicted on it and then sees someone on a bike will be able to put two and two together. Someone who sees a sign that says "BIKE LANE" and nothin else cant possibly decipher what that means even if they see a bike in the lane, unless they know what those symbols mean when writ in that order
My problem isn't the lack of text. It's the small differentiation in the symbols. I think it should be more than the color of the outline and thickness. At least add shape to differentiate them.
Yeah text is mostly used for exceptions and specifications, such as when parking fares are required, when a loading zone is in effect, or if certain vehicles are exempt from the rule; such as bus lanes also permitting taxi traffic.
US states aren't bound by the convention that the rest of the world conforms to so they rather give you a wall of text detailing all the things you're not allowed to do rather than hanging a single sign telling you what to do
Anyone who thinks road signs in Europe are clearer has obviously never been to France. The direction signs all look the same whether they are pointing to the local mairie, the next village or Paris 😵💫
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It comes both ways. As an European when watching US daschcam videos I often wonder why US roadsigns are so complicated. So many unnecessary writen instructions instead of pictograms. Who have enough time to read it all while driving?
Moreover, roadsigns in Europe are taught in elementary school together with such trivia like 'before crossing the road, check if there's no incoming traffic'. It takes a teacher 2 hours to get the entire population to understand them.
It doesn't even matter that there are language barriers. It is simply much better to have clear signs instead of text. A driver shouldn't have to read to understand a sign, it should be understood immidiately.
I just see scary shape and go, "no"
Also, kids in Kindergarten can learn pictograms
Reading takes longer to learn
So the kiddies can participate in life round the roads and know what to look out for
Color is used extensively on american road signs, but it is used for categories. Green for wayfinding, white for regulations, yellow for cautions and hazards, red for high stakes commands (esp life safety issues), neon green for cautions about vulnerable road users (pedestrians crossing especially children; cyclists, etc.), purple for tolls and fees, blue for local information, brown for parks and recreational faciluties, blaze orange for roadwork and construction, magenta for emergency management…
In short: the issue is not the use of color on signs.
Well there is an international agreement about road signs. They are pretty similar all over the world – with that … exception: USA
Cuz them Murricans need to read at least roadsigns, since they do not read books 😆
Not to mention that recognising a sign is faster than reading fucking lines of text
Don't worry America. With the amount of immigration and people that barely have reading comprehension we'll have these pictogram signs here soon too
Very useful! Thank you sir! Sharing with my sister.
In Sweden, if something is forbidden, it has a diagonal stripe over it.
Well, sometimes.
Great explanation!
From what I've seen, Americans are just not very good at driving autos. I don't think they have strict law over there.
On this, the bikes disallowed and bikes allowed signs actually provide a grt example of how to very clearly illustrate smth to be understandable to even those who cant see any colour at all
The bikes disallowed sign not only has a smaller bike with a circle around it, which clearly is diff than a bike inside a circle; and the disallowed sign uses a black outline to rep the bike, whereas the allowed one uses a white outline.
So someone learnin traffic signs there just needs to know that if its inside a circle and white, its allowed; if its got a circle around it and its black, its disallowed
They dont even need to actually know what the symbol inside the circle is for that matter for it to provide that info; unlike needin to know what the word BIKE means to be able to decipher that meanin.
Someone who sees that sign with a bike depicted on it and then sees someone on a bike will be able to put two and two together. Someone who sees a sign that says "BIKE LANE" and nothin else cant possibly decipher what that means even if they see a bike in the lane, unless they know what those symbols mean when writ in that order
"to all my American viewers….the world is bigger than just your country!"
are tons really freedom units? shouldn't the sign use stone or cliff (one cliff being about 144,5 stone)
When will Europe understand we do things the opposite of you because we're better than you
Same reason why Americans don't adopt the wayyy more logic and practical metric system: they're lazy. Probably because they can afford it.
Unrelated, but I remember a guy reviewing a Lego set and thinking their was no age sign in it despite the age sign being written as "12"
You seem to have a prejudice towards Americans. Everyone is used to the system they grew up with.
Never seen the blue speed limit signs before. That's not something we use in Germany
I live in Brazil and we also use signs somewhat like these
A year after driving through Spain and Portugal, I have an answer about the last 2
My problem isn't the lack of text. It's the small differentiation in the symbols. I think it should be more than the color of the outline and thickness. At least add shape to differentiate them.
Not just used in Europe, but also South America, Asia, the middle east and Africa.
Yeah text is mostly used for exceptions and specifications, such as when parking fares are required, when a loading zone is in effect, or if certain vehicles are exempt from the rule; such as bus lanes also permitting taxi traffic.
US states aren't bound by the convention that the rest of the world conforms to so they rather give you a wall of text detailing all the things you're not allowed to do rather than hanging a single sign telling you what to do
Very well explained! Love your videos.
I'm not American, but every time I see a European no bikes allowed sign, my instinct is "that sign means bike path"
Anyone who thinks road signs in Europe are clearer has obviously never been to France. The direction signs all look the same whether they are pointing to the local mairie, the next village or Paris 😵💫