California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
{{Short description|State traffic control manual of California Department of Transportation}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox book
| name = California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
| image = California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2014 Edition, Revision 6.pdf
| image_size = 200
| border =
| alt =
| caption = The 2014 edition, the latest published to date
| authors = California Department of Transportation
| country = United States
| language = English
| subject =
| publisher = California Department of Transportation
| publisher2 =
| pub_date = {{start date and age|2006}}
| english_pub_date =
| published =
| media_type =
| pages = 1,435
| awards =
| isbn =
| isbn_note =
| oclc = 779857879
| dewey =
| congress =
| native_wikisource =
| wikisource =
| notes =
| external_url = https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/camutcd/camutcd-files
| website = {{URL|https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/camutcd/}}
}}
The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (abbreviated CA MUTCD) is the standard for traffic signs, road surface markings, and traffic signals in the U.S. state of California. It is developed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Division of Safety Programs "in substantial conformance to" the national Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices developed by the Federal Highway Administration. The first edition of the CA MUTCD was published in 2006, replacing an earlier supplement to the national MUTCD. The most recent edition was published in 2014, incorporating the 2009 edition of the national MUTCD. California is one of ten states that publish their own editions of the MUTCD.{{cite web |title = MUTCDs & Traffic Control Devices Information by State |work = Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |date = July 14, 2020 |access-date = January 11, 2021 |url = https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/state_info/ }} The CA MUTCD defines the content and placement of traffic signs. Design specifications are detailed on a section of the Caltrans website that is based on the national Standard Highway Signs and Markings (SHSM) document.
History
File:US 199 California Shield.JPG, which was used nationally until 1961.]]
In 1952, the California Department of Public Works Division of Highways published a Planning Manual of Instructions. A traffic manual was added to the planning manual in 1955.{{cite book|title=California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices|edition=2014|publisher=California Department of Transportation|location=Sacramento, California|date=March 10, 2021|access-date=June 28, 2021|page=49|url=https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/ca-mutcd/rev6/camutcd2014-part0-rev6.pdf#page=61|format=PDF}}
In 1969, the California State Legislature deleted all the provisions of the California Vehicle Code that explicitly specified standards for traffic control devices, making the Division of Highways the sole agency responsible for enacting traffic standards in the state in consultation with the California Traffic Control Devices Committee.{{cite web|title=History|publisher=California Traffic Control Devices Committee|date=September 25, 2019|access-date=June 28, 2021|url=https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/ctcdc/f0017757-ctcdc-history-a11y.pdf}}
In 1972, the traffic manual became a standalone document, titled simply Traffic Manual. A metric version was published in 1996 by the then-renamed Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Operations.
File:W54 Special (CA-San Ysidro) -vector.svg" was coded as W54 in the 1990s.]]
In 2000, Caltrans and the California Traffic Control Devices Committee undertook an effort to reconcile the Traffic Manual with the national MUTCD. In 2004, these efforts resulted in the adoption of the 2003 edition of the national MUTCD along with a California supplement, which replaced various chapters of the 1996 Traffic Manual pertaining to traffic signs and signals.{{cite web|title=MUTCD and California MUTCD|work=California Active Transportation Safety Information Pages|publisher=UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center|location=Berkeley, California|access-date=June 28, 2021|url=https://catsip.berkeley.edu/laws-plans-and-policies/explore-policies/mutcd-and-california-mutcd}}
In 2006, Caltrans once again published its own standard as the CA MUTCD to incorporate the supplement's guidance into the main text of the standard. Subsequent editions were published in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Caltrans made nearly annual revisions to the document from then through at least 2023.
Legal authority
California Vehicle Code section 21400 provides for Caltrans to adopt a state-specific edition of the MUTCD. Section 21401 legally requires all traffic control devices on streets and highways to conform to these standards. Therefore, the manual is used by state, county, and municipal highway departments, as well as by private construction firms, to ensure that the traffic control devices they use conform to the state standard. Some parts of the national MUTCD have not been incorporated into the CA MUTCD. Where there is a conflict between the two standards, the CA MUTCD takes precedence within California. Several Caltrans-specific signs also appear in the California Driver Handbook, the driver's education handbook published by the California Department of Motor Vehicles in 13 languages.{{cite book|chapter=Traffic Signs|chapter-url=https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/traffic-signs/|title=California Driver Handbook|publisher=California Department of Motor Vehicles|location=Sacramento, California|date=2021|access-date=May 7, 2022|url=https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/}}
Development
The CA MUTCD is developed by Caltrans in consultation with the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC) and other stakeholder agencies. The CTCDC is the successor to the California State Sign Committee, which was originally responsible for highway signage from 1933 to 1947. The ten-member committee consists of representatives designated by Caltrans, the League of California Cities, the County Engineers Association of California, the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, and the California Highway Patrol.{{cite web|title=CTCDC brochure|publisher=California Traffic Control Devices Committee|date=May 12, 2021|access-date=June 28, 2021|url=https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/ctcdc/ctcdc-brochure-a11y.pdf}}
Contents
File:Los Angeles, CA, USA - panoramio (123).jpgs.{{cite web|title=An evaluation of guide signing at right multilane freeway exits with optional lanes|first1=Richard A.|last1=Somers|first2=H. Gene Jr.|last2=Hawkins|first3=Debbie|last3=Jasek|first4=Thomas II|last4=Urbanik|publisher=Texas A&M Transportation Institute|location=Bryan, Texas|date=September 1996|pages=29–37|url=https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/1467-5.pdf#page=47|format=PDF}}]]
The CA MUTCD and sign specifications are organized similarly to the MUTCD and SHSM, respectively. Each of the California sign specifications is assigned an alphanumeric designation and organized according to the same series found in the SHSM. The sign designation for a state-specific sign includes a "(CA)" after the sign number. The CA MUTCD also defines some state-specific series:{{cite web|title=California Sign Specification Drawings|publisher=California Department of Transportation|date=2021|access-date=June 28, 2021|url=https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/sign-specs}}
- Series G: California Guide
- Series SG: California Special Guide
- Series S: California Special Information
- Series SC: California Special Temporary Traffic Control
- Series SR: California Special Regulation
- Series SW: California Special Warning
File:MUTCD-CA G10B.svg|Welcome To California
G10B(CA)
File:Caltrans G11-4.1.svg|Inventory Marker
G11-4.1(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA G11-6.svg|Inventory Marker
G11-6(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA G13-1.svg|Historical Landmark
G13-1(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA G15.svg|Point of Historical Interest
G15(CA)
File:Caltrans G24-6.svg|Pull-Through
G24-6(CA)
File:California 1.svg|State Route Marker
G28-2(CA)
File:California Scenic Large.svg|Scenic Route
G30(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA G66-22A.svg|Compressed Natural Gas
G66-22A(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA G66-56.svg|STAA Truck Terminal Access
G66-56(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SG25.svg|Call Box
SG25(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SG47A.svg|{{small caps|California Welcome Center X Miles}}
SG47A(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA S32.svg|Adopt-A-Highway
S32(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA S34.svg|Highway Patrol {{small caps|Parking Only}}
S34(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA PS-123.svg|No Step
PS-123(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R6-3.svg|{{small caps|Trucks, 3 Axles or More 55 Maximum}}
R6-3(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R13A.svg|No Right Turn on Red
R13A(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R18B(Rt).svg|{{small caps|Right (Left) Lane Freeway Only}}
R18B(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R20-1.svg|No Trucks Variable Message
R20-1(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R20H.svg|Truck Length Limit
R20H(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R25A.svg|{{small caps|Loading Only 7AM to 6PM Except Sunday 30 Minute Limit}} with Double Arrow
R25A(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R26.svg|{{small caps|No Parking Any Time}}
R26(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R26K.svg|Tow-Away No Parking
R26K(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R29-1.1.svg|No Stopping/No Parking Specific Hours
R29(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R31-1.1(S).svg|No Stopping/Parking Specific Hours
R31(S)(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R36.svg|Commercial Vehicle Weight Exclusion
R36(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R47.svg|{{small caps|$1000 Fine for Littering}}
R47(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R48.svg|{{small caps|Speed Enforced by Radar}}
R48(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R49.svg|{{small caps|No Ped Crossing, Use Crosswalk}}
R49(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R53D.svg|{{small caps|Autos With Trailers – Trucks – Prohibited}}
R53D(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R73-3.svg|Intersection Lane Control
R73-3(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R76.svg|{{small caps|Chains Required}}
R76(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R81-1.svg|Bike Lane
R81(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R99C.svg|Accessible Parking Only Minimum Fine $250
R99C(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA R100B.svg|Disabled Tow-Away
R100B(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SR4-1.svg|School Speed Limit Assembly C (CA)
SR4-1(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SR17.svg|{{small caps|Trucks Not Given Bypass Signal Must Enter Open Scales}}
SR17(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SR50-2.svg|{{small caps|HOV Violation $___ Minimum Fine}}
SR50-2(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SR56.svg|Traffic Signal {{small caps|Photo Enforced}}
SR56(CA)
File:CALTRANS SR58.svg|{{small caps|Red Light Violation $____ Minimum Fine}}
SR58(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SR60-3.svg|{{small caps|Right Lane Buses Taxis Only 6AM–9PM Mon–Fri}}
SR60-3(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA W50-1.svg|Rock Slide Area
W50-1(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA W82.svg|Light Rail Transit (Trolley) Crossing
W82(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SW59.svg|Migrating Bears
SW59(CA)
File:MUTCD-CA SW60.svg|{{small caps|Watch for Stopped Vehicles}}
SW60(CA)
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices}}
- {{Official website|https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/camutcd/|California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD){{snd}} 2014 Edition, Revision 6 (Current)}}
- [https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/sign-charts California sign charts]
- [https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/sign-specs California sign specification drawings]
- [https://dot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/ctcdc California Traffic Control Devices Committee]
{{Road signs in the US states by the adoption of MUTCD}}
Category:Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Category:Road infrastructure in California
Category:Publications of the Government of California