The FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) is a part of the U.S. DOT (Department of Transportation) that oversees the construction of and care for highways, bridges, and tunnels throughout the U.S. The FHWA also performs research and offers aid to state and local organizations to increase safety, maneuverability, and convenience.
Here’s an interesting fact: no one company or
manufacturer is responsible for all the traffic signs used on U.S. roads.
However, the Federal government has an important role in the design and
regulation of each sign from every provider.
MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices)
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The MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control
Devices) is a guide published by the FHWA. It outlines the standards required
of road managers to put in and care for various traffic devices, such as
traffic signals, roadway markings, and signs on all public roads.
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The MUTCD has been around since 1971. It is
revisited as often as needed to address the ever-changing needs of
transportation, as well to update the manual with new safety technology,l tools,
and management techniques. The 2009 edition of the MUTCD is the most recent.
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The MUTCD compliant signs have each been
given a designated regulatory code for easy identification and reference. The
“Stop” sign is identified by the regulatory code “R1-1”, while the “Yield” sign
is known by the code “R1-2”. Here at Sign Wise, we utilize these codes to
organize our products in a more efficient and effective manner.