The document provides an overview of traffic control devices, emphasizing their role in highway safety and effective communication between traffic engineers and road users. It outlines the various types of devices, including traffic signs, pavement markings, traffic signals, and other channelizing devices, along with their design principles and classifications. Key principles for effective traffic signs include visibility, clarity, comprehensibility, and consistency to ensure safe and orderly traffic movement.

1. Transportation Systems Engineering

2. Introduction
• Traffic control devices
• Medium of communication between traffic engineer and road users
• Major types:
• Traffic signs
• Road markings
• Traffic signals
• Other Devices (Parking control/ Bollards/ Barriers/ Islands)
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3. Traffic control devices
• Purpose
• to promote highway safety and efficiency by providing for
the orderly movement of all road users
• Traffic control devices notify road users of regulations and
provide warning and guidance needed for the reasonably
safe, uniform, and efficient operation of all elements of
the traffic stream
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4. Traffic control devices
• Traffic control devices or their supports shall not bear any
advertising message or any other message that is not
related to traffic control.
• Tourist-oriented directional signs and Specific Service signs
are not considered advertising; rather, they are classified as
motorist service signs
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5. Traffic control devices
• 5 Basic Criteria:
• Fulfill a need
• Command attention from road user
• Convey clear and simple meaning
• Avoid overuse, misusing, confusing messages
• Adequate time for proper response
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6. Traffic control devices
• Principles:
• Uniformity of the meaning of the control devices
• Homogeneity (same importance, same value, same rules)
• Simplicity
• Legal Wordings in MUTCD
• Shall (mandatory)
• Should (advisory)
• May (permissive)
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7. Traffic control devices
• Communication tools
• Color (Night time and Daytime Visibility)
• easily noticed characteristics
• red, green, yellow, black, blue, and brown
• Shape
• the second element discerned by the driver
• circular, triangular, rectangular, diamond shape
• Legend
• Pattern
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8. Traffic control devices
• Communication tools
• Legend
• legend should be short, simple and specific
• Symbols that are trans-lingual or word messages
• Word messages should be as brief as possible
• All lettering shall be in capital letter
• Word messages on street name and destinations may include
lower-case letters with initial upper-case letters
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9. Traffic control devices
• Communication tools
• Pattern
• Used in markings to complement signs
• solid, double solid and dotted lines
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10. Traffic control devices
• Design principles
• High visibility by day and night
• High legibility
• adequately sized letters or symbols, and a short legend for
quick comprehension
• Uniformity in design
• include shape, color, dimensions, legends, borders, and
illumination or retro-reflectivity
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11. A. Traffic Signs
• Devices mounted on a fixed support (permanent
signs) or portable supports (temporary signs)
• By means of words or symbols trying to convey a
specific message. (Regulate, warn or guide)
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12. A. Traffic Signs
• Principles of Traffic Signs:
 Conspicuous (Must be easily
seen)
- Size (Standard specifications
in various sizes; A, B, C and D.)
- Borders (To frame the sign
and make them standout)
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13. A. Traffic Signs
• Principles of Traffic Signs:
 Clear (Legible and to be rean
in ample time)
- Lettering Style (Series A, B,
C, D, E, F, & G)
- Spacing (b/n letters and
words and maximum number of
words)
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14. A. Traffic Signs
• Principles of Traffic Signs:
 Comprehensible
(understood by the road user)
- If needed, TAGALIZE or
TAGLISH in areas where it is
applicable.
- Multilingual signs should be
provided.
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15. A. Traffic Signs
• Principles of Traffic Signs:
 Credible (Believed by the
road users)
- Work signs should only be
displayed when works are actually
in process.
- Speed zones are set in
accordance with guidelines.
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16. A. Traffic Signs
• Principles of Traffic Signs:
 Consistency (same sign
should convey same messages)
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17. A. Traffic Signs
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• Examples of Undesirable practices:

18. A. Traffic Signs
• Regulatory signs
• Mandatory signs - give notice of traffic laws or regulations and
if violated may constitute to an offense.
• Warning signs
• Cautionary signs - give notice of a situation that might not be
readily apparent
• Informative signs
• Guide signs - show route designations, distances, services,
points of interest, etc.
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19. A.1. Regulatory signs
• Types
1. Right of way series/ Priority Signs
2. Direction Signs
3. Prohibitive or Restrictive Signs
4. Miscellaneous Signs (Parking series & Pedestrian series)
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- Regulatory signs are signs that give instructions,
prohibitions or restrictions which road users must obey.

20. 1. ROW series/ Priority Signs
• ROW series
• STOP sign
• Octagonal shape
• to indicate traffic is always
required to stop (complete stop)
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21. 1. ROW series/ Priority Signs
• STOP sign warrant
• engineering judgment indicates:
• Intersection of a minor road with a major road
• Street entering a through highway or street
• Un-signalized intersection in a signalized area
• High speeds, restricted view, or crash records
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22. 1. ROW series/ Priority Signs
• STOP sign placement
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23. 1. ROW series/ Priority Signs
• STOP sign placement
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24. • STOP sign placement
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Major Road
Speed (kph)
Distance Along minor
Road (Y-axis, m)
Distance Along Major
Road (X-axis, m)
40 3 20
50 3 30
60 3 40
70 3 55
80 3 65
90 3 80
100 3 95
110 3 115
120 3 140

25. 1. ROW series/ Priority Signs
• ROW series
• YEILD or GIVEWAY
• downward-pointing equilateral
triangle
• Wide red border and the legend
YIELD in red on a white
background
• Indicates that each driver must
prepare to stop if necessary to let a
driver approach .
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26. 1. ROW series/ Priority Signs
• YEILD sign warrant
• Ability to see all conflicting traffic is sufficient to
allow a road user to pass through the intersection in a
reasonably safe manner.
• In a merging situation the entering roadway has poor
geometry and/or inadequate sight distance
• An intersection where a special problem exists which
could be corrected
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27. Regulatory signs
• YIELD sign placement
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28. 2. Direction Signs
• Guide traffic flow and help prevent accidents.
• Purpose: Indicate the only direction/s the motorist is
obliged to follow.
• Location: Normally used in conjunction with islands at
channelized intersections.
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29. 2. Direction Signs
• Disc Type – Direction
signs used for urban low
speed areas, rural roads
with 60 to 70 kph, high
speed rural and multi-
lane urban areas.
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30. 2. Direction
Signs
• Plate type only used for
urban areas.
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31. 3. Prohibitive and Restrictive
Signs
• This will mark maximum speed limits, prohibited entry, no-
parking zones, and cases where certain vehicle types are not
allowed.
• Speed Series warrants:
• Black legend on a white background
• Circular in shape with red borders
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32. 3. Prohibitive and Restrictive
Signs
• Movement series
• turn prohibitions
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33. A.2. Warning Signs
• Purpose
• Own safety of drivers
• Extra vigilance from driver
• Design
• Legend will be black in color with a white background
• Shape is upward triangular or diamond shape with red
borders
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34. Warning Signs
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Approach
Speed
(kph)
Desired Speed (kph)
Stop 20 30 40
50 75 m 60 45 30
60 100 m 90 75 60
70 160 m 150 140 120
80 225 m 200 190 170
Advance Warning Signs Distances (In Meters)

35. Warning Signs
• Types:
a. Horizontal Alignment Signs
b. Intersection and Junction Signs
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36. Warning Signs
• Types:
c. Road Width Signs
d. Pedestrian and School Signs
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37. Warning Signs
• Hazard Markers – Rectangular in Shape and generally
consisting of a series of black and white bands.
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38. Warning Signs
• Hazard Markers Types:
- One-Way Hazard Markers (Delineate abrupt narrowing)
- Two-way Hazard Marker (Delineate an exposed
obstruction)
- Width Marker (Used when approaching a bridge)
- Chevron Signs (guide through a change in horizontal
alignment)
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39. * Chevrons
• Design Guidelines:
- Point of arrow shall indicate the direction of travel.
- Be visible for at least 150 m from curve.
- Minimum lateral offset shall be 1.8 m.
- Aligned right angle to the driver’s line of sight.
- Spacing, driver should at least see 3 signs while
negotiating a curve
- Installed at least 1.5 m above the ground (rural) and 2.2
m (urban)
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40. * Chevrons
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41. * Chevrons
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42. A.3. Guide Signs
• Informative signs
• Predominantly meant for drivers who are unfamiliar to the
place
• Supply information to identify points of geographical or
historical interest and give directions to rest areas, camping
or parking areas. Guide sign should be limited to the
numbers of words a driver can read.
• Sign should carry not more than three lines of legends
or three destination names.
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43. A.3. Guide Signs
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44. A.3. Guide Signs
• Classifications:
a. Advance direction signs – Used in
advance of an intersection to indicate
destinations along each route leading away
from the intersection providing prior
information.
• Stack Signs
• Diagrammatic Signs
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45. A.3. Guide Signs
• Classifications:
a. Advance direction signs
• Stack Signs
• Diagrammatic Signs
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46. A.3. Guide Signs
• Classifications:
b. Intersection direction
signs – Supplement
advance direction signs
and should be placed at
more important
intersections or decision
points to show where
the intersecting road
leads.
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47. A.3. Guide Signs
• Classifications:
c. Reassurance direction signs
– May be used beyond
intersection to reassure
motorists who are travelling
towards their intended and to
indicate the distances to the
desired destination.
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48. A.3. Guide Signs
• Classifications:
d. Guide signs on expressways
/ Tourist Destination Signs –
may put up on an arterial road
to denote places of public,
scenic, historic or cultural
interest that are recognized by
the appropriate authority and
through which the road passes.
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49. Traffic Signs
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50. Traffic Signs
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51. B. Pavement Marking
• Lines, symbols, messages, or numerals
and may be set into the surface of,
applied upon, or attached to the
pavement.
• A supplement to other traffic control
devices, such as traffic signals and road
signs.
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52. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
1. Longitudinal Lines – Laid in the
direction of travel.
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53. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
1. Longitudinal Lines
• Separation line (Center line) – separate opposite traffic
movements
• Lane lines – separate adjacent lanes of traffic moving in the
same direction.
• Edge lines – Used to delineate the edge of the travelled way to
distinguish it from the shoulder area. Discourage travel on
road shoulders, make driving safer.
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54. B. Pavement Marking
1. Longitudinal Lines
• Separation line
• Lane lines
• Edge lines
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55. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
1. Longitudinal Lines
• Double unbroken/solid yellow line– barrier lines used only
where overtaking from both directions and all crossing
movements are not allowed.
• Single unbroken yellow line – barrier lines used only where
overtaking from both directions are not allowed but crossing
movements are permitted.
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56. B. Pavement Marking
• Double unbroken/solid yellow line
• Single unbroken yellow line
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57. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
1. Longitudinal Lines
• Combination of an unbroken yellow line and a white
separation line – same as the double unbroken yellow line
except that the vehicles whose right is the white lane are
permitted to cross the line.
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58. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
1. Longitudinal
Lines
• Transition lines –
Guide traffic safely
past obstructions on
roadways such as
islands, median strips,
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59. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
2. Transverse lines – Laid across the direction of
travel.
• Stop lines – placed across appropriate portion of the road way
at positions where vehicles are required to stop.
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60. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
2. Transverse lines
• Give way line markings – consist of two adjacent broken white
lines across the carriage way at which the drivers must give way
to all traffic in accordance with give way sign.
• Other lines: Turn Lines, Parking Bays, Painted Median Island,
and Bus & PUJ Lane lines
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61. B. Pavement Marking
• Types:
2. Transverse lines – Laid across the direction of
travel.
• Other markings: Approach marking to islands and obstruction,
Chevron markings, diagonal markings, markings on exit and
entrance ramps, curb markings for parking restrictions.
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62. B. Pavement Marking
• Other markings: Approach marking to islands and obstruction,
Chevron markings, diagonal markings, markings on exit and
entrance ramps, curb markings for parking restrictions.
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63. C. Traffic Signals
• Control devices which could alternately direct the traffic to
stop and proceed at intersections using red and green traffic
light signals automatically.
• Main requirements of requirements of traffic signal are to draw
attention , provide meaning and time to respond and to have
minimum waste of time.
• Reduce conflict between vehicles entering intersections from
different directions.
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64. C. Traffic Signals
• Types:
1. Traffic control signals- They have three colored light glows
facing each direction of traffic flow. RED light means to
STOP , GREEN means to GO , YELLOW or AMBER
means allows the CLEARANCE TIME.
2. Pedestrian Signals- They are meant to give the right way to
pedestrian to cross a road during the “walk period” when the
vehicular traffic shall be stopped by red or stop signal on the
traffic signals of the road.
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65. C. Traffic Signals
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66. D. Other Devices
(Channelizing Devices)
• Barriers, Bollards,
Islands and
Delineators
• Cones - Daytime Use
Nighttime Use
2 reflective collars
required on cones at
night or lighting devices
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67. D. Other Devices
(Channelizing Devices)
• Panel Vertical
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68. D. Other Devices
(Channelizing Devices)
• Barrels
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69. D. Other Devices
(Channelizing Devices)
• Barricades Type III Barricades
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70. D. Other Devices
(Channelizing Devices)
• Longitudinal Channelizing
Devices
- Not crashworthy
• Important: Follow
manufacturer’s
installation instructions
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71. D. Other Devices
(Channelizing Devices)
• Traffic Barriers
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Why add reflectors on traffic barriers?
..

72. Thank You