Interpretation Letter 2(09)-40 (I) - R1-5 with Schoolchildren Symbol

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, D.C. 20590

June 4, 2012

In Reply Refer To: HOTO-1

Adam S. Weiser, P.E., PTOE
Safety Programs Manager
Division of Transportation Manager
Delaware Department of Transportation
800 Bay Road, PO Box 77B
Dover, Delaware 19903

Dear Mr. Weiser:

Thank you for your recent letter requesting an official interpretation regarding the use of the schoolchildren symbol in lieu of the pedestrian symbol on the Yield Here To (Stop Here For) Pedestrians (R1-5 series) signs when utilizing these signs within a school zone in advance of an unsignalized midblock school crosswalk.

It is our official interpretation that the schoolchildren symbol may be used in place of the pedestrian symbol on the R1-5 series signs when used in a school zone in advance of an unsignalized midblock school crosswalk. As stated in your letter, there is no option in the current edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) to replace the pedestrian symbol on the R1-5 series signs. The MUTCD provides for the use of the schoolchildren symbol in lieu of the pedestrian symbol with the R1-6 series In-Street Pedestrian Crossing signs (as R1-6b and R1-6c) when used at an unsignalized school crossing. However, similar modification to the R1-5 series signs is not addressed in the MUTCD. The pedestrian symbol in the R1-5 series Yield Here To Pedestrians Signs and Stop Here For Pedestrians Signs may be replaced with the schoolchildren symbol as long as the symbol height remains consistent and the signs are only used in advance of unsignalized midblock crosswalks within school zones. When the R1-5 series signs are so modified, the provisions of Part 7 shall also apply.

We have assigned this interpretation the following Official Ruling number and title: "2(09)-40 (I) — R1-5 with Schoolchildren Symbol." If you have further questions on this matter, please contact Mr. Eric Ferron of our MUTCD Team at 720-963-3206 or eric.ferron@dot.gov.

Sincerely yours,

Original signed by:

Mark R. Kehrli
Director, Office of Transportation Operations