Traffic signs & road safety catalog Lebanon

Abstract

Traffic and road safety signs usually rely on ‘universal’ codes and systems that typically should be understood by people around the world, with minimal text. But is that really the case? Are these supposed signs really understood locally? Although Lebanon is now filled with such signs, the Lebanese people, drivers and pedestrians alike, tend to ignore the signs placed on the road. This publication acts like a catalog – meant to be distributed by signage providers and manufactures. This first version features custom and locally relevant signs for Lebanon, based on the international versions. There will be more catalogs released in the future. The signs designed within this catalog follow the international and universal language that is used in traffic signs around the world. The AGEV (a local signage manufacturer) catalog was used a reference point to recreate new and unique signs that speak to the Lebanese people. It was paralleled with international manuals in order to create the full spectrum.

However, this catalog is different than the basic catalogs we are used to. This catalog features very subtle and twisted concepts and ideas that are shown within the signs. While flipping through the catalog, the reader will believe it is a very serious document like any other traffic sign catalog which is usually professional looking. These subtle changes require the viewer to focus and look twice at the different signs. As a result, this catalog acts as a commentary and a serious non-physical intervention at the state of the signs. This pun will hopefully allow Lebanese people to pay more attention to traffic signs. The traffic signs are divided into two sections depending on the color. First section covers the red signs which decodes as warning signs. Within each section, you begin to see the different shapes of signs that exists. The second section covers blue signs which decodes as guide signs.

An example key feature within the catalog is the concept of the degree. The “Danger” sign is usually an exclamation mark that looks like this “!”. However, within this catalog you will notice that instead of only having one option that looks like this “!”, you will find multiple danger signs that vary with the degree/amount of danger and hazard, for example !, !!, !!!, !!.