Even seasoned drivers are misreading this sign: The true meaning of the two arrows was surprising.
Some signs frequently encountered in traffic can be misinterpreted by drivers because of their appearance. One of these is the black, two-way arrow sign with a yellow background pointing downward, used on U.S. roads. The sign thought to indicate a downhill slope actually tells drivers from which side of the obstacle on the road they can pass.
Traffic signs provide drivers with advance information about hazards and road regulations they may encounter along the route. However, the meaning of some signs can differ from what they appear at first glance.
The yellow, baklava-shaped sign used in the United States, bearing two black arrows diverging downward, is also among the signs most often misunderstood. Because the arrows point downward, the sign is frequently interpreted as a slope warning, but its true meaning relates to a physical obstacle on the road.
The Meaning of the Two Black Arrows
In the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices), which sets the standards for traffic signs in the United States, the sign identified by code W12‑1 indicates that drivers can pass the obstacle in front of them from either the right or the left.
The arrows on the sign diverging in two directions show that there are alternative routes around the obstacle on the road. Therefore, the sign does not impose a mandatory direction for drivers; it indicates that both sides can be used.
Where Is It Used?
This traffic sign is usually employed when a fixed obstacle that drivers must navigate around is located in the middle of the road.
Refuges, traffic islands, concrete dividers, and bridge piers are positioned among the points where the sign can be seen.
Vehicles passing on the right or left side of the obstacle can merge back onto the same route further down the road or head in different directions. Therefore, it is important for drivers to correctly identify the sign so they can anticipate the traffic flow on the road in advance.
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