Section 1B.03 Compliance of Devices
Standard:
[01] The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, under authority granted by the Highway Safety Act of 1966, decreed that traffic control devices on all streets and highways open to public travel in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 402(a) in each State shall be in substantial conformance with the Standards issued or endorsed by the FHWA.
Support:
[02] 23 CFR 655.603 also requires traffic control devices on all streets, highways, bikeways, and site roadways open to public travel in each State be in substantial conformance with standards issued or endorsed by the Federal Highway Administrator.
Standard:
[03] After the effective date of a new edition of the MUTCD or a revision thereto, or after the adoption thereof by the State, whichever occurs later, new or reconstructed devices installed shall comply with the new edition or revision, as required by 23 CFR 655.603.
[04] In cases involving Federal-aid projects for new construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, or rehabilitation of a facility to which this Manual applies, the traffic control devices installed (temporary or permanent) shall comply with the most recent edition of the National MUTCD before that highway is opened or re-opened to the public for unrestricted travel [23 CFR 655.603(d)(2) and (d)(3)].
[05] Unless a particular device is no longer serviceable (see definition in Section 1C.02), non-compliant devices on existing highways and bikeways shall be brought into compliance with the current edition of the National MUTCD as part of the systematic upgrading of substandard traffic control devices (and installation of new required traffic control devices) required pursuant to the Highway Safety Program, 23 U.S.C. §402(a).
Support:
[06] The FHWA has the authority to establish other target compliance dates for implementation of particular changes to the MUTCD [23 CFR 655.603(d)(1)].
Standard:
[07] The target compliance dates established by the FHWA shall be as shown in Table 1B-1.
[08] Design, application, and placement of traffic control devices other than those adopted in this Manual shall be prohibited unless the provisions of Sections 1B.04 through 1B.08 are followed regarding official interpretations, experiments, changes to the MUTCD, and interim approvals granted by the FHWA.
Support:
[09] Many of the provisions in this Manual that are explicitly prohibitive have been included to address practices that have been shown to be ineffective, unsafe, or inconsistent with uniformity. A provision of mandatory or recommended practice represents the accepted and established practice that promotes uniformity and consistency. The absence of a provision in this Manual that explicitly prohibits a particular practice, use, design, application, operation, or other aspect of a traffic control device does not, in itself, constitute acceptability or permission to use the device in a manner not provided for in this Manual.
| MUTCD Section(s) |
Subject Area | Specific Provision | Compliance Date |
| 2B.64 | Weight Limit Signs | Paragraph 14 – requirement for additional Weight Limit sign with the advisory distance or directional legend in advance of applicable section of highway or structure | 5 years from the effective date of this edition of the MUTCD |
| 2C.25 | Low Clearance Signs (W12-2) |
Paragraph 1 – Required posting of the Low Clearance Advance (W12-2) sign in advance of the structure | 5 years from the effective date of this edition of the MUTCD |
| 2C.25 | Low Clearance Signs (W12-2a, W12-2b) |
Paragraph 8 – Recommended posting of Low Clearance Overhead (W12-2a or 12-2b) signs on an arch or other structure under which the clearance varies greatly | 5 years from the effective date of this edition of the MUTCD |
| 3A.05 | Maintaining Minimum Retroreflectivity |
Implementation and continued use of a method that is designed to maintain retroreflectivity of longitudinal pavement markings (see Paragraph 1 of Section 3A.05) | September 6, 2026 |
| 8B.16 | High-Profile Grade Crossings |
Paragraphs 3 and 7 – Recommended installation of Low Ground Clearance and/or Vehicle Exclusion signs and detour signs for vehicles with low ground clearances that might hang up on highprofile grade crossings at locations with a known history | 5 years from the effective date of this edition of the MUTCD |
| 8D.09 through 8D.12 |
Highway Traffic Signals at or Near Grade Crossings |
Assessment and determination of appropriate treatment to achieve compliance (preemption, movement prohibition, pre-signals, queue cutter signals) | 10 years from the effective date of this edition of the MUTCD |
