Transportation
Let’s Throw Away These Rules of the Road
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which lays down the law on U.S. street markings and design, is up for revision. Bike and pedestrian safety advocates want big changes.
The MUTCD’s latest revision has drawn criticism for failing to consider non-automotive road users. But federal regulators could send the book back to the drawing board.
Photographer: JIM WATSON/AFP
Think of it as a recipe book for the roads: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or the MUTCD, is an 862-page document that governs road markings and signs across the United States.
The idea behind the manual is solid enough: Whether you’re driving in Hawaii or Oklahoma, a stop sign is easily recognizable as a stop sign.