What does the "Side Winds" road sign mean?
The "side winds" sign indicates that there are strong winds. This means that you should be prepared for winds coming from either side and be aware of your surroundings. You will also need to use extreme caution when driving as the strong winds may cause objects to blow onto the road, or they may blow you off course.
If you see the "side winds" sign, it is recommended that you focus, and keep both hands on the steering wheel. This will help prevent an accident if your vehicle is hit by another car or blown off course by strong winds.
This sign is especially important to motorcycle or motorbike riders since there is a much higher chance of the winds blowing a bike over a car.
Some people may find this sign to be exaggerated but large heavy trucks have toppled over before due to strong side winds.
Why does this sign exist?
The "side winds" sign is designed to warn drivers of a threat that they may face while driving on the road. Although there are other places where you can see this sign, the main area is where there are strong winds. This can be near tall buildings, heavy forest areas, beaches, motorways, public roads, side roads and open fields.
Describe how common the sign is
The "side winds" sign is a common sign to see when there are strong winds in an area or expected. It is recommended that drivers stay alert, and drive carefully when they see a "side winds" sign because the winds could be strong enough to knock over objects or blow you off course.
Why this sign can be dangerous
Strong winds can cause serious problems for motorists. The strong winds could cause objects to fly on the road and potentially hit other cars, or they may push you off course if you don't follow the recommended procedures. Most accidents that occur on windy roads happen when drivers don't follow the recommended procedures because they are unaware of the dangers of driving on a windy road.
The icon on the sign shows a flag sleeve going left or right, which can sometimes indicate the direction of the winds however it has been proven many times that the signs often don't get changed.
Where are you likely to see the "Side Winds" sign?
The "side winds" sign is commonly seen on motorways, or on public roads where there are strong winds. You may also see this sign near buildings, parking lots, or in areas that have a lot of trees.
The "side winds" sign can be used to indicate an area that has wind. Because the wind doesn't normally blow in any certain direction, the "side winds" sign is used to warn drivers of strong winds on either side of it.
The "side winds" sign is a common sign to see if there are strong winds in your area. It is recommended that you stay alert, and drive carefully because the winds could be strong enough to knock over objects or push you off course.
When did this sign first come into action?
The "side winds" sign was first designed in the early 1960s, and they were introduced as a way to tell motorists about wind. At the time, there were a lot of people concerned that highways could be unsafe because of winds blowing trees onto the road. The idea behind the "side winds" sign was to warn drivers before they got to the windy area, so they would know what to do when they got there.