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Home > Roadway Departure Safety > Nighttime Visibility

Nighttime Visibility Policy / Guidance

• Federal Rule on Sign Retroreflectivity
• Funding Assistance
• FHWA Guidance on Sign Sheeting Products

Federal Rule on Sign Retroreflectivity

• Final Rule: Maintaining Sign Retroreflectivity
  Published on Dec. 21, 2007 and effective Jan. 22, 2008, this final rule supplements the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements for maintenance of sign retroreflectivity. The rule provides additional requirements, guidance, and clarification. The new rule encourages flexibility to allow agencies to choose a maintenance method that best fits their specific conditions. Agencies have until January 2012 to establish and implement a sign assessment or management method to maintain minimum levels of sign retroreflectivity. The compliance date for meeting the minimum retroreflectivity requirements for regulatory, warning, and ground-mounted guide signs is January 2015. For overhead guide signs and street name signs, the compliance date is January 2018.

• Frequently Asked Questions
  Here’s where to find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Federal requirements for maintaining minimum sign retroreflectivity.

• How MUTCD language has changed due to Dec. 2007 rulemaking.
  This page provides detail on how the Jan 2007 rulemaking modified the MUTCD guidance on signs.

• Flyer: New Sign Retroreflectivity Requirements

• Brochure: New Sign Retroreflectivity Requirements
  This trifold brochure provides a concise high-level overview of the new sign retroreflectivity requirements.

• Technical Brief: New MUTCD Sign Retroreflectivity Requirements
  This 4-page technical brief summarizes the technical details of the new rulemaking.

• Newsletter Article: New Sign Retroreflectivity Requirements
  Click here for a concise overview of the new sign retroreflectivity requirements in article format.

• Powerpoint Presentation: Minimum Sign Retroreflectivity Requirements
  A 15-minute Powerpoint presentation providing an overview of the new sign retroreflectivity requirements.

• Methods for Maintaining Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity
  This 2007 report prepared by Texas Transportation Institute for the FHWA provides technical guidance on methods for maintaining traffic sign retroreflectivity in accordance with the new Federal rules.

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Funding Assistance

• Sign Retroreflectivity Update and Funding Assistance
  Prepared by the National Association of Towns and Townships, this document provides a list of Federal aid programs that can be used to help defray some of the State and local costs related to sign retroreflectivity.

• Eligibility of HSIP Funds for Sign Replacement
  This FHWA memorandum addresses the eligibility of Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for sign replacement. It was issued in February 2008.

• Eligibility of 23 USC 120 (c) for Highway Lighting
  This FHWA memorandum addresses the eligibility of highway lighting for 100 percent Federal funding under 23 USC 120 (c) [Increased Federal Share for Certain Safety Projects]. The memorandum was issued in December 2005.

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FHWA Guidance on Sign Sheeting Products

• Guidelines for Evaluating Public Interest Findings and Certifications for Retroreflective Sheeting for Traffic Control Signs
  This July 2006 FHWA memorandum provides guidelines to assist practitioners in making informed decisions regarding sign sheeting products.

• Sign Sheeting Proprietary Products
  This January 2006 FHWA memorandum addresses issues regarding traffic sign sheeting and regulations concerning sole source requirements.

• Guidelines when considering a 3M Diamond Grade Cubed (DG3) Public Interest Finding request
  This December 2007 FHWA memorandum determines that more information is needed and a PIF is not approved at this time.

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Program Contact

Cathy Satterfield
Cathy.Satterfield@dot.gov

What’s New

Proposed Revision of the 2009 MUTCD – Compliance Dates NEW!

FHWA Technical Advisory T 5040.40: Center Line Rumble Strips NEW!

FHWA Memo: Technical Advisories for Rumble Strips NEW!

Roadway Departure Safety Implementation Plans

Roadway Departure Countermeasures

Roadside Design: Steel Strong Post W-beam. A guidance memo was issued on May 17, 2010 on the height of guardrail for new installations. Guidance regarding existing guardrail will be developed in the next several months, in consultation with AASHTO's Technical Committee on Roadside Safety.

Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [HTML, PDF]

MUTCD Text of the Proposed Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Standard

Summary of the MUTCD Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Standard

Revised Assessment of Economic Impacts of Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity

Publications

Low Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety

The Safety Edge