Final answer:
Vertical rectangle signs are typically used to convey regulatory information such as speed limits (option 2) and traffic laws. They do not usually indicate the direction of traffic flow, the distance to the next exit, or the location of a rest area.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vertical rectangles on road signs serve specific functions in guiding drivers and informing them of certain rules and regulations on the road. However, none of the options provided in the student's question accurately describe what vertical rectangles signify. Instead, vertical rectangles often indicate regulatory information, such as rules drivers must follow. These signs typically relate to speed limits, no parking zones, and other traffic laws rather than the flow of traffic, the distance to an exit, or the location of a rest area. The proper interpretation of vertical rectangle signs would be something along the lines of informing drivers of speed limits or no entry signs for one-way streets.
For instance, a vertical rectangle sign that contains a number indicates the speed limit on that stretch of road. Drivers are legally obligated to adhere to this limit. It is essential for drivers to understand the meaning behind these signs for safe and legal driving practices. Other shapes, like horizontal rectangles or other geometric shapes, may carry directional information, distances to exits, or the location of rest areas.