U.S. route sign
A white shield with a black route number on a black square. It marks a U.S. numbered highway.
Rules vary by state and country. This explains the sign's standard meaning in the U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; it isn't legal advice.
How to read it
The MUTCD sets its design, black numerals on a white shield against a black rectangle without a border, and uses it on every U.S. route. U.S. route numbers are assigned by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on the states' recommendations. State route signs are designed by each state, which is why they differ: Pennsylvania's is a keystone.
Also searched as: US highway shield.
More road signs
Sources
- MUTCD 2009 Edition, Chapter 2D: Guide Signs for Conventional Roads, MUTCD 2009, Part 2, U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Sections 2D.09, 2D.11
- Pennsylvania Driver's Manual, Chapter 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, p. 21
- The Evolution of MUTCD, Updated December 2023; after H. Gene Hawkins, Jr., ITE Journal, 1991–1994, U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Prologue
Last reviewed September 25, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research