TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

OVERVIEW
Traffic control devices are signs, signals, pavement markings, and other devices
placed along highways and streets to provide for the safe and efficient movement of
all road users.

Theses devices are placed in key locations to guide and regulate traffic movement,
control vehicle speeds, and warn of potentially hazardous conditions. Traffic control
devices also provide important information to users about detours and traffic delays.

Traffic control devices at and in advance of intersections are of particular

importance. Enough signing and marking must be provided to give the user
important information—but not so much as to distract the user, thereby negatively
affecting safety

Drivers are limited in their ability to read and comprehend information on traffic
signs as a function of their speed and the amount of time to view and process the
information on signs; information on signs beyond that limit are simply not read.
 INTRODUCTION

Road traffic control devices are markers, signs and signal devices used to
inform, guide and control traffic, including pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers and
bicyclists.
These devices are usually placed adjacent, over or along the highways,
roads, traffic facilities and other public areas that require traffic control.

The various aids and devices used to control , regulate and guide traffic may be
called Traffic Control Devices.
The general requirement of Traffic Control
Devices are :Attention , Time for response and respect of road users.
 TYPES OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES
SIGNS

SIGNALS

MARKINGS

ISLANDS
TRAAFFIC SIGNS
They are of great help in regulating traffic by imparting message to
the drivers about the need to stop , give way and limit their
speeds.
They are of three types-
 REGULATORY SIGNS
 WARNING OR CAUTIONERY SIGNS
 INFORMATORY SIGNS
Regulatory signs- They are meant to inform the
road users of certain laws , regulations and
prohibitions ; the violation of these signs is a legal
offense.

Warning Signs – They are used to warn the

hazardous conditions that exist or adjacent to the
Roadway. The warning signs in the shape of
equilateral triangle with onepoint upwards.

Informatory Signs- These signs are used to guide

the road users along routes , inform them of
destination and distance and provide with
information to make travel easier , safe and
pleasant.
 TRAFFIC SIGNALS

They are controldevices which could alternately direct

the traffic to stop and proceed at intersections using
red and green traffic light signals automatically. The
main requirements of requirements of traffic signal are
to draw attention , provide meaning and time to
respond and to have minimum waste of time.

Types of Traffic Signal-

TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS
PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL
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.
 ROAD MARKING

Road marking are made of lines , pattern , words ,

symbol or reflection on the pavement , kerb , sides of
islands or on the fixed objects within or near the
roadway.
The markings are made using paints in contrast with
colour and brightness of the pavements or other
back ground.
Types of marking-
PAVEMENT MARKING
KERB MARKING
OBJECT MARKING
REFLECTOR UNIT MARKING
1. Pavement Marking- They may generally be of white
paint. Yellow marking are used to indicate parking
restrictions .

2. Kerb Marking- These may indicate certain regulation

like parking regulations. Also the marking on the kerb
and edges of islands with alternate black and white
line increases the visibility from the a long distance.

3. Object Marking- Physical obstruction on or near the

road hazardous and hence should be properly marked.

4. Reflect Unit Marking- Reflector markers are used as

hazard markers and guide markers for safe driving
during night. Hazards markers reflecting yellow light
should be visible from a long distance of about 150 m.
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 TRAFFIC ISLANDS
Traffic islands are raised areas constructed within the
roadway to establish physical channels through
which the vehicular traffic may be guided.

They are mainly four types-

DIVISIONAL ISLANDS
CHANNELING ISLANDS
PEDESTRIAN LOADING ISLANDS
ROTARY ISLANDS
1. Divisional islands- They are intended to separate
opposing flow of traffic on a highway with four or
more lanes . By thus dividing the highway into two
one way roadways , the head-on collisions are
eliminated.
2. Channelizing islands- They are used to guide the
traffic into proper channel through the
intersection area. They are very useful as traffic
control devices for intersection at grades , when
area is large.
3. Pedestrian Loading Islands- They are provided at
regular bus stop and similar places for the
protection of passengers.
4. Rotary islands- It is the large central island
of rotary intersection ; this island is much larger
than the central island of channelized
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2

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Rotary island
Signs
Traffic signs are signs which use words and/or symbols to convey information
to road users. These devices are made with retroreflective materials that reflect
light from headlights back towards the driver's eyes. This is to achieve
maximum visibility especially at night.

Traditional
Regulatory signs are traffic signs used to convey traffic rules and regulations
such as intersection controls, weight limit, speed limit, one way, no parking and
others. These signs are generally rectangular in shape and uses white, black
and red/or as their primary colors.
Warning signs are traffic signs that are used to warn road users about a
potential danger. These signs are usually diamond in shape and, except for
temporary traffic control signs, have black legends and borders on a yellow
background. Work zone signs have orange backgrounds, and incident
management signs have pink backgrounds

Examples of warning signs are crosswalk signs. curve warning signs,

intersection ahead signs, flagger signs, workers signs, or road machinery
signs.
Guide signs help road users navigate to their destination.

These signs are generally rectangular in shape and have white text on green
backgrounds. When a guide sign provides temporary guidance due to a work
zone, it will have a black legend and border on an orange background.

Examples of guide signs are street name signs, destination and distance
signs, And place name signs. Work zone guide signs include detour markers,
length of work signs, and end road work signs.
High-level warnings
High-level warning devices are traffic control devices that are high
enough to see over other vehicles, such as vehicle roofs, poles, and
other places not lower than eight feet (2.4 m). These devices are also
called "flag trees" because they feature two or three square fluorescent
orange flags and a sometimes a flashing warning light. This type of
traffic control devices are used in work zones in high traffic density
urban areas.

Channelizing devices
Channelizing devices are used to warn drivers and pedestrians and to
guide them through a work zone. Common channelizing devices are traffic
cones and drums. These types of traffic control devices are usually placed
between traffic and road construction zones, or between opposing traffic
streams.
Arrow boards are portable, illuminated, high-visibility panels that are used
to alert motorists of an approaching lane closure and to specify the
direction in which to merge.
vice versa.
Barricades are channelizing devices used to redirect traffic on high-
speed roads and expressways. There are different types of barricades
depending on its size, design and applications. Barricades may be a
fixed or portable traffic control device. Barricades are also used to close
roads and/or sidewalks.
Temporary raised islands are pavements that are usually 4 inches
(100 mm) in height and 18 inches (460 mm) wide that are used for
temporary traffic control applications.
Road surface markings
Road surface markings are traffic control devices that are applied
directly to the road surfaces. They are used to guide and channel traffic
by designating lanes and indicating stopping points at intersections.
Pavement markings may be permanent or removable.
Interim markings are temporary markings used in place of a pavement
for two weeks or until a real pavement is installed in that specific area.
These broken-line markings are at least ten feet (3.0 m) in length.
 2. Warning Sign
1.Regulatory Sign

3.Informative 4.Temporary Traffic

Sign Control
Some examples of the regulatory signs are shown.

They include a stop sign, give way sign, signs for no entry, sign indicating
prohibition for right turn, vehicle width limit sign, speed limit sign etc.
 2. Warning Sign

Yellow traffic signs are usually warning signs that stand for slowing down,

driving with caution, or a general warning.
It may be yellow, or yellow-green with black wording or symbols.

Q: What are the 3 types of road signs?

Traffic signs are divided into three categories:
a) regulatory, 
b) warning, and
c) guide signs.
3.Informative Sign
 4.Temporary Traffic
Control
 Traffic signs that regulate roadways to help
drivers use the roadways in an orderly fashion.
Regulatory signs use the following shapes:
octagon , equilateral triangle with the point down
and vertical rectangle
The colors used for regulatory signs are red
and white .
 This signs are used to warn drivers and allow
adequate time for a cautious response.
This signs are often diamond-shaped ,
pentagon-shaped and potential obstructions ahead.
The colors used for warning signs are yellow and
green because these are brighter color makes these
signs more visible in foggy or rainy conditions.
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS ON ROAD

Advantages of traffic control signals on the road

Traffic control signals provide for an orderly movement of traffic.
They help in reducing the frequency of an accident of some special
nature i.e. of right angles accidents.
They intercept heavy traffic to allow other traffic to cross the road
intersection safety.
They provide authority to the drivers to move with confidence.
They control the speed of vehicles on main as well as on secondary
roads.
They direct traffic on different routes without excessive congestion.
The provide economy over manual control at the intersection.

The disadvantage of traffic control signals on the road

Traffic control signals may result in a re-entrant collision of vehicles.
They may cause a delay in the quick movement of traffic.
HOW TO SELECT THE CORRECT TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE
Traffic control devices work in concert with the basic “rules of the road”
contained in traffic laws and ordinances, including each states’ uniform
code that regulates vehicle and pedestrian movements. One example is
the “right-of-way” principle that determines which driver has priority when
approaching or entering an intersection.

Traffic control devices have undergone a long evolution of design and

installation criteria. Current designs and the standards for using them are
the result of several decades of scientific investigation and the combined
experience of many professional engineers, human behavior and vision
researchers, and safety policymakers. One of the major resources for
determining the design and use of traffic control devices is the MUTCD.
The 2003 edition of the MUTCD is the national standard applicable to all
roads open to public travel.
The MUTCD provides standards, guidance, and application information for
signs, markings, traffic signals, and other traffic control devices. This document
can be found on the FHWA Web site (http:// mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov). As of
November 2009, the MUTCD is undergoing a revision that could have an
impact on the information presented in this brief.
The Traffic Control Devices Handbook produced by the Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) also is a good resource for information on traffic
control devices. The handbook can be ordered through the ITE Bookstore at
http://www.ite.org/bookstore.

Common Problems with Traffic Control Device Placement and

Installation Due to resource constraints, many jurisdictions do not
have traffic engineers or traffic engineering technicians on staff.
These jurisdictions may rely on personnel that may have an
engineering background—but who are not specifically trained in traffic
engineering—or on individuals without any engineering education.
Knowledge of the standards, guidance, and applications included in
the MUTCD is an essential element in the design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of roadway segments and intersections.
A few of the common problems with traffic control device
placement and installation are provided below.
1. Use of an improper device.
Placing an unwarranted traffic signal where a less restrictive control
would be more appropriate may result in unnecessary delays,
excessive violations, increased crashes, and diversion to less
desirable routes, such as residential streets.
2. Improper placement. A traffic control device at the wrong location
may result in the device being seen too late by drivers to react safely
(e.g., placing a STOP AHEAD or SIGNAL AHEAD sign too close to
an intersection to allow a driver adequate time to stop).

3. Wrong color, shape, or size. Using a color, shape, or size for a

sign or other traffic control device that is in conflict with the MUTCD
can result in the inability of drivers to detect and comprehend the
need to make safe maneuvers and can cause inattention or visibility
problems (e.g., “I didn’t see the STOP sign.”) Similarly, signs with
text that is too small cannot be seen by road users, especially older
drivers..
4. Land use, traffic, and other changes can cause existing traffic
control devices to become obsolete. As an example, traffic signs
that may have controlled the movement of vehicles and
pedestrians for years may no longer be effective if surrounding
land uses have changed.

5. Lack of signs or other devices to warn drivers, bicyclists, and

pedestrians of unexpected, potentially hazardous conditions.
For example, neglecting to provide advance warning of an
upcoming signal or STOP sign over the top of a steep hill can
result in inappropriate braking and steering maneuvers that may
result in crashes

6. Poor maintenance. Signs and pavement markings need to be

maintained on a regular basis. Faded signs and pavement
markings make traffic control devices harder for road users to
detect and may lead to potentially dangerous situations.
For example, faded STOP signs may lead to drivers entering an
intersection without stopping. Nighttime visibility also must be
maintained to comply with new retroreflectivity standards.
7. Overuse. If road users are overloaded with too many warning signs
in an area, they may tend to ignore the signs and be surprised when
they encounter a road hazard. Similarly, too many guide signs may
confuse drivers or cause them to take their eyes off the road for too
long.
8. Competing information. Placing devices too close to each other,
especially when one of the devices has a message that is more
important to the particular location, may distract or overwhelm a user.

For example, placing a speed limit or warning sign near a complex

guide sign may prevent a driver from making a critical decision in a
timely manner.
THANK YOU !!!!