Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:05, 7 October 2024

Revision as of 15:57, 21 October 2024

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The MUTCD defines the content and placement of traffic signs, while design specifications are detailed in a companion volume, '''''Standard Highway Signs and Markings'''''. This manual defines the specific dimensions, colors, and fonts of each sign and road marking. The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) advises the FHWA on additions, revisions, and changes to the MUTCD.

The United States is among the countries that have not ratified the [[Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals]]. The first edition of the MUTCD was published in 1935, 33 years before the Vienna Convention was signed in 1968, and 4 years before [[World War II]] started in 1939. The MUTCD differs significantly from the European-influenced Vienna Convention, and an attempt to adopt several of the Vienna Convention's standards during the 1970s led to confusion among many US drivers.

== History ==

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The original edition of the ''Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways'' was published in 1935.<ref name="Johnson" /> Since that time, subsequent editions of the manual have been published with numerous minor updates occurring between, each taking into consideration changes in usage and size of the nation's system of roads as well as improvements in technology.

In 1942, the Joint Committee was expanded to include the [[Institute of Transportation Engineers]], then known as the Institute of Traffic Engineers.<ref name="Johnson" /> The single most controversial and heavily debated issue during the early years of the MUTCD was the color of center lines on roads. During World War II, the second edition of the MUTCD was released as ''War Emergency Edition''.

In 1948, three years after [[World War II]] ended, the third edition of the MUTCD was released. The 1948 version of the MUTCD settled the debate in favor of white, and also changed the standard color of stop signs from yellow to red.<ref name="NCHRPReport484" /> However, the 1948 MUTCD also allowed for two major exceptions to white center lines: yellow was recommended but not mandatory for double center lines on multi-lane highways and for center lines in no-passing zones.<ref name="NCHRPReport484" />

In 1949, the United Nations Conference on Road and Motor Transport launched a research project to develop a worldwide uniform scheme for highway signs.<ref name="Johnson" /> In 1951, the UN conducted experiments in the U.S. to compare the effectiveness of national traffic sign standards from around the world. Signs from six countries were placed along the road for test subjects to gauge their legibility at a distance.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Tests of Highway Signs for United Nations |first1 = Charles R. |last1 = Waters |first2 = Gilbert W. |last2 = Treble |magazine = Traffic Engineering |date = July 1951 |page = 338 }}</ref> The test strips were located along [[Ohio State Route 104]] near [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]],<ref>{{cite news |title = Ohioans tell Europe to keep its signs |agency = United Press |work = [[Mansfield News Journal]] |date = March 27, 1951 |page = 11 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94492201/ |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> [[U.S. Route 250 in Virginia|U.S. Route 250]] and [[Virginia State Route 53]] near [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]],<ref>{{cite news |title = Foreign Highway Signs Catch Eye |first = David |last = Barnett |work = [[The Richmond News Leader]] |___location = Richmond, Virginia |date = August 21, 1951 |at = p. 1-B |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94493139/ |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> [[Minnesota State Highway 101]] near [[Minneapolis]],<ref>{{cite news |title = U.N. Highway Signs Get Test |work = [[Minneapolis Star]] |date = March 27, 1951 |page = 9 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94493204/ |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> and other roads in New York. [[France]], [[Chile]], [[Turkey]], [[India]], and [[Southern Rhodesia]] reciprocated by installing MUTCD signs on their roads.<ref name="Air Bulletin">{{cite magazine |title = U.N. Tests New Road Signs in U.S. |magazine = Air Bulletin: World Affairs |publisher = [[United States Information Service]] |date = 1951 |pages = 4–5 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YPGdar6V4dsC&pg=RA1-PP73 |via = Google Books }}</ref> In the U.S., the experiments attracted unexpected controversy and curious onlookers who posed a hazard.<ref>{{cite news |title = Foreign Road Sign Test Arouses Some Criticism |agency = Associated Press |work = [[The Independent (Massillon)|The Independent]] |___location = Massillon, Ohio |date = March 27, 1951 |page = 12 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94492382/ |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Road Sign Test for UN Given Up |agency = Associated Press |work = [[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]] |___location = Newport News, Virginia |date = March 30, 1951 |page = 13 |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94492425/ |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> By September 1951, the experts working on the project were in favor of the American proposals for stop signs (at the time, black "STOP" text on a yellow octagon), "cross road", "left or right curve", and "intersection", but were still struggling to reach consensus on symbols for "narrow road", "bumpy or uneven surface", and "steep hill".<ref name="Hoffman">{{cite news |last1=Hoffman |first1=Michael L. |title=U.N. Nearer Accord on Traffic Signs: Standard Markers of U.S. May Serve as a Basis For World System |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/09/23/archives/un-nearer-accord-on-traffic-signs-standard-markers-of-us-may-serve.html |access-date=July 8, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=September 23, 1951 |page=125}}</ref>