Shield Discussion View history

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 using large and small caps.
    • e.g., for I-90 E, "Eᴀꜱᴛ"; for I-35W N, "Nᴏʀᴛʜ"; for US-90 BUS W, "Wᴇꜱᴛ"; for SR-64 E, "Eᴀꜱᴛ"; etc.
    • To insert large and small capitals, you can
      • copy and paste the large and small capitals from this list: Nᴏʀᴛʜ Sᴏᴜᴛʜ Eᴀꜱᴛ Wᴇꜱᴛ or Nᴏʀᴛʜ Sᴏᴜᴛʜ Eᴀꜱᴛ Wᴇꜱᴛ;
      • If you are a macOS user, set up automatic text substitutions in the Text tab of the Keyboard pane in System Preferences;
      • If you are a Windows user, use AutoHotkey or another text replacement service; or
      • Use the script WME Road Shield Helper to insert these automatically.
      • Do not use online small caps text generators!! They are inconsistent and often use the incorrect letterforms.
    • Although the large and small caps above render somewhat strangely on the web, and especially in the fixed-width copy-paste boxes, rest assured: they look good in the app.

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.