USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        A Guide for Street and Highway Maintenance Personnel


            
            In This Section
        Local and Rural Road Safety Program
                Training, Tools, Guidance and Countermeasures for Locals Practitioners
                Crash Facts
                
                VII. Sign Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records

Keeping records of sign maintenance and inspections is important, particularly small signs as these are the ones most often affected by weather and vehicular accidents. Keeping good records will help you:

Make good decisions about when old sign panels should be replaced,
	Respond more quickly to relocating or replacing signs frequently damaged,
	Determine which materials are best suited for your area and need to effectively manage your sign program,
	Work with law enforcement personnel to reduce vandalism, and
	Defend against lawsuits arising from collision with or challenges about the condition of the sign.The three main elements of maintenance records include:

The sign inventory,
	The log or record of incident reports, and
	The sign/sign support maintenance records.Sign Inventory

It is very important to develop and maintain a sign inventory. Without a record of the type, size, location, and age of a sign, it is often difficult to know what signs are missing or where maintenance efforts can be best applied. A sign inventory can help you respond quickly and more effectively to an incident report. It can help identify areas where there are vandalism or accident problems. Depending on the size of the community and the equipment available, a sign inventory can be developed on ledger books, file cards, microcomputers or mainframe computers. As long as the people using it know how it works and maintain current information on it, it can be effective. Information that should be included in the inventory includes:

Sign location including street or highway, milepost or block location, and the traffic direction it faces.
	Sign type or name (i.e. STOP, NO PASSING, etc.).
	Sign panel size ( shape) (i.e. 18"X 18", 30"X 30" ).
	Date installed or replaced.
	Date of any changes and a brief note of what the change was (i.e. raised it 2 feet, changed pipe post to 4" by 4" wood post, etc.).
	Date of most recent inspection or repair.Small communities with less than one-hundred to one-hundred and fifty signs may choose to use simple three by five inch cards to maintain information on each sign. Larger inventories of signs can be managed on computer systems available by both sign vendors and through local Technical Assistance Programs.

Incident reports

Incident reports should include:

The date and time the report is made or received,
	Who made the report and who received and entered the report,
	A brief description of the problem reported or observed, and
	what action was taken, when it was taken and who was responsible for it. If there was a subsequent review of the work then note who made the review, when it was made and any subsequent actions required and taken.This type report could read as follows: "The STOP sign (inv. #3412) on the Northwest corner of the intersection of Oak St. and Elm St. was reported bent by a concerned citizen. The sign was checked and straightened by J. Smith on January 16, 2000."

Maintenance Records

Maintenance records should be kept for any new installations, repairs of existing installations, or replacement jobs done on signs and sign supports. This will help to determine changes in your maintenance activities that improved driver and work safety, reduced costs, and reduced potential for liability lawsuits. A sign (and sign support) maintenance record, report, file, or log should include, as a minimum, the following information:

Time and date of work and name of person responsible for completed work.
	Sign/support location by street or highway and traffic direction it is facing.
	Type of sign and size of sign if replaced
	Type and size of support if replaced.
	If the following were/are to be checked what were they?
	Height to bottom of sign
		Color of sign
		Size of sign
		Any breakaway features of post
		Orientation of sign (for night traffic)
		Wear or fading of sign
		Location with respect to pavement
		Anything blocking driver's view of sign
      
  Book traversal links for VII. Sign Maintenance Records
      ‹ VI. Traffic Control During Sign Maintenance
                    Up
                    VIII. Resource Material ›
                
                Book:A Guide for Street and Highway Maintenance Personnel
              I. Importance of Maintaining the Sign Face
                II. Repair and Replacement of Sign Panels
                III. Repair and Replacement of Small Sign Supports
                IV. Cleaning and Checking Signs and Sign Supports
                V. Materials and Equipment Used in Maintaining Signs
                VI. Traffic Control During Sign Maintenance
                VII. Sign Maintenance Records
                VIII. Resource Material U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us