Step outside and you’re bound to spot signs and traffic lights everywhere. Though easy to overlook, they play a vital role in keeping us safe. In illustrations, these everyday elements take on new life, from realistic depictions to creatively reimagined designs.

Follow the signs with this collection of illustrations featuring street signs.

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Road signs and traffic lights are so intertwined with everyday life that most of the time, we merely glance at them before moving on. However, when the mundane meets the fantastical, the result can be surreal or even frightening. Why are there pedestrian lights in the ocean? And why are there so many “Stop” and “Do not enter” signs at the entrance of this tunnel? There’s only one way to find out if those questions are best left unanswered.

Have a look at the following illustrations—you may never look at road signs or traffic lights the same way again.

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Have you ever visited a new and unfamiliar place and found yourself confused by the street signs? For some, this can be the first bit of culture shock and makes it fairly plain that they’re far away from home. Take a look at some of the street signs below.

Do any of them give you the sense that you’re entering a whole new world?

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Traffic signals generally fall into the background of our daily lives, but did you know they're similar to some of your favorite media? The uses of color, sound, and light are ways such signals communicate their intended purpose to anyone, regardless of their background or language.

A well-placed traffic signal can be a great way to wordlessly set the scene, don’t you think?

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