The
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (
MUTCD) is a document issued by the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the
United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to specify the standards by which
traffic signs,
road surface markings, and
signals are designed, installed, and used. These specifications include the shapes, colors, and fonts used in road markings and signs. In the
United States, all traffic control devices must legally conform to these standards. The manual is used by state and local agencies as well as private construction firms to ensure that the traffic control devices they use conform to the national standard. While some state agencies have developed their own sets of standards, including their own MUTCDs, these must substantially conform to the federal MUTCD.