Efraim Mangiwa

Homework 2- Traffic Control

1. MUTCD

• Standard :
A standard is a statement of a required mandatory, or specifically prohibitive
practice regarding a traffic control device. Typically , standards are indicated
by the use of the term shall or shall not in the statement.

• Guidance :
Guidance is a statement of recommended, but not obligation, practice in
typical situations. Deviations are allowed if engineering judgement or a study
indicates that a deviation is appropriate. Guidance is generally denoted by
using shall or shall not words in the statement.

• Option:
Option is a statement of practice that is a permissive condition. It carries no
effect of requirement or recommendation. Options often include allowable
modification to a Standard or Guidance. An option is usually expressed using
the word may or may not

• Support:
Support is a purely information statement provided to supply additional
information to the traffic engineer. The words shall, should, or may do not
appear in these statements (nor do their negative counterparts).

2. All of the parts above are parts of messages given to the drivers. The
description of each parts are :

• Colour
Colour is the most the most easily visible characteristic of a device. Colour is
recognizable long before a general shape may be perceived and considerably
before a specific legend can be read and understood. The principal colours
used in traffic control devices are red, yellow, green, orange, black, blue and
brown. These are used to code certain types of devices and to reinforce
specific message whenever possible.

• Shape
Beside colours, shape of the device is the next element to be discerned by the
drivers. Particularly in signing, shape is an important element of the message,
either identifying a particular type of information that the sign is conveying or
conducting a unique message of its own.

• Pattern
Pattern is used in an application of traffic markings. In general, double solid,
solid, dashed, and broken lines are used. Each conveys a type of meaning with
which drivers become familiar. The frequent and consistent use of similar
 patterns in similar applications contributes greatly to their effectiveness and to
the instant recognition of their meaning

• Legend
The last element of a device that the driver comprehends is its specific legend.
Signals and markings, for example, convey their entire message through use of
colour, shape, and pattern. Signs, however, often use a specific legend to
transmit the details of the message being transmitted. The legend must be kept
simple and short, so the drivers do not divert their attention from the driving
task, yet are able to see and understand the specific message being given.

3. Regulatory signs shall be used to inform road users of selected traffic laws or
regulations and indicate the applicability of the legal requirements. Regulatory
signs shall be installed at or near where the regulations apply. The signs shall
clearly indicate the requirements imposed by the regulations and shall be
designed and installed to provide adequate visibility and legibility in order to
obtain compliance. A warning sign should be used only to alert drivers of
conditions that they could not be normally expected to discern on their own.
Overuse of these regulatory and warning signs encourages drivers to ignore
them, which could lead to dangerous situations.

Guide signing is somewhat different from other types in that overuse is

generally not a serious issue. It is only make confusion to the drivers, which is
not harmful.

4.














a. Based on table above, the distance of “A STOP ahead” warning sign on
the road with posted speed limit of 50 mil/h is 250 ft.

b. Based on table above, the distance of “A Curve Ahead’ warning sign with
an advisory speed of 30 mil/h on a road with posted speed limit of 45
mil/h is 100 ft.
 c. Based on table above, A “merge ahead” warning sign on a ramp with an
85th percentile speed of 35 mil/h is 565 ft.

5. On a cross-section below, warning signs that should be put are :

High rail crossing on side Road to right / left (W10-1)

Distance : 175 ft from intersection

Speed limit metric (45 mile/h) (R2-1)

Distance : 100 ft from the intersection

Railroad Crossbuck (R15-1)

Distance : 30 ft and 35 ft from the intersection

Destination Design with distance (D1-3a)

Distance : each of signs is at 175 ft from the intersection

Cite : All of the distance of warning signs are measured based on MUTCD manual
book.