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MUTCD
 INTRODUCTION
Overview
"The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), by setting minimum standards and providing guidance, ensures uniformity of traffic control devices across the nation."
Standard:
"Traffic control devices shall be defined as all signs, signals, markings, and other devices used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a street, highway, pedestrian facility, or bikeway by authority of a public agency having jurisdiction."
"The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is incorporated by reference in 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F and shall be recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail open to public travel in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 402(a)."
In-Roadway Warning Lights - Section 4N
"In-roadway Lights are special types of highway traffic signals installed in the roadway surface to warn road users that they are approaching a condition on or adjacent to the roadway that might not be readily apparent and might require the road users to slow down and/or come to a stop. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, situations warning of marked school crosswalks, marked minblock crosswalks, marked crosswalks on uncontrolled approaches, marked crosswalks in advance of roundabout intersections as described in Sections 3B.24 and 3B25, and other roadway situations involving pedestrian crossings."
⇒ See PDF of Section 4N, In-Roadway Lights
Section 2A.07 & 2A.08 Retroreflectivity and Illumination
INTRODUCTION
Standard:
"Regulatory, warning, and guide signs shall be retroreflective or illuminated to show the same shape and similar color by both day and night, unless specifically stated otherwise in the text discussion in this Manual of a particular sign or group of signs."
"Light Emitting Diode (LED) units may be used individually within the face of a sign and in the border of a sign, except for Changeable Message Signs, to improve the conspicuity, increase the legibility of sign legends and borders, or provide a changeable message. Individual LED pixels may be used in the border of a sign."
"A module of multiple LED units used as a closely-spaced, single light source shall only be used within the sign face for legends or symbols."
"Option:
Sign elements may be illuminated by the means shown in Table 2A-1"
| Means of illumination |
Sign Element to be Illuminated |
| Light behind the sign face |
- Symbol or word message
- Background
- Symbol, word message, and background (through a translucent material)
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| Attached or independently mounted light source designed to direct essentially uniform illumination onto the sign face |
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| Light emitting diodes (LEDs) |
- Symbol or word message
- Portions of the sign border
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Other devices, or treatments that highlight the sign shape, color, or message:
- Luminous tubing
- Fiber optics
- Incandescent light bulbs
- Luminescent panels
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- Symbol or word message
- Entire sign face
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⇒ Link to MUTCD Standard Highway Signs
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