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


MUTCD Comparisons

107542003109986444

Parts

47319889822000

425197837719713331961223194820819421661935

PagesEdition

How did we end up with a such large document on traffic control devices?

© Gene Hawkins


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


Early Traffic Control Devices

Need for devices increased with more automobile travel

Little coordination between agencies

© Gene Hawkins


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


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


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


1925 Joint Board ReportReport of of Joint Board on

Interstate HighwaysAASHO ledDeveloped U.S. Highway systemIncluded recommendations for

standard signs

© Gene Hawkins


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


1927 Signs

Block letter font

© Gene Hawkins


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


1930 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


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


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


1935 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1942 MUTCDFew major changesAddressed wartime

conditionsConservation of materialsBlackout traffic control

Not Revised

© Gene Hawkins


Blackout Devices

© Gene Hawkins


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


1948 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


Early Stop & Yield Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1954 RevisionSignificant sign changes

Became

New SignSecondary messages eliminated

THRU

HWY

© Gene Hawkins


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


New Interstate Signs

© Gene Hawkins


1961 MUTCDFederal compliance requiredNew material:

Construction traffic controlCivil defense signingFreeway guide signing

Not Revised

© Gene Hawkins


1961 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


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


1971 Signs

© Gene Hawkins


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


1978 Devices

© Gene Hawkins


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


2000 MUTCDMillennium editionComplete rewriteTen years to developSignificant evolution

New structureDefinitionsMetric unitsNew material 1 Revision

© Gene Hawkins


2003 MUTCDCurrent edition (9th overall)Update of 2000 MUTCDSame size and formatChanges

Compressed pagesEditorial improvements

© Gene Hawkins


Signs Not in the 2003 MUTCD

© Gene Hawkins


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


Questions

© Gene Hawkins

Documents

Brief History of the MUTCD