The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the national standard, published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), for traffic signs, signals and pavement markings on roads open to public travel in the United States.
Its purpose is consistency: a stop sign, a lane line or a parking regulation sign should look and mean the same thing everywhere. States adopt the national MUTCD directly or publish their own version that must substantially conform to it. The 11th Edition was issued in December 2023, replacing the 2009 edition, and states were given two years to adopt it.
What it covers
- Regulatory, warning and guide signs, including parking regulation signs.
- Pavement markings, curb markings and colors.
- Traffic signals and pedestrian signals.
- Temporary traffic control for work zones.
- Bicycle facilities and school zones.
How it applies to parking
- On-street parking signs and curb markings follow the MUTCD and state versions of it.
- Private parking lots and garages open to public travel may be covered, depending on the state; many owners follow it regardless as good practice.
- Consistency with street signs helps drivers read parking signs quickly. See retroreflective lettering.
The Parkonomics view
Drivers should not have to learn a new sign language when they turn into a garage. Following MUTCD conventions inside a facility is the simplest wayfinding decision an owner can make.
Related terms: Retroreflective Lettering, Wayfinding, Legibility, On-Street Parking, AASHTO, Institute of Transportation Engineers