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California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
The 2014 edition, the latest published to date
AuthorsCalifornia Department of Transportation
LanguageEnglish
PublisherCalifornia Department of Transportation
Publication date
2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Publication placeUnited States
Pages1,435
OCLC779857879
TextCalifornia Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices online
Websitedot.ca.gov/programs/safety-programs/camutcd/

The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (abbreviated CA MUTCD) is the standard for traffic signs, road surface markings, and traffic signals in the U.S. state of California. It is developed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Division of Safety Programs "in substantial conformance to" the national Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices developed by the Federal Highway Administration. The first edition of the CA MUTCD was published in 2006, replacing an earlier supplement to the national MUTCD. The most recent edition was published in 2014, incorporating the 2009 edition of the national MUTCD. California is one of ten states that publish their own editions of the MUTCD.[1] The CA MUTCD defines the content and placement of traffic signs. Design specifications are detailed on a section of the Caltrans website that is based on the national Standard Highway Signs and Markings (SHSM) document.

History

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California is the only state that retains the nonrectangular U.S. Route shield, which was used nationally until 1961.

In 1952, the California Department of Public Works Division of Highways published a Planning Manual of Instructions. A traffic manual was added to the planning manual in 1955.[2]

In 1969, the California State Legislature deleted all the provisions of the California Vehicle Code that explicitly specified standards for traffic control devices, making the Division of Highways the sole agency responsible for enacting traffic standards in the state in consultation with the California Traffic Control Devices Committee.[3]

In 1972, the traffic manual became a standalone document, titled simply Traffic Manual. A metric version was published in 1996 by the then-renamed Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Operations.[2]

The iconic "immigration sign" was coded as W54 in the 1990s.

In 2000, Caltrans and the California Traffic Control Devices Committee undertook an effort to reconcile the Traffic Manual with the national MUTCD. In 2004, these efforts resulted in the adoption of the 2003 edition of the national MUTCD along with a California supplement,[2] which replaced various chapters of the 1996 Traffic Manual pertaining to traffic signs and signals.[4]

In 2006, Caltrans once again published its own standard as the CA MUTCD to incorporate the supplement's guidance into the main text of the standard. Subsequent editions were published in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Caltrans made nearly annual revisions to the document from then through at least 2023.[2]

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California Vehicle Code section 21400 provides for Caltrans to adopt a state-specific edition of the MUTCD. Section 21401 legally requires all traffic control devices on streets and highways to conform to these standards. Therefore, the manual is used by state, county, and municipal highway departments, as well as by private construction firms, to ensure that the traffic control devices they use conform to the state standard. Some parts of the national MUTCD have not been incorporated into the CA MUTCD. Where there is a conflict between the two standards, the CA MUTCD takes precedence within California.[3] Several Caltrans-specific signs also appear in the California Driver Handbook, the driver's education handbook published by the California Department of Motor Vehicles in 13 languages.[5]

Development

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The CA MUTCD is developed by Caltrans in consultation with the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC) and other stakeholder agencies. The CTCDC is the successor to the California State Sign Committee, which was originally responsible for highway signage from 1933 to 1947.[3] The ten-member committee consists of representatives designated by Caltrans, the League of California Cities, the County Engineers Association of California, the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, and the California Highway Patrol.[6]

Contents

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In California, guide signs are laid out horizontally with a consistent height. Pull-through signs are used instead of diagrammatic signs.[7]

The CA MUTCD and sign specifications are organized similarly to the MUTCD and SHSM, respectively. Each of the California sign specifications is assigned an alphanumeric designation and organized according to the same series found in the SHSM. The sign designation for a state-specific sign includes a "(CA)" after the sign number. The CA MUTCD also defines some state-specific series:[8]

  • Series G: California Guide
  • Series SG: California Special Guide
  • Series S: California Special Information
  • Series SC: California Special Temporary Traffic Control
  • Series SR: California Special Regulation
  • Series SW: California Special Warning
  • Some common signs unique to the CA MUTCD
  • Welcome To California G10B(CA)
    Welcome To California
    G10B(CA)
  • Inventory Marker G11-4.1(CA)
    Inventory Marker
    G11-4.1(CA)
  • Inventory Marker G11-6(CA)
    Inventory Marker
    G11-6(CA)
  • Historical Landmark G13-1(CA)
    Historical Landmark
    G13-1(CA)
  • Point of Historical Interest G15(CA)
    Point of Historical Interest
    G15(CA)
  • Pull-Through G24-6(CA)
    Pull-Through
    G24-6(CA)
  • State Route Marker G28-2(CA)
    State Route Marker
    G28-2(CA)
  • Scenic Route G30(CA)
    Scenic Route
    G30(CA)
  • Compressed Natural Gas G66-22A(CA)
    Compressed Natural Gas
    G66-22A(CA)
  • STAA Truck Terminal Access G66-56(CA)
    STAA Truck Terminal Access
    G66-56(CA)
  • Call Box SG25(CA)
    Call Box
    SG25(CA)
  • California Welcome Center X Miles SG47A(CA)
    California Welcome Center X Miles
    SG47A(CA)
  • Adopt-A-Highway S32(CA)
    Adopt-A-Highway
    S32(CA)
  • Highway Patrol Parking Only S34(CA)
    Highway Patrol Parking Only
    S34(CA)
  • No Step PS-123(CA)
    No Step
    PS-123(CA)
  • Trucks, 3 Axles or More 55 Maximum R6-3(CA)
    Trucks, 3 Axles or More 55 Maximum
    R6-3(CA)
  • No Right Turn on Red R13A(CA)
    No Right Turn on Red
    R13A(CA)
  • Right (Left) Lane Freeway Only R18B(CA)
    Right (Left) Lane Freeway Only
    R18B(CA)
  • No Trucks Variable Message R20-1(CA)
    No Trucks Variable Message
    R20-1(CA)
  • Truck Length Limit R20H(CA)
    Truck Length Limit
    R20H(CA)
  • Loading Only 7AM to 6PM Except Sunday 30 Minute Limit with Double Arrow R25A(CA)
    Loading Only 7AM to 6PM Except Sunday 30 Minute Limit with Double Arrow
    R25A(CA)
  • No Parking Any Time R26(CA)
    No Parking Any Time
    R26(CA)
  • Tow-Away No Parking R26K(CA)
    Tow-Away No Parking
    R26K(CA)
  • No Stopping/No Parking Specific Hours R29(CA)
    No Stopping/No Parking Specific Hours
    R29(CA)
  • No Stopping/Parking Specific Hours R31(S)(CA)
    No Stopping/Parking Specific Hours
    R31(S)(CA)
  • Commercial Vehicle Weight Exclusion R36(CA)
    Commercial Vehicle Weight Exclusion
    R36(CA)
  • $1000 Fine for Littering R47(CA)
    $1000 Fine for Littering
    R47(CA)
  • Speed Enforced by Radar R48(CA)
    Speed Enforced by Radar
    R48(CA)
  • No Ped Crossing, Use Crosswalk R49(CA)
    No Ped Crossing, Use Crosswalk
    R49(CA)
  • Autos With Trailers – Trucks – Prohibited R53D(CA)
    Autos With Trailers – Trucks – Prohibited
    R53D(CA)
  • Intersection Lane Control R73-3(CA)
    Intersection Lane Control
    R73-3(CA)
  • Chains Required R76(CA)
    Chains Required
    R76(CA)
  • Bike Lane R81(CA)
    Bike Lane
    R81(CA)
  • Accessible Parking Only Minimum Fine $250 R99C(CA)
    Accessible Parking Only Minimum Fine $250
    R99C(CA)
  • Disabled Tow-Away R100B(CA)
    Disabled Tow-Away
    R100B(CA)
  • School Speed Limit Assembly C (CA) SR4-1(CA)
    School Speed Limit Assembly C (CA)
    SR4-1(CA)
  • Trucks Not Given Bypass Signal Must Enter Open Scales SR17(CA)
    Trucks Not Given Bypass Signal Must Enter Open Scales
    SR17(CA)
  • HOV Violation $___ Minimum Fine SR50-2(CA)
    HOV Violation $___ Minimum Fine
    SR50-2(CA)
  • Traffic Signal Photo Enforced SR56(CA)
    Traffic Signal Photo Enforced
    SR56(CA)
  • Red Light Violation $____ Minimum Fine SR58(CA)
    Red Light Violation $____ Minimum Fine
    SR58(CA)
  • Right Lane Buses Taxis Only 6AM–9PM Mon–Fri SR60-3(CA)
    Right Lane Buses Taxis Only 6AM–9PM Mon–Fri
    SR60-3(CA)
  • Rock Slide Area W50-1(CA)
    Rock Slide Area
    W50-1(CA)
  • Light Rail Transit (Trolley) Crossing W82(CA)
    Light Rail Transit (Trolley) Crossing
    W82(CA)
  • Migrating Bears SW59(CA)
    Migrating Bears
    SW59(CA)
  • Watch for Stopped Vehicles SW60(CA)
    Watch for Stopped Vehicles
    SW60(CA)

References

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  1. ^ "MUTCDs & Traffic Control Devices Information by State". Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Federal Highway Administration. July 14, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (PDF) (2014 ed.). Sacramento, California: California Department of Transportation. March 10, 2021. p. 49. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "History" (PDF). California Traffic Control Devices Committee. September 25, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "MUTCD and California MUTCD". California Active Transportation Safety Information Pages. Berkeley, California: UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "Traffic Signs". California Driver Handbook. Sacramento, California: California Department of Motor Vehicles. 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "CTCDC brochure" (PDF). California Traffic Control Devices Committee. May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Somers, Richard A.; Hawkins, H. Gene Jr.; Jasek, Debbie; Urbanik, Thomas II (September 1996). "An evaluation of guide signing at right multilane freeway exits with optional lanes" (PDF). Bryan, Texas: Texas A&M Transportation Institute. pp. 29–37.
  8. ^ "California Sign Specification Drawings". California Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
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