CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A.

UBATAY

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

 Traffic management is a term used to embody the activities undertaken by a highway transportation agency to improve
roadway system safety, efficiency and effectiveness for both providers and consumers of transportation services.
 There are two distinct types of traffic management. The first one is through the use of traditional traffic engineering tools
or simple devices to regulate and control traffic. The second relies more on simple devices to regulate and control traffic.
The second relies more on advanced technology through the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
 Advancement of ITS has been the primary goal of many developed countries. The more conventional applications are
common in developing countries. However, it is not uncommon in both developed and developing countries to have a
combination of conventional methods and ITS application.
I. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
 Traffic regulation must cover all aspects of the control of both vehicle (registration, ownership, mechanical fitness,
accessories, size, and weight) and driver (age, ability to operate specific types of vehicles, financial responsibility).
 Traffic regulations must be reasonable and effective.
 All traffic regulations are dependent upon the laws of the states and local governments, especially the ordinances of
cities.

A. Effective Traffic Regulation

There are fundamental requirements for traffic regulation to be effective. These are as follows:
a. Regulation should be rational.
b. Regulations should be developed progressively.
c. Regulations alone often are not enough.

B. Three Elements of the Road System

The road system consists of the following:
a. The road
b. The vehicle
c. The driver

II. TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

 Traffic control devices are means by which the road user is advised as to detailed requirements or conditions affecting
road use at specific places and times to that proper action may be taken and accident or delay avoided.

A. There are three distinct functional groups of traffic control devices:

1. Regulatory devices
These have the authority of law and impose precise requirements upon the actions of the road user.
2. Warning devices
These are used to inform road users of potentially hazardous roadway conditions or unusual traffic movements that are
not readily apparent to passing traffic.
3. Guiding devices
These are employed simply to inform the road user of route, destination, and other pertinent traffic.

B. Four Elementary Requirements of Every Traffic Control Device

To be effective, every traffic control device must be able to meet the following requirements (FHWA 1988):
a. It should compel attention.
b. It should convey a simple clear meaning at a glance.
c. It should allow adequate time for easy response.
d. It should command the respect of the road users for whom it is intended.

 Every traffic control must meet all these requirements in logical sequence. The effectiveness of a sign or marking normally
depends on its size, color contrast, shape (simple, regular shapes), relative position, and maintenance to compel
attention. To convey a clear meaning, the shape, color, and message must be well understood. The message should be
kept as short as practicable at a glance. After capturing the clear meaning of the device, it should provide adequate time
for response.

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY
III. TRAFFIC SIGNS AND MARKINGS
 Traffic signs are employed more frequently than any other devices to regulate, warn, or guide road users. Traffic markings
normally consist of lines, patterns, words, symbols, reflectors, etc.
 Philippine traffic signs conform to the 1968 Vienna Conventions of the United Nations on Road Traffic and Road Signs,
which the country officially adopted on June 6, 1973.
 Traffic signs are necessary to give information as to routes, directions, destinations, etc.
 To ensure uniformity, traffic signs shall be installed only by a duly authorized public body or official for the purpose of
guiding, regulating, and warning traffic.
 Traffic signs are normally of fixed/permanent type although some variable signs have been employed and have become
useful in locations where traffic and environment conditions often change.

Traffic signs are classified depending on their intended uses:

a. Informative: the signs are intended to guide users while they are traveling.
b. Regulatory: the signs are intended to inform users of special obligations, restrictions, or prohibitions with which they
must comply.
c. Warning: these signs are intended to warn users of a danger on the road and to inform them of its nature

A. Elements of design

Uniformity in design includes shape, color, dimension, symbols, wording, lettering, and illumination or reflectorization.
Shape
Shapes of signs are standardized as follows:
a) Equilateral triangular shape with one side horizontal shall be used for danger warning signs.
b) Round shape shall be used for regulating traffic.
c) Rectangular shape shall be used for informative signs.
d) Octagonal shape shall be used for STOP signs only.
e) Inverted equilateral triangle shall be used for YIELD signs only.
Color
a. Danger warning signs shall have a yellow or white background with black symbols and red border.
b. Prohibitory signs and restrictive signs shall have a white background with black symbols and red border.
c. Mandatory signs with the exception of STOP and YIELD signs shall have a blue background and white symbols.
d. STOP signs shall have a red background and white symbols.
e. YIELD signs shall have a yellow background and red border.
f. Informative signs shall have a white or light-colored symbol on a dark-colored (blue or black) background or a blue
or dark-colored symbol on a white or light-colored background.
Size
The minimum dimensions of signs depend upon the intended applications. Larger sizes are necessary at wider roadways
and on high speed highways. According to section 2.5 of DPWH Highway Safety Design Standards Part 2: Road Signs and
Pavement Markings Manual, regulatory signs are of four sizes based on the speed of the facility as follows:
a. A for urban low-speed roads
b. B for rural roads with speed limits between 60 kph and 70 kph
c. C for high-speed rural highways
d. D for expressways

Illumination and reflectorization

 Signs are intended to convey messages during both daytime and night time. During hours of darkness, this can
be achieved through illumination or by using reflective materials for signs.
Placement and height of signs
 In general, signs shall be mounted approximately at right angles to the direction, and facing the traffic they
intended to serve.
Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY
 Mounting signs at exactly right angle must be avoided especially on roads following the east and west directions
as the sun’s brightness reflecting on the signs will be too glaring for the drivers.
 Each location must be carefully studied so as to achieve the most advantageous position. Signs are generally
placed on the right side of the roadway. On wider roads, overhead signs are often necessary. On roads with
medians, signs may be placed on both sides. Signs may also be placed on channelized islands.
a. Lateral placement
 On uncurbed roads in the rural areas, the sign should be at least 60 cm clear of the outer edge of the road
shoulder, the line of guideposts, or face of guardrails. The clearance should not be less than 2 m nor more than
5 m from the edge of the travelled way, except for large guide signs on expressways where ample clearance may
be required.
 In urban areas, signs should be located away from the face of the curb not less than 30 cm but not more than 1
m. If curb is mountable or semi mountable, the minimum clearance should be 50 cm. On uncurbed roads, the
distance given for rural areas shall be used.
 In urban areas, signs should be located away from the face of the curb not less than 30 cm but not more than 1
m. If curb is mountable or semi mountable, the minimum clearance should be 50 cm. On uncurbed roads, the
distance given for rural areas shall be used.
b. Height
 In rural areas, the height of the sign
should normally be between 1 m and
1.5 m above the nearest edge of the
travelled way. For intersection
direction signs, the height should be
increased to 2 m. Final height is
dictated by visibility factor as the sign
should be mounted clear of vegetation
and it must be clearly visible under
headlight illumination at night
 On curbed roads such as in urban
areas, the signs should be mounted at
a minimum of 2 m above the top of the
curb to prevent obstructions to pedestrians.
c. Location of advance warning signs
 In urban areas, warning signs should be placed no less than 30 m but more than 100 m in advance of the
hazardous area, while in rural areas they should be placed no less than 75 m but no more than 225 m ahead of
the hazardous area. The final location shall be determined based on the nature of the hazard, reaction time, and
operating speed in the area.
IV. INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TRAFFIC SIGNS
A. Warning Signs
 The Vienna Convention allows two forms for the warning sign – one is triangular on shape with a red border and
the other is a diamond in shape (table 2.2).

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY

B. Priority Signs
 Priority signs have various forms. The two most commonly used priority signs are the STOP and YIELD signs (table
2.4).

C. Prohibition Signs
 Prohibition signs are round with a red border and either a white or a yellow background. Access restrictions
signs can have a red bar from low right to top left. Parking prohibitions have a blue background. The signs that
signal the end of a prohibition are white or yellow with a small black border and a black bar form left below to
right top. The bar can be replaced by a series of small bars. In addition, the symbol for which the end of
prohibition is intended is given in gray. Examples of prohibition signs are shown in table 2.5.

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY
D. Obligatory Signs
The obligatory signs are round and in blue colors. Examples
are shown in table 2.6.

E. Other Prescription Signs

These signs are, in general, rectangular with either a blue base with a white background, or with a light base
with a dark foreground. These signs give prohibitions, obligations, or danger messages for particular lanes on a
multilane road. Each lane is represented by an arrow, to which the appropriate sign is affixed. Table 3.7 shows
some examples. The background color blue is used for major roads, white for minor roads, and within built-up
areas, and yellow for road works.

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY
F. Information Signs
These signs are rectangular with a white or yellow plate with a
symbol that stands for the service involved. The signs can be
either blue or green. Examples are shown in table 2.8.

G. Direction Signs
A profusion of colors and forms is available. In general, the
forms shown must be adopted, and in some cases even the
color shown must be used and not be changed.

H. Additional Information
These signs are small and rectangulaR, they supplement the information on the main sign (table 2.10).

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY
V. PAVEMENT MARKINGS

A. Functions and Limitations of Pavement Markings

A system of clear and effective pavement markings is essential for the guidance and control of vehicles and pedestrians.
Pavement markings have some definite limitations:
1. They are subject to traffic wear and require proper maintenance.
2. They may not be clearly visible if the road is wet or dusty (e.g., near shoulder edge or median).
3. They may be obscured by traffic.
4. Their effect on skid resistance requires careful choice of materials.
5. They cannot be applied on unsealed roads.
Despite these limitations, they have the advantage under favorable conditions of conveying warning message or information
to drivers without diverting their attention from the road.
B. Legal Authority
Markings shall only be applied and/or removed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or an authority to
which these powers are delegated. All line-markings plans must be approved by the DPWH before installation.
C. Standardization
As in the case with all other traffic control devices, it is imperative that markings be uniform so that they may be recognized
and understood instantly by all drivers. Manuals are available from the DPWH, and on request, it will furnish traffic
authorities, road markers, material, suppliers/manufacturers, and similarly interested agencies, detailed drawings of the
standard designs and locations.

D. Types of Markings
Markings are classified into the following groups:
1. Pavement and curb markings

a. Longitudinal lines are those laid in the direction of travel. These include Center Line, Lane Line, Double Yellow Line, “No-
Passing” Zone Markings, Pavement Edge Line, Continuity Lines, and Transition Line.

b. Transverse lines are those laid across the direction of travel. These include Stop Line, Yield (Give Way) Lines, and
Pedestrian Crossing Markings.

c. Other lines, which include Turn Lines, Parking Bays, Painted Median Islands, and Bus & PUJ Lane Lines.

d. Other markings, which include Approach Markings to Islands and Obstructions, Chevron Markings, Diagonal Markings,
Markings on Exit and Entrance Ramps, Curb Markings for Parking Restrictions, Approach to Railroad Crossings, Messages,
and Symbols and Pavement Arrows.

2. Object markings

a. Object within the roadway

b. Object adjacent to the roadway

3. Reflector markings

a. Retro-reflector raised pavement markers

b. Hazard markers
c. Delineators

E. Materials
Road markings should be of non-skid materials and should not protrude more than 6 mm above the level of the
carriageway. Raised pavement markings should not protrude more than 15 mm above the level of the carriageway.
The following are the commonly used materials for road markings:
1. Paint
Paint with or without glass beads embedded or premixed can be applied either by hand or with line marking machines. For
proper reflectorization at night, the amount of glass beads used should be less than 0.45 kg and no more than 0.50 kg per
liter of mixed paint.
2. Thermoplastic materials
Use of thermoplastic materials with or without reflective properties is recommended at locations subject to extreme traffic
property is recommended at locations subject to extreme traffic wear. The average service life of thermoplastic materials
has been experienced to be equivalent to eight times that of beaded traffic paints.

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY
3. Pre-cut sheeting
Pre-cut materials both with or without reflective properties are used. It is usually in adhesive tape form, with aggregate,
pigment, and plastic rubber combined on one side and adhesive on the other side.
4. Raised pavement markers
These are studs of plastic, ceramic, aluminum, cast iron, etc. that are embodied into the carriageway or attached to the
road surface with adhesive. They may be reflective or non-reflective.

F. Color
The color of pavement markings shall be white, except for the alternative uses of yellow in the following cases:
1. Double yellow “no-passing” lines
2. Unbroken portion of “no-parking” lines
3. Curb markings for prohibition of parking
4. On island in line of traffic
5. Bus and PUJ lanes

Black may be used in combination with white or yellow in hazard markers to warn drivers at locations where the protruding
objects – such as bridge piers, traffic islands, or other protruding objects – on or near the roadway. However, the use of black
does not establish it as a standard color for pavement marking.
G. Types of Lines
 Depending on the direction that lines are marked on the pavement, lines may be longitudinal, transverse, or
oblique. And depending on the use and meaning of such lines, they are either broken or solid lines.
 A broken line shall consist of line segments of equal lengths separated by uniform gaps. The speed of vehicles
on the section of road or in the area in question should be taken into account in determining the lengths of the
strokes and of the gaps between them.
 A solid unbroken line is used where crossing of the line is either discouraged or prohibited. It is generally used
to replace or supplement a broken line where required, e.g., barrier lines, center lines, etc. Solid lines may be
either yellow or white, depending whether crossing the line is legally prohibited or not.
H. Width of Lines
 The width of solid or broken lines varies from 100 mm to 300 mm, depending on the usage of the specified line.
Transverse lines are usually wider because of the angle at which the driver sees markings on the carriageway.
I. Messages
 Messages when used should be limited to as few words as possible, never more than three. They shall only be used so
supplement other traffic control devices. The distance between words is variable, depending on the message and
location at which it is based. (Usually twice the length of the word if achievable.)
The first word of the message is to be nearest the motorist on rural roads. Un urban low-speed areas, the order is optional.
 Messages are white in color. Letters or numerals used on roads in urban areas shall measure at least 2.5 m; oh high-
speed highways, they may need to be at least 5 m.
 Messages generally in use are STOP, KEEP CLEAR, SCHOOL PED XING, RAILROD XING, SIGNAL AHEAD, NO RIGHT (LEFT)
TURN, BUS LANE, and PUJ LANE.
J. Symbols
a. Give way (yield) symbol

The symbol used to supplement the give way sign consists of isosceles triangle having two equal sides of 3.1 m and a base of
1 m. Outline width is 450 mm at the base and 150 mm for the sides. The distance of the symbol from the holding line is
between 5 m and 25 m, depending on the location and vehicle speeds on that road.
b. Pavement arrows

Pavement arrows are used for lane use control. White in color, they are generally 5m in length on urban roads and 7.5m on
high-speed roads. For half-turn movements, the stems of the straight arrows can be bent to suit the particular direction of
movements.
c. Numerals
The only numerals that should be used are those associated with speed limits at location to supplement limit signs, which
are continuously disregarded by drivers.
VI. OBJECT MARKINGS AND MARKERS
A. Object Markings
 Physical obstructions in or near a roadway that constitute serious traffic hazard, including installations designed for the
control of traffic, shall be adequately marked.
 For additional emphasis it is also advisable to mark obstructions rather than islands with reflectorized white paint with
not less than five alternating black and reflectorized white stripes. The stripes shall slope downward at an angle of 45

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY
degrees toward the side of obstruction, and shall be uniform and not less than 100 mm in width. A large surface, such
as a bridge pier, may require stripes of 300 mm (see figure 2.3).

 In addition to the marking on the face of an obstruction in

the roadway, warning of approach to the hazard shall be
given by line markings on the pavements.
 Reflectorized yellow should be used in curbs of all islands
located in the line of traffic flows especially on curbs directly
ahead of traffic at T and offset intersections.
B. Raised Pavement Markers
 Raised pavement markers are small rectangular or dome-
shaped devices that are fixed to the pavement surface to
simulate or supplement painted pavement markings (figure
2.4). The markers can be reflective or nonreflective.
 Raised pavement markers are generally not obscured at
night and under wet conditions. The reflective types are
more brilliant than reflectorized paint markings.
 Because of high cost of installation and maintenance,
use of raised pavement markings may be considered
only in accident-prone areas, e.g., on hilly areas where
there is frequent fog and rain. Figure 2.5 shows the
visual effect of raised pavement markers.
C. Hazard markers
 Hazard markers are rectangular and generally consist
of a series of alternating black and white bands (figure
2.6). The white portion is always reflectorized, but the
reflectorized material may cover only the central
portion of each white band in order to achieve a
balance between the areas of black and white under headlight illumination. The bands may consist of either diagonal
strips where only a target is required or of chevrons where directional as well as target properties are desirable.
D. Delineators
 Delineators are small reflective panels or buttons mounted on guide posts or guard fences as an effective aid for night
driving (figure 2.7). Delineators are made of reflective material capable of reflecting light clearly visible under normal
atmospheric condition from a distance of 300-500 m when illuminated by the upper beam of a standard automobile
head lamp. Placement of delineators at the roadside of a circular curve is shown in figure 2.8.

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua
CE 5118 (TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING) INSTRUCTOR: A. UBATAY

Reference: Traffic engineering 4th edition, Roess/Prassas/McShane; Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, R. Sigua