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No more "silly" signs? Here's what to look out for in the updated MUTCD from Federal Highways!
In the newest major update to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), FHWA recommends that electronic signs “with obscure meaning, references to popular culture, [or] are intended to be humorous" should not be used because they may only be understood by a limited number of drivers. On the other hand, a different section has stated that colored pavements and crosswalks can continue to be used! The manual has provided guidance for how to safely implement these aesthetic improvements.
The MUTCD, or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, is also known as the "sign guide" and is the dedicated framework for highway signs, pavement markings, bike lanes, and all things that influence how we behave on the road. MUTCD is the reason all roads have a double-yellow line from the Granite State to the Golden State. The MUTCD is known for being very distinct from the standards of other countries, notably the "Vienna Convention" used in much of Europe.
Images: City of Dover, Portland Herald, Boston Globe
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