We’ve all seen orange roadside signs a million times. Orange and black diamond-shaped signs warning us of lane closures and workers ahead – they’re everywhere. But what about those fluorescent pink traffic signs? Not so common and really bright – especially at night.

Fluorescent pink signs, or coral as they are sometimes known, were developed and MUTCD approved because they are so very different than any other signs on the road. The unique color captures and holds drivers’ attention, warning them of a road incident ahead. Informed and alert drivers are typically more cautious, keeping emergency responders safer and reducing the chance that the drivers might actually cause secondary accidents.

Orange signs are used for planned events like road construction and utility work. Fluorescent pink signs are made specifically for unplanned events like car accidents, hazardous spills or flooded roadways.

So, the next time you encounter an unplanned incident, use a pink fluorescent traffic sign to warn drivers what to expect. And the next time you see a pink traffic sign, take note and be prepared for almost anything from a stalled vehicle on the shoulder, to emergency personnel in the road, to fallen branches in the way.

Visit the MUTCD web site for more information on incident management.

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