Guide signs inform and advise road users about the route they are following and give directions and distances to destinations on the route or along other roads which intersect the route. They also supply information to identify points of geographical or historical interest and give directions to motorists’ services and tourist facilities and attractions.
Guide signs are generally rectangular. Where practicable, they should be designed with the long axis horizontal. Exceptions to this are route markers and kilometre plates that are normally on a shield or background of distinctive shape.
The background colour of guide signs is coded to allow road users to recognise them as belonging to a particular category.
These Categories are:
- A black legend on a white background signifies general information signs, national route markers and street name signs.
- A white legend on a green background is used for signs such as advance direction signs, finger boards, intersection and special direction signs, advance exit and exit direction signs on freeways, reassurance direction signs and kilometre posts.
- A white legend on blue background indicates roadside facilities, services and service areas (including rest and camping areas), state route markers, bicycle route markers, and bicycle and pedestrian route information and direction signs.
- A black legend on a yellow background is used for exit speed signs and special instruction (e.g. ONLY) panels within certain direction signs.
- A white legend on a red background is used for signs which indicate to a driver the need to stop or reduce speed considerably and signs indicating wrong-way movements.
- A white legend on a brown background is used for tourist signs and tourist route markers.