An official website of the United States government
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
On August 5, 2022, FHWA published a final rule in the federal register adding new provisions to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) relating to maintaining minimum levels of pavement marking retroreflectivity. On December 19, 2023, the 11th Edition of the MUTCD was...
Roadway lighting is another means to increase visibility for drivers and other roadway users. Properly designed roadway lighting allows road users to quickly assess roadway conditions and creates a safer environment within the roadway vicinity. New technologies to reduce the...
Adequately maintained retroreflective pavement markings improve nighttime highway visibility and reduce the risk of crashes by bouncing light from vehicle headlights off of the traffic control device and back toward the vehicle and the driver's eyes. This makes markings appear...
Below are several research documents that you may find useful in learning more about sign retroreflectivity.
Daytime Color Appearance of Retroreflective Traffic Control Sign Materials [HTML,...
The most frequently asked questions about the maintaining minimum sign retroreflectivity are shown below. Click on the question of interest to see the FHWA response to the question.
The documents below contain information that agencies may find useful for implementing sign retroreflectivity methods.
...
The documents below contain technical information and guidance related to sign retroreflectivity.
...
About half of traffic fatalities occur at night, although only about one quarter of travel occurs after dark. While intoxication and fatigue contribute to the high rate of nighttime crashes, nighttime driving is inherently challenging due to decreased visibility. In dark...
The link below contains information about federal funding eligibility for roadway lighting.
...
Adequately maintained retroreflective signs improve nighttime highway navigation and reduce the risk of crashes by bouncing light from vehicle headlights back toward the vehicle and the driver's eyes, making the signs appear brighter and easier to see and read. Because the...