A few weeks ago I sent you an article about the new MUTCD, which you posted on your web site. I'm forwarding to you some additional information I received today -- you may wish to add this to my article on your site.
Jim Gattis
Hard copies of the Manual will be available in Spring 2001 through national associations.
American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) -
http://www.aashto.org/American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) - http://www.atssa.org/
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) - http://www.ite.org/
Government Printing Office (GPO) -
http://www.gpo.gov/Other organizations may decide to sell the Manual as the process moves forward.
NEW DIRECTIVES FOR TRAFFIC SIGNS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS
by J. L. Gattis, Assoc. Prof., Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center, Univ. of Arkansas
After years of revision, notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, and public comment, a brand new edition of the national publication that directs the use of traffic control devices -- signs, signals, and markings -- is ready. This document, known as the “Millennium Edition” of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (or MUTCD), affects everyone who install signs or pavement markings.
The first national MUTCD dates back to 1935. The new document, prepared under the oversight of the Federal Highway Administration, was posted on the web in December 2000.
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno‑millennium.htm
After making corrections, it will be published in early 2001.
A rather hefty publication, the MUTCD is subdivided into "Parts", and further subdivided into "Chapters". Each part addresses a separate class of traffic control devices. Part 2 contains rules and guidelines for the use of signs. The correct use of pavement markings (such as lane lines and parking stall lines) is discussed and described in Part 3.
When traffic control devices were first used in the early 1900s, each locality began to develop their own. This resulted in driver confusion, since the color, message, and meaning of devices would change from town to town. To aid drivers, the MUTCD promotes the consistent use of all traffic control devices. In other words, for a given situation (such as the requirement to yield), the driver should see the same sign with the same colors and shapes, whether in St. Francis, Maine or San Diego, California.
Some sections of the MUTCD will apply to everyday parking operations. A few statements from the MUTCD are summarized below; see the complete manual for more detail.
- Lines to show where parking is permitted are to be white. You can use yellow lines to show where parking is prohibited.
- In areas where pedestrian and parking activity takes place, the bottom of a sign is to clear the ground by at least 7 feet. The edge of the sign should be set back at least 2 feet behind the face of the curb.
- Guide signs (such as those giving directions to a parking lot) should be green and white. Specific colors for regulatory signs (such as those prohibiting or allowing parking) are also prescribed.
The MUTCD has requirements and guidelines to address most situations involving traffic signs and pavement markings.
Examples of green and white guide signs from the new MUTCD directing motorists to parking.
|
Examples of parking-related regulatory signs from the new MUTCD. Note that the parking prohibition is in red, the parking permission is in green.
 |
 |
||
Example of signs non-conforming signs. The sign on the left is a guide sign -- it should be in green and white, not black and white. The sign on the right directing motorists to where parking is permitted should have employed a green circle (green means permission), not a red circle (red means prohibition).
 |
|||
 |
|||
###