Shield

This page is about shields generally, including guidance on adding shields to streets.

For guidance on adding shields to turn instructions, see Turn instruction.

A shield is a visual representation of a highway designation.

Shields on streets

Using the Waze Map Editor, you can add a shield to an entire Street ID (a unique combination of city, street, & state name) with a single edit.

Please only add shields on streets where the primary name matches the shield you intend to add. For example, on a street named “US-90 W”, feel free to add a “US Hwy Main” shield with the number “90” and the direction “West”. But do not add a shield to a street named “Railroad Ave”, even if it does carry US 90.

Adding a shield to a Street ID

To add a shield to a Street ID:

• Select a segment.
• Click "Add shield" in the "Shield" section of the left pane.
• Click "Select shield type" and choose the appropriate shield type from the list.
  • Note! If the shield type you need is not yet available, do not add a shield at this time.
• In the "Shield text" field, type the text (usually the route number) to be placed inside the shield.
  • e.g., for US-90, type "90"; for I-35W N, type "35W"; for US-31A S, type "31A"; etc.
• In the "Direction" field,
  • If the street name is directionless (e.g., "US-33 BUS"; "US-11W"; "SR-59"), leave it blank.
  • If the street name includes a cardinal direction, spell out the cardinal direction with an initial capital only.
    • e.g., for I-90 E, "East"; for I-35W N, "North"; for US-90 BUS W, "West"; for SR-64 E, "East"; etc.

If your shield is not available

• If the shield you need is not yet available, please wait. Do not add the wrong shield to a Street ID just to have something there.
• Check this sheet to see whether the shield has been submitted to staff. If it is on the sheet, sit tight, it will be added when staff gets to it. If not, let your RC/ARC know.