Download - Brief History of the MUTCD
Brief History of the MUTCD
Gene HawkinsTexas Transportation Institute
1920s
1930s
1940s
Early 1950s
1960sToday
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1935 1942 1948 1961 19711978 1988 2000
The MUTCDThere have been 9 editions of the MUTCD
2003
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
MUTCD Comparisons
107542003109986444
Parts
47319889822000
425197837719713331961223194820819421661935
PagesEdition
How did we end up with a such large document on traffic control devices?
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
Traffic Control Devices
Colonial America
Used on pioneer trails in America
Early 20th Century
Automobile age created new demands
Roman empire
Early markers used in the Roman Empire
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
Early Traffic Control Devices
Need for devices increased with more automobile travel
Little coordination between agencies
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
Early Traffic Control Devices
The wide variety of devices created the need for uniformity
19111911--1st centerline 1st centerline MichiganMichigan
1914 1914 –– 11stst electric signal electric signal ClevelandCleveland
1920 1920 –– 1st1st33--colorcolorsignalsignal
DetroitDetroit
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1923 Sign Shape Recommendations
Mississippi Valley Assoc of St Hwy DeptNumber of sides represents hazard level
RR Grade Crossing
Stop Intersection
Warning (speed reduction)
Caution
Directions or Regulations
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1924 Sign Color Recommendations
National Conference on Street and Highway Safety
For signs and signals
Red - stopWhite – directions
or distance
Yellow - caution
Green - proceed
Purple – intersection
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1925 Joint Board ReportReport of of Joint Board on
Interstate HighwaysAASHO ledDeveloped U.S. Highway systemIncluded recommendations for
standard signs
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1927 AASHO ManualEvolved from Joint BoardFirst national manualRural signs only Title:
Manual and Specifications for the Manufacture, Display, and Erection of U.S. Standard Road Markers and Signs
Revised 1929 and 1931
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1930 NCHS ManualPrepared by American
Engineering Council Signs, markings, and
signals for urban areasTitle:
Manual on Street Traffic Signs, Signal and Markings
Not Revised
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
Birth of the MUTCDProblems of two manuals led
to creation of the MUTCD
Joint Committee
1927 Rural Manual
1930 Urban Manual
1935 MUTCD
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1935 MUTCDFirst MUTCD (35 & 37 versions)Signs
White or yellowDiamond, square, circle, octagon
MarkingsWhite, yellow, or black
Signals3-color signal as standard Revised 1939
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1942 MUTCDFew major changesAddressed wartime
conditionsConservation of materialsBlackout traffic control
Not Revised
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1948 MUTCDSignificant rewriteSigns
Simplified messagesEliminated square signsAdded advisory plateRounded alphabet
Pavement markingsYellow – Double center and barrier lineWhite – all other applicationsEdge lines not recommended
Simplified signal warrantsRevised 1954
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1954 RevisionSignificant sign changes
Became
New SignSecondary messages eliminated
THRU
HWY
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1958 AASHO Interstate Manual
Created for the new Interstate Highway system
New featuresWhite on green guide signsLower case lettersGreen on white service signs
Utilized larger sign sizesBlue service signs added in
1961 revision
Revised 1961, 1962, 1970
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1961 MUTCDFederal compliance requiredNew material:
Construction traffic controlCivil defense signingFreeway guide signing
Not Revised
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1971 MUTCDSignificant rewriteDOT ownershipNew features:
Content: school areasColor: orangeShapes: pennant, pentagon
International sign influenceMany new symbols
Yellow markings for opposing traffic
Revised 8 times
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1978 MUTCDUpdate of 1971 editionLoose leaf (binder) format
Individual page revisions
New contentRR-hwy grade crossingsBicycle facilities
Yellow markings on left sideRevised 4 times
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
1988 MUTCDUpdate of 1978 edition
Included new revision (#5)
New contentRecreational/cultural signsLogo signsTODS
Planned to be revised only for safety reasons Revised 7 times
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
2000 MUTCDMillennium editionComplete rewriteTen years to developSignificant evolution
New structureDefinitionsMetric unitsNew material 1 Revision
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
2003 MUTCDCurrent edition (9th overall)Update of 2000 MUTCDSame size and formatChanges
Compressed pagesEditorial improvements
© Gene Hawkins
Transportation Operations Group
Additional ResourcesMUTCD web site
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.govHTML & PDF versions of MUTCDLists of changes
MUTCD Historyhttp://tcd.tamu.edu ⇒ MUTCD HistoryMUTCD history presentationITE Journal articles ⇒ see ITE web site
July, August, November 1992
tcd.tamu.edu
mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
© Gene Hawkins