If You See a Blue Stop Sign, Here’s What It Means

We’re all familiar with the classic red stop sign from elementary school lessons on shapes and colors to the guidance of crossing guards and, eventually, driving on our own. But while it’s rare, you might come across a blue stop sign, either on a United States roadway or abroad. What does a blue stop sign mean, and where might you see one? Are they used for purposes different from the traditional red signs?

Ahead, learn all about blue stop signs, with help from Chief Jennifer Gundersen of the South Hadley, Massachusetts Police Department.

What Does a Blue Stop Sign Mean?

In the U.S., a blue stop sign still means to bring your vehicle to a complete stop before proceeding. These blue signs retain the octagonal shape of the standard stop sign but are not issued by state or federal authorities and are not official traffic control signs. However, they have the same intent as one.

Since the 1950s, all stop signs in the U.S. have been required to be red, as outlined in the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The red color was chosen for its visibility, and a national standard makes stop signs easy to recognize.

While blue stop signs are not used in the U.S. on official roadways, they do appear in other countries to indicate restricted access or no-entry zones.

What States/Countries Have Blue Stop Signs?

In the U.S., you should only encounter blue stop signs on private property. Large estates, ranches, private golf courses, or country clubs could use blue stop signs on their roads to indicate that drivers should stop. Hawaii, in particular, has many blue stop signs due to state laws prohibiting official road signs on private property. Blue stop signs allow property owners to still signal drivers to stop without violating these laws.

In countries like Japan, South Korea, and Mexico, you might encounter blue stop signs, but they have a different meaning than in the United States. Rather than signaling to stop and then proceed, these blue signs typically indicate restricted areas or no-entry zones. In this case, blue stop signs instruct drivers to turn around and not continue.

Even in countries where blue stop signs are officially used, red octagonal signs continue to be the standard for directing drivers to stop. In 1968, the United Nations developed international road sign standards to increase driver safety across bordering countries. The red octagonal stop sign is included in these international standards and is common throughout most of the world’s roadways.

Can I Put a Blue Stop Sign Near My Home?

If you have a large, privately-owned property with a system of roads within it, you can install a blue stop sign if you want to. However, “blue stop signs are not authorized on public ways,” Gundersen says, in Massachusetts or in any other U.S. state. This means that on municipal or public roads, you cannot legally install a blue stop sign.

There is also some ambiguity as to whether blue stop signs can be enforced. But regardless of its legal status, if you encounter a blue stop sign in the U.S., it’s there for good reason. It’s always best to stop and ensure the area is clear before proceeding.

About the Experts

• Jennifer Gundersen is the Chief of Police for the town of South Hadley, Massachusetts. She has been in this role since 2019 and began her law enforcement career in 1994.

Sources

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Convention on Road Signs and Signals. (2006)

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