Principles For The Use Of Harmonized Road Traffic Control Facilities

Principles of Use of Traffic Control Devices

Any traffic control facilities placed on shared roads are not entitled to patent or copyright protection. Commonly used road traffic control facilities specifically include traffic signs, markings and signals, etc., the design and placement of which must comply with the requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices of the Federal Highway Administration of the United States. According to the Manual, the purpose of the use of road traffic control facilities is to enable all road users to flow in an orderly manner, to ensure that road traffic is safe and swift. The function of road traffic signs, markings and signals is to provide road users with relevant prohibitions, warnings and directions to ensure the safe, coordinated and expeditious operation of all components of the traffic flow. For all public roads (including highways and urban roads), the placement and use of road traffic control facilities should meet the following five basic requirements:

1. to meet needs;

2. attract attention;

3. convey clear and simple information;

4. induce compliance by road users;

5. give adequate response time.

It should be emphasized that in order to ensure that road users comply with traffic control device instructions, each state in the United States has long had legislation to oversee implementation. For those parts which are not covered by state laws, local legislation has been passed to provide for them. The proper use of the relevant traffic control facilities means that normal and careful road users are provided with the necessary instructions and information to ensure their safe and lawful use of transportation facilities such as roads, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) clearly states that road traffic facilities, their pillars and supports are strictly prohibited from having any commercial advertisement or other messages that are not related to traffic control, this does not include signs providing services to drivers such as tourist guides, special services, and so on. To ensure that traffic control facilities meet the above five basic requirements, it is necessary to carry out careful and meticulous planning in terms of the design, placement, operation and maintenance of the relevant control facilities, in particular, to ensure the consistency of traffic control facilities and the impact of vehicle speed on the normal use of traffic control facilities. The legal speeds and speed limits relating to roadways have been legislated by various states in the United States. It is important to note that the relevant legislation is all consistent with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

The Importance of Uniform Traffic Control Facilities

The uniformity of traffic control facilities not only emphasizes the consistency of the colors, shapes, lettering patterns and placement of the facilities in question, it also emphasizes the consistency between the various relevant technical standards dealing with traffic control facilities. The relevant manuals published by the U.S. Transportation Engineers provide detailed descriptions and explanations of the role of uniformity in traffic signs. For traffic control facilities, the importance of its uniformity also lies in:

1. Uniform design, so that road users can quickly confirm and understand the relevant information;

2. uniform placement to provide road users with consistent signs in similar locations to ensure that drivers have adequate reaction time and a prior probability of anticipation of the signs;

3. uniformity of use to induce road users to comply with the instructions of traffic control devices; otherwise, this may lead to inattention and carelessness on the part of road users;

4. uniformity of meaning to ensure that the same sign has the same meaning in different places and to induce road users to obey traffic control facilities.