Author Description

Detailed drawings of the Standard Highway Signs prescribed or provided for in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 2003 Edition, have been prepared by the Office of Transportation Operations, Federal Highway Administration, U. S. Department of Transportation, for use by all traffic authorities, agencies, jurisdictions and persons involved with the fabrication, installation and maintenance of traffic signs on streets and highways in the United States. These drawings are presented in English units as an alternate to metric dimensional designs. They are provided to promote uniformity in design throughout the United States in accordance with Title 23, U.S. Code, Sections 109(b), 109(d) and 402 (a), and Highway Safety Program Standard 13, "Traffic Engineering Services". As stated in the MUTCD, "Uniformity in design includes shape, color, dimensions, legends and retroreflection. This manual shows typical signs approved for use on streets and highways. Detailed drawings of these and other approved signs are available to State and local highway and traffic authorities and similarly interested agencies. All symbols shall be unmistakably similar to those shown and where a word message is applicable, the wording shall be as herein provided unless alternative wording is optional. Most standard symbols are oriented facing left; however, this does not preclude the use of mirror images of these symbols where the reverse orientation might better convey a direction of movement to vehicle operators. Standardization of these designs does not preclude further improvements by minor changes in the proportion of the symbols, width of borders, or layout of word messages, but all shapes and colors shall be as indicated.