Traffic Control

Signs, Signals, Interchanges

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm

Purpose of Traffic Control

Devices
To promote highway safety and efficiency
Notify road users of regulations and
provide warning and guidance
Traffic control devices or their supports
shall not bear any advertising message
or any other message that is not related
to traffic control.

Principles of Traffic Control

Devices
To be effective, a traffic control device should
meet five basic requirements:

A. Fulfill a need;
B. Command attention;
C. Convey a clear, simple meaning;
D. Command respect from road users; and
E. Give adequate time for proper response.

Vehicle speed should be carefully considered

as an element that governs

Design of Traffic Control

Devices
Devices should be designed so that features such
as size, shape, color, composition, lighting or
retroreflection, and contrast are combined to draw
attention to the devices;
size, shape, color, and simplicity of message
combine to produce a clear meaning
that legibility and size combine with placement to
permit adequate time for response
uniformity, size, legibility, and reasonableness of
the message combine to command respect

Placement and Operation of

Traffic Control Devices
should be within the road users view
appropriately positioned with respect to
the location, object, or situation
such that a road user has adequate time
to make the proper response
placed and operated in a uniform and
consistent manner
Unnecessary traffic control devices should
be removed!

SIGNS

Classification of Signs
Signs shall be defined by their function as
follows:
A. Regulatory signs give notice of traffic laws
or regulations.
B. Warning signs give notice of a situation that
might not be readily apparent.
C. Guide signs show route designations,
destinations, directions, distances, services,
points of interest, and other geographical,
recreational, or cultural information.

Use of Signs
Regulatory and warning signs should be
used conservatively because these signs,
if used to excess, tend to lose their
effectiveness.
If used, route signs and directional guide
signs should be used frequently because
their use promotes efficient operations by
keeping road users informed of their
location.

SIGNALS

SIGNALS
Section 4B.02 Basis of Installation or
Removal of Traffic Control Signals
The selection and use of traffic control signals should
be based on an engineering study of roadway, traffic,
and other conditions.

Section 4B.03 Advantages and

Disadvantages of Traffic Control Signals
When properly used, traffic control signals are
valuable devices for the control of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic. They assign the right-of-way to the
various traffic movements and thereby profoundly
influence traffic flow.

Section 4B.03 Advantages and

Disadvantages of Traffic Control Signals
Advantages:
A. They provide for the orderly movement of traffic.
B. They increase the traffic-handling capacity of the intersection if:
1. Proper physical layouts and control measures are used, and
2. The signal operational parameters are reviewed and updated (if
needed) on a regular basis (as engineering judgment determines that
significant traffic flow and/or land use changes have occurred) to maximize
the ability of the traffic control signal to satisfy current traffic demands.

C. They reduce the frequency and severity of certain types of crashes,

especially right-angle collisions.
D. They are coordinated to provide for continuous or nearly continuous
movement of traffic at a definite speed along a given route under
favorable conditions.
E. They are used to interrupt heavy traffic at intervals to permit other
traffic, vehicular or pedestrian, to cross.

Section 4B.03 Advantages and

Disadvantages of Traffic Control Signals
Traffic control signals.. often considered a panacea...
belief has led to traffic control signals being installed
where they are not needed, adversely affecting the
safety and efficiency
Traffic control signals, even when justified can be illdesigned, ineffectively placed, improperly operated, or
poorly maintained. Disadvantages:
A. Excessive delay,
B. Excessive disobedience of the signal indications,
C. Increased use of less adequate routes as road users attempt
to avoid the traffic control signals, and
D. Significant increases in the frequency of collisions (especially
rear-end collisions).

MUTCD
Before providing details on signal installation,
MUTCD talks about
Section 4B.04 Alternatives to Traffic Control
Signals
Revising the geometrics at the intersection to channelize
vehicular movements
Restricting one or more turning movements, perhaps on a
time-of-day basis, if alternate routes are available;

Section 4B.05 Adequate Roadway Capacity

The delays can frequently be reduced by widening the major
roadway, the minor roadway, or both roadways... In urban
areas, the effect of widening can be achieved by eliminating
parking on intersection approaches.

MUTCD
Section 4C.01 Studies and Factors for
Justifying Traffic Control Signals

Warrant 1, Eight-Hour Vehicular Volume

Warrant 2, Four-Hour Vehicular Volume
Warrant 3, Peak Hour
Warrant 4, Pedestrian Volume
Warrant 5, School Crossing
Warrant 6, Coordinated Signal System
Warrant 7, Crash Experience
Warrant 8, Roadway Network
Warrant 9, Intersection Near a Grade Crossing

Source: MUTCD 2009

The Pedestrian Volume signal warrant is intended for application where the
traffic volume on a major street is so heavy that pedestrians experience
excessive delay in crossing the major street.
Source: MUTCD 2009

MUTCD
Section 4C.07 Warrant 6, Coordinated Signal
System
Progressive movement in a coordinated signal
system sometimes necessitates installing traffic
control signals at intersections where they would not
otherwise be needed in order to maintain proper
platooning of vehicles.

Section 4C.09 Warrant 8, Roadway Network

Installing a traffic control signal at some intersections
might be justified to encourage concentration and
organization of traffic flow on a roadway network.

MUTCD
Section 4D.06 Signal Indications Design,
Illumination, Color, and Shape
Section 4D.07 Size of Vehicular Signal Indications
There shall be two nominal diameter sizes for vehicular
signal indications: 8 inches and 12 inches.

Section 4D.13 Lateral Positioning of Signal Faces

Section 4D.14 Longitudinal Positioning of Signal
Faces
Section 4D.15 Mounting Height of Signal Faces

Source: MUTCD 2009

Source: MUTCD 2009

MARKINGS

Pavement Marking Center Line

Center line pavement
markings.. used to
delineate the separation
of traffic lanes that have
opposite directions of
travel and shall be
yellow.
Center line markings shall
be placed on all paved
urban arterials and
collectors that have a
traveled way of 20 feet or
more in width and
an ADT of 6,000 vehicles
per day or greater

Source: MUTCD 2009

No Passing
On two-way, two- or three-lane roadways where
center line markings are installed, no-passing
zones shall be established at vertical and
horizontal curves and other locations where
an engineering study indicates that passing
must be prohibited because of inadequate
sight distances or other special conditions

Source: MUTCD 2009

Source: MUTCD 2009

http://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/Safety/brochure_channelizing.pdf