Road Shoulder Signs 101: What They Mean, Common Road Shoulder Signs, and More

Have you ever seen road signs tell you about shoulders being soft, hard, or closed? New drivers can find these confusing because the road shoulder doesn’t look like its namesake body part.

So what does a shoulder mean in driving? What is its use?

What Is a Road Shoulder?

To begin with, let’s define the term “road shoulder.” It’s the part of the road located outside the outer lane. If you visualize the road itself as analogous to the human torso, you can see why the shoulder got its name.

Some people call it the breakdown lane. If you have a British friend, they will refer to it as a hard shoulder.

Shoulders are always on the side where people drive. Most freeways also have shoulders on the median between directional roadways. Drivers in the inner lane can pull into the median shoulder in an emergency and accomplish needed repairs or tasks without the risk of getting hit by another car.

What Do Road Shoulders Do?

Road shoulders have many uses. Their main purpose is to serve as emergency stopping lanes by the road verge. A driver can pull into the breakdown lane if something critical happens, such as an important phone call or a mechanical issue. Staying on the road shoulder reduces the risk of vehicular collision or another car hitting the driver.

Emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks can freely take advantage of the shoulder to get past traffic congestion. In some multilane roads that see heavy use, ordinary drivers might be allowed to use the shoulder as long as they stay at low speeds.

Other known uses for road shoulders include:

• Keeping the gutter away from the travel lanes
• Directing water away from the roadway
• Temporary parking spots (only allowed in some areas)

Common Road Shoulder Signs

You will come across various shoulders and signs that describe their condition. Here are some of the most common road shoulder signs and what they indicate:

Soft Shoulder Sign

This sign warns you that the gravel in the breakdown lane is unpaved. A soft shoulder is more slippery than a paved shoulder (also called a hard shoulder). Drive slowly and more carefully on this type of road shoulder.

Low Shoulder Sign

As the sign’s name implies, the shoulder is three or more inches lower than the road beside it. If you need to use a low shoulder, take precautions to keep your car from rolling forward or toppling onto its side.

Shoulder Drop-Off Sign

The road shoulder is much lower than the road. It inclines downward more sharply than the low shoulder.

Shoulder Closed Sign

The road shoulder isn’t accessible for various reasons. You’ll have to look for a different breakdown lane.

Shoulder Narrows Sign

Expect the shoulder to become narrower from this point onward. Wide vehicles might not fit in it, making it riskier to use

Don’t hesitate to use a road shoulder when it’s there and the need arises. Let other drivers know you’re pulling over before moving to the breakdown lane.

What Are the Benefits of a Highway Shoulder?

Because of the way they’re designed, road shoulders can help reduce run-off-road and head-on collisions. A driver can pull off the road in an emergency without blocking the traffic. Wide gravel shoulders act as a natural braking surface, helping drivers who lose control of their vehicle stop at a safe place.

Sealed shoulders also provide structural support to the road pavement while giving cyclists an exclusive lane. On curbed highways, paved shoulders can redirect water, which helps increase the road surface’s service life.

Wide shoulders also make it easier for drivers to rejoin traffic without colliding with another vehicle.

What Are the Different Segments of a Shoulder?

Most shoulders have three parts, namely the beginning and end, basic freeway segments, and ramp-freeway junction segments. Each section has specific characteristics that allow drivers to safely use the road shoulder.

Beginning and End Segments

As its name suggests, this covers the entrance and exit of a highway shoulder. The beginning of part-time shoulders should have pavement markings that guide drivers from the lane to the shoulder without breaking the flow of the general purpose lane. Meanwhile, the end segment guides the driver back to the traffic lane with a solid edge line.

Basic Freeway Segments

Basic freeway segments tend to have a shoulder width of at least 12 feet, which gives large vehicles enough space to stop. Depending on the location, several other criteria are also taken into account when designing the mid-section of the shoulder. This can include the design speed, superelevation, and cross slope.

Ramp-Freeway Junction Segments

This refers to the section where a ramp merges with the lane on a freeway. Highway shoulders can have different types of ramps, such as one-lane ramps, parallel ramps, and taper ramps.