On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released the 11th edition of the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways” or MUTCD.
Last updated in 2009, the manual is the national standard for traffic signs, signals and pavement markings to ensure those who walk, bike or drive have a predictable environment. The guide is used by transportation professionals for roadway safety and incorporates significant input for the public.
“The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices is a vitally important guidebook that affects safety on countless roads around the country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “With this long-awaited update to the MUTCD, we are helping our state and local partners make it safer to walk, bike, and drive, and embracing new technologies with the potential to make our transportation system safer and more efficient.”
Officials said the latest MUTCD reflects changes in how Americans travel and streamlines processes and makes permanent a number of traffic control device applications that previously required special improvements. Additionally, the new MUTCD includes enhancements to pedestrian safety and supports the USDOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy which uses a multi-layered approach to safety as a way to achieve zero deaths on the nation’s roads.
“The MUTCD is an essential guide to help state and local transportation practitioners create safe and efficient networks for everyone who drives, walks, bikes or rolls,” U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg said. “We look forward to ongoing engagement and partnership with the transportation community so that the MUTCD becomes a living document which enables communities to embrace the designs and technologies that best serve their needs.”