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As we travel down the roadways of Washington State, we rely heavily on road signs to navigate our way safely from point A to point B. But have you ever stopped to consider the evolution of these vital road markers? From the early days of hand-painted signs to the advanced technology of today’s digital displays, the history of road signs in Washington is a fascinating one.

Road signs were a relatively new development at the turn of the 20th century. In Washington State, they were typically made of wood and hand-painted with arrows and basic directions. By the 1920s, the government began to take an interest in standardizing road signs. In 1926, the federal government passed the Standard Highway Signs & Markings Act, which established guidelines for designing and placing road signs. This act paved the way for the modern road signs of today.

Throughout the mid-20th century, road signs continued to evolve. Reflective materials were introduced, making signs visible at night. The first electronic traffic signal was installed in Seattle in 1928, and by the 1960s, digital displays were being used to provide real-time traffic information to drivers. With each new development, these traffic signs became more effective at keeping drivers safe.

Today, road signs in Washington State continue to undergo changes and improvements. Digital displays are becoming more common, providing real-time information about traffic conditions, road closures, and weather. Signs with solar-powered illumination have also become popular, helping to reduce energy costs. As we look into the future, we can only assume that designs will continue to be updated to make them more effective, informative and visible.

Every year car accidents cause numerous deaths and severe injuries across the globe. To help prevent such incidents, governments have implemented extensive road safety regulations, including strict speed limits, drunk driving laws, and seatbelt laws.

However, one of the most straightforward and cost-effective ways to enhance road safety is implementing clear and compelling traffic warning signs in Washington. Here are some of the innovative approaches available to enhance the effectiveness of these signs.

Smart Warning Signs – Equipped with sensors that detect vehicle movements and adjust the message accordingly, smart warning signs can display the latest weather conditions or traffic updates to keep drivers informed about their current—and upcoming—surroundings.

Interactive Warning Signs – Designed to engage drivers and pedestrians directly, interactive warning signs can capture people’s attention and help them better remember the message being delivered—such as slowing down for roadwork, informing them of prohibited parking areas, or warning them of upcoming stop signs.

Raised Pavement Markers (RPM) – This type of warning sign is directly embedded in the road surface, making them more visible than painted road markings—especially at night. Raised pavement markers are particularly useful in rural areas where street lighting may be limited.

As technology advances, the ability to quickly and effectively warn drivers of potential hazards, road laws, and other related information also increases. Today and tomorrow’s traffic warning signs will help bolster road safety efforts by enhancing awareness and trust while reducing fatalities.

When you’re invested in personalized signage for your business or event, you want to make sure your money will be well-spent. As you search for a reputable custom sign shop in Washington, ask yourself these questions.

Do They Pay Attention to Detail?

Details matter a lot for custom orders. Imagine ordering a sign for your business’s parking lot only to receive something with your company name misspelled on it. You want to ensure you’re giving your money to a team that will get everything exactly right for your order. As you speak with potential custom sign shops, ask them how they ensure quality control.

How Is Their Local Reputation?

Ideally, you want to work with a well-established business known for producing great signage. Research how long your options have been operating in your community, and ask around to see if anyone you know has prior experience with the companies you’re considering. If you can’t get any personal recommendations, check out their online reputation.

What Is Their Range?

Finally, which of the custom sign shops have the capability to produce precisely what you want? With so many shops to choose from, you shouldn’t have to settle for something that’s only half-right. Get estimates based on the size and type of sign you want, as well as its colors, lettering, and other details.

Traffic and safety cones come in more sizes and styles than most people realize. If you imagine a cone, you likely think of a large orange cone with two white bands or something similar. However, cones come in other colors, different sizes, and banded and nonbanded varieties. Here at AABCO Barricade and Sign Co., we offer the following products for traffic cone rental in Washington:

• 18-Inch Nonbanded Orange Cones
• 18-Inch Banded Orange Cones
• 18-Inch Nobanded Yellow Cones
• 18-Inch Banded Yellow Cones
• 28-Inch Nonbanded Orange Cones
• 28-Inch Banded Orange Cones

Choosing the Right Cone

While browsing your traffic cone rental options, the products may seem mostly the same, but the differences are important. For example, orange and yellow mean different things. Orange indicates the risk of serious injury or death, whereas yellow indicates the risk of general injury, according to OSHA. Other colors like red, green, blue, and white can be used for other purposes.

Likewise, consider the visibility conditions of your application. Bigger, banded cones are more visible from afar and in low-light situations. The bands reflect light from headlamps and other illuminations so that these cones stand out even on dark, stormy nights. However, if people will see the cones close up during the day, a smaller, non-banded product may suffice for traffic cone rental.

When you think about light towers in Washington, you are likely to think about baseball diamonds, football fields, and racetracks. But these impressive structures can also be regularly found on construction sites as well. There are many reasons why light towers are so common during a construction project. They include:

Increasing Safety – Light towers provide visibility when operating machines and tools. The heavy machinery used during construction projects can be quite dangerous if you cannot see what you are doing.

Increasing Visibility – When construction projects are on roads or highways, making contractors visible to other people—such as drivers—can help save a life. Light towers not only help drivers see contractors, but they can also indicate that there is a construction project going on to raise awareness.

Keeps Projects on Time & Budget – Using the sun as your sole light source on a construction site can cause major project delays, especially entering winter when the sun goes down earlier in the day. Light towers ensure that no matter what time of day or night, crews are able to see what they are doing clearly to reduce downtime.

Reduces Vandalism, Theft, & Break-Ins – Darkness is a friend to criminals. With bright tower lights, sites remain illuminated, which will deter most would-be vandals or thieves away. Most thieves are likely to abandon potential break-ins if there is a higher chance of being seen or caught.