Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:32, 11 January 2025

Revision as of 15:34, 11 January 2025

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The '''''Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways''''' (usually referred to as the '''''Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices''''', abbreviated '''MUTCD''') is a document issued by the [[Federal Highway Administration]] (FHWA) of the [[United States Department of Transportation]] (USDOT) to specify the standards by which [[traffic sign]]s, [[road surface marking]]s, and [[traffic light|signals]] are designed, installed, and used. Federal law requires compliance by all traffic control signs and surface markings on roads "open to public travel", including state, local, and privately owned roads (but not parking lots or gated communities).<ref name="FAQ">[https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/knowledge/faqs/faq_general.htm Frequently Asked Questions - General Questions on the MUTCD]</ref> While some state agencies have developed their own sets of standards, including their own MUTCDs, these must substantially conform to the federal MUTCD.

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.

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[[File:Difference between 2003 MUTCD and 2009 MUTCD Advance Guide Signs.png|thumb|The left guide sign is from the 2003 MUTCD, and the right sign is from the 2009 MUTCD.]]

The tenth edition of the MUTCD was published in 2009, with revisions in 2012.<ref name="2012revisions">{{cite web |last1 = American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials |last2 = National Joint Committee on Traffic Control Devices |title = Change List for Revision Numbers 1 and 2, Dated May 2012, to the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD |year = 2012 |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |___location = Washington, DC |url = https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/mutcd2009r1r2cl.htm |access-date = May 9, 2021 }}</ref> The [[Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act]] of 2021 requires the USDOT to update the MUTCD quadrennially,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/mutcd11status.htm |title=Status of Rulemaking for the Eleventh Edition of the MUTCD |date=March 2, 2022 |access-date=March 2, 2023 |publisher=Federal Highway Administration}}</ref> and the eleventh edition was released in 2023.<ref name="Woodhouse">{{cite news |last1=Woodhouse |first1=Skylar |title=Rules of the Road Get a Long-Awaited Update in the US |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-19/us-roadbuilding-bible-gets-update-as-pedestrian-deaths-rise |access-date=December 20, 2023 |work=Bloomberg |date=December 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/fhwa-releases-new-traffic-control-device-manual-updates-improve-safety-pedestrians |title=FHWA Releases New Traffic Control Device Manual with Updates to Improve Safety for Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and All Road Users |date=December 19, 2023 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation}}</ref> This edition allows painted red bus lanes, rules allowing more crosswalks and traffic signals, new rules for determining speed limits, signage for shoulders that are used part-time as traffic lanes, and new signage for [[electric vehicle charging station]]s and [[autonomous vehicle]]s.<ref name="2023_revision_final" /> It also adds painted green bike lanes, bike boxes, and bike-specific traffic lights. Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) were also added to the MUTCD; a pedestrian beacon for uncontrolled intersections consisting of two rectangular lights, side-by-side, which alternate flashing, under a yellow diamond with a walking person on it, above an arrow pointing out the crosswalk.<ref name="2023_revision_final">[https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-27178.pdf RIN 2125-AF85 National Standards for Traffic Control Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways; Revision], III. Summary of the Major Provisions of the Regulatory Action in Question</ref> RRFBs were previously on interim approval by the FHWA since March 20, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=January 12, 2024 |title=Interim Approval 21 – Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons at Crosswalks - Interim Approvals Issued by FHWA |url=https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interim_approval/ia21/index.htm |website=MUTCD |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> Transportation safety advocates criticized the changes as not going far enough to deal with a substantial spike in pedestrian fatalities, especially guidance setting speed limits [[85th percentile speed|based on the 85th percentile of actual driving speeds]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/12/31/1222174861/road-street-design-traffic-mutcd |title=The rules of the road are changing, but not fast enough for everyone |date=December 31, 2023 |author=Joel Rose}}</ref><ref>[https://t4america.org/2023/12/20/press-statement-newly-updated-mutcd-doesnt-go-far-enough-to-protect-pedestrians/ Press statement: Newly updated MUTCD doesn’t go far enough to protect pedestrians]</ref><ref>[https://usa.streetsblog.org/2023/12/19/feds-advocates-talk-about-whats-in-the-new-mutcd-and-what-isnt Feds, Advocates Talk About What’s In The New MUTCD (And What Isn’t)!]</ref>

== Development ==

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The United States is among the majority of countries around the world that have not ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (based primarily on European signage traditions), and the FHWA MUTCD differs significantly from the Vienna Convention. Apart from the 1971 effort to adopt several Vienna Convention-inspired symbol signs (as explained above), achieving worldwide uniformity in traffic control devices was never a priority for AASHTO because the number of motorists driving regularly on multiple continents was relatively small during the 20th century.<ref name="Johnson" />

[[Warning sign]]s (alerting drivers of unexpected or hazardous conditions) tend to be more verbose than their Vienna Convention counterparts.<ref name="Johnson" /> On the other hand, MUTCD guide signs (directing or informing road users of their ___location or of destinations) tend to be less verbose, since they are optimized for reading at high speeds on freeways and expressways.<ref name="Johnson" />

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===Canada===

{{Main|Road signs in Canada}}

For road signs in Canada, the [[Transportation Association of Canada]] (TAC) publishes its own ''Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada'' for use by Canadian jurisdictions.<ref>{{cite web |access-date = July 14, 2021 |title = Transportation Association of Canada |date = December 6, 2019 |url = https://www.tac-atc.ca/en |publisher = Transportation Association of Canada }}</ref> Although it serves a similar role to the FHWA MUTCD, it has been independently developed and has a number of key differences with its US counterpart, most notably the inclusion of bilingual (English/French) signage for jurisdictions such as [[New Brunswick]] and [[Ontario]] with significant [[English language|anglophone]] and [[French language|francophone]] population, a heavier reliance on [[symbol]]s rather than text legends and metric measurements instead of imperial.

The [[Ministry of Transportation of Ontario]] (MTO) also has historically used its own MUTCD which bore many similarities to the TAC MUTCDC. However, as of approximately 2000, MTO has been developing the ''Ontario Traffic Manual'' (OTM), a series of smaller volumes each covering different aspects of traffic control (e.g., regulatory signs, warning signs, sign design principles, traffic signals, etc.).

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{{Main article|Road signs in Argentina}}

==== Bolivia ====

Road signs in [[Bolivia]] are regulated by the ''Manuales Técnicos para el Diseño de Carreteras'' standard which is based on the United States's MUTCD (FHWA), Central America's ''Manuales Técnicos para el Diseño de Carreteras'' (SICA), Colombia's ''Manual de Señalización Vial'' ([[Ministry of Transport (Colombia)|Ministry of Transport]]), and Chile's ''Manual de Carreteras''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manuales Técnicos para el Diseño de Carreteras |url=http://www.abc.gob.bo/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/manual_de_dispositivo_de_control_de_transito.pdf |website=www.abc.gob.bo |language=es}}</ref> Thus, road signs used in Bolivia generally have many similarities to road signs used in the United States, Central America, Colombia and neighboring Chile.

==== Brazil ====

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{{Main|Road signs in Australia}}

For road signs in Australia, this is covered by AS 1742 which is unofficially known as ''Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Australia'', and it serves as a similar role to the FHWA MUTCD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AS 1742.1:2021 {{!}} Standards Australia |url=https://store.standards.org.au/product/as-1742-1-2021 |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=store.standards.org.au}}</ref> As a result, road signs in Australia closely follow those used in U.S., but some sign designs closely follow the ones used in the United Kingdom.

* Australian warning signs have a yellow diamond with a black legend, following America's practice. Australia remains the only country that still has the text-based version of the low-clearance signage. (Most other countries now use vertical arrows in between the clearance height.)