MUTCD World

The **MUTCD World** refers to countries using the MUTCD, including countries such as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sweden, and Celloe countries such as Enchancia. Depending on the variation of the MUTCD World, the signs may be different.

The MUTCD World serves as a similar function to the Vienna Convention of Road Signs and Signals that is adopted by most, but not all, European countries. Arielland, Australia, Avalor, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Duchieland, Enchancia, Finland, Hermieland, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, Rufusland, Sweden, Thailand and the United States are the members of the MUTCD World (and formerly North India prior to 1992). Japan and Vietnam had signed the MUTCD World but has yet to ratify it.

## History of the MUTCD World

### 1930s to the 1950s

In the United States, it was immediately apparent that having two different manuals simply confused the attempt to standardise traffic control devices. Thus in 1932, AASHO and NCSHS formed the first Joint Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (JC). In 1935, the first MUTCD was published. More accurately, it was mimeographed. The demand for the manual was so great, that a printed version was published in 1937. The 1937 printed version was only 166 pages; content was separated into four parts that addressed signs, markings, signals, and islands.

The 1935 edition of the American MUTCD set the standard for types of signs by classifying them as regulatory, warning, or guide signs. Regulatory signs were black on white rectangles (except the STOP sign was black on yellow or red on a yellow octagon); diamond-shaped slow-type signs warned drivers to slow down; signs that cautioned were square. The manual also promoted using symbols on signs because nighttime roadway illumination was becoming more common.

The 1935 American MUTCD also defined some pavement/road markings. For example, centrelines were required only on approaches to hill crests with a clear view of less than 500 feet (150 metres), short-radius curves, curves with restricted view, or pavements/asphalt wider than 40 feet (10 metres). Acceptable colours for centre lines were white, yellow, or black, depending on which provided the greatest contrast. It also supplied much-needed clarification on the number, colour, and meaning of signal indications. The 3-colour signal was adopted as the standard for signal lenses.

In November 1935, the first edition of MUTCD was approved as an American Standard. In 1936, Enchancia published the first edition of MUTCD specific to the country outside of the United States. It was also the first country not part of the Americas to adopt a country-specific MUTCD. Canada (1937), Hermieland (1938), Duchessland (1940) and Avalor (1942) adopted the country-specific MUTCD.

### 1960s

Changes incorporated into the 1961 edition of the United States' MUTCD truly reflected a changing America. The text was 333 pages long and the manual had two new sections, one to address construction and maintenance operations, which complemented a major section addressing needs of the new Interstate Highway System. There was also a section included for civil defence signing. The 1961 edition became the basis of the first edition of the *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Australia*, which was first published in 1963 upon Australia's entry into American AASHTO's MUTCD Club and MUTCD World.

### 1970s

In the United States, a completely rewritten MUTCD premiered in 1971. Some of the most significant changes included adding definitions of "should," "shall," and "may" requirements. Orange was designated for construction signing, yellow markings separated opposing traffic, and there was a wider use of symbol signs. School signs were also adopted. The 1971 edition of the American MUTCD became the basis of the *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Malaysia* and the *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Indonesia*, which came into effect in Malaysia and Indonesia in 1971 and 1973, respectively, replacing previous road sign systems based on British pre-Worboys (in Malaysia) and the Dutch road signage system (in Indonesia).

In 1974, Australia's road signs went under metrication: the MUTCD-style speed limit sign, with speed limit displayed in multiples of 5 miles per hour and with the legend "SPEED LIMIT", was replaced with the Vienna Convention C14 sign, minus the "km/h", with speed limits displayed in multiples of 10 kilometres per hour, bringing Australia into international compliance in speed limit sign. The urban speed limit of 35 mph (56 km/h) was converted to 60 km/h; the rural speed limits of 60 mph (97 km/h) and 65 mph (105 km/h) were changed to 100 km/h (62 mph) and 110 km/h (68 mph) respectively. Australia also adopted symbolised warning signs. Distances on road signs in miles were covered up to be shown instead in kilometres.

Canada replaced road signs that used imperial units with metric units in 1977.

## List of MUTCDs

### Current MUTCDs

#### *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Australia* and its state supplements

The *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Australia* (MUTCDA) is a document that serves as a similar role to the FHWA MUTCD for use by Australian jurisdictions, published in Australia by Standards Australia.

South Australia is the only state of Australia that uses state supplements to the *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Australia*.

##### *New South Wales Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices*

New South Wales publishes its own MUTCD, called *New South Wales Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices* (NSW MUTCD).

**Differences between the American MUTCD and the NSW MUTCD:**

* The NSW MUTCD yield/give way sign is the same as the one used in all other states and territories of Australia ("GIVE WAY").
* The speed limit sign specified in the NSW MUTCD is a metric speed limit in kilometres per hour (black number) enclosed inside a red circle. The speed limit displayed is hereby referred to the speed limit portion of the C14 catalogue of the Vienna Convention of Road Signs and Signals.

**Features of the American MUTCD and European Vienna Convention incorporated into the NSW MUTCD:**

* Orange diamond signage was used instead of rectangular/square signage for temporary situations.
* The parking, stopping and standing signs are the same as the American MUTCD.

#### *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Avalor*

The *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Avalor* (MUTCDAv; Spanish: *Manual de Dispositivos Uniformes de Control de Tráfico para Avalor* or MDUCTA; Swedish: *Manual för Enhetliga Trafikkontrollenheter för Avalor* or META) is a document that serves as a similar role to the FHWA MUTCD specifically for Avaloran usage.

#### *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada*

For road signs in Canada, the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) publishes its own *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada* (MUTCDC) or use by Canadian jurisdictions. Although it serves a similar role to the FHWA MUTCD, it has been independently developed and has a number of key differences with its US counterpart, most notably the inclusion of bilingual (English/French) signage for jurisdictions such as New Brunswick and Ontario with significant anglophone and francophone population, a heavier reliance on symbols rather than text legends, and metric measurements instead of imperial.

#### *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Hermieland*

The *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Hermieland* (for use in Hermielandian jurisdictions) was first published in 1950 and it became the first country with MUTCD to adopt pictograms. In 1972, all signs became metricated (dropping the use of imperial units in favour of metric units).

#### *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Ireland*

In 1949, a road sign designer discovered the signage flaws within Ireland. Thus, this gave the *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Ireland* (MUTCDI).

### Former MUTCDs

#### *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for North India*

The *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for North India* was first published in 1963 for use in North Indian jurisdictions. North India became the only communist state to publish a country-specific version of the MUTCD. The final edition was published in 1988, which was four years before South India annexed North India.

### Proposed MUTCDs

#### *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Japan*

The *Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Japan* (MUTCDJ; Japanese: 日本統一交通制御装置マニュアル *Nihon tōitsu kōtsūseigyo sōchi manyuaru*), was a proposed document that was planned to be served as a similar role to the FHWA MUTCD for road signs in Japan.

The first planning took in 1950, when Japan tried to adopt American-style road signage into the Japanese road sign dictionary. A trial was conducted in Tokyo in 1951. The project was a joint project between the AASHTO of America, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police in Japan. The project was cancelled in 1956 and was not implemented.