Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways

October 13, 2023 – Update on the 11th Edition of the MUTCD

On September 29, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs completed its review of the pending rulemaking for the next edition of the MUTCD. This review was the last major step of the regulatory process allowing FHWA to proceed to preparation of a Notice of Final Rule. The documents and supporting materials for a Final Rule will take just a bit more time to finalize, but we expect to publish this year.

The purpose of the MUTCD is to help ensure traffic control devices used across the country meet the needs of all road users, including the most vulnerable, in a safe and efficient manner. The next edition of the MUTCD will provide road managers nationwide with contemporary options to address safety and operational issues, while maintaining uniformity, in selecting the traffic control devices that will convey the intended operation of their facilities to users.

Check out the MUTCD News Feed for up-to-the-minute information on new items such as Interim Approvals, Official Interpretations, Policy Statements, Federal Register notices—everything you need to make the most of your MUTCD and keep road users on the move!

On September 29, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs completed its review of the pending rulemaking for the next edition of the MUTCD. This review was the last major step of the regulatory process allowing FHWA to proceed to preparation of a Notice of Final Rule.

A Notice of Proposed Amendments (NPA) to issue a new edition of the MUTCD was published in the Dec. 14, 2020,Federal Register for public comment. More than 17,000 entries submitted to the public docket comprise over 35,000 individual comments, and these comments will inform this rulemaking action and the 11th Edition of the MUTCD. In addition, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directs USDOT to update the MUTCD within 18 months of its enactment, and at least every 4 years thereafter to promote the safety, inclusion, and mobility of all road users.

The 11th Edition of the MUTCD will be a comprehensive update, incorporating the results of nearly 200 Official Experiments of novel traffic control devices and applications, Official Interpretations, Interim Approvals, and other research conducted both independently and by the Traffic Control Device Consortium Pooled Fund.

Read more about the MUTCD 11th Edition…and beyond.

FHWA conducted four informational Webinars to acquaint you with the Notice of Proposed Amendments (NPA) for the 11th Edition of the MUTCD and the revision process. The recordings for all webinars are available here.

On January 4, 2021, the FHWA issued Official Interpretation 2(09)-174 (I) to provide clarification regarding messaging and uses of Changeable Message Signs (CMS).

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, or MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F.

The MUTCD, which has been administered by the FHWA since 1971, is a compilation of national standards for all traffic control devices, including road markings, highway signs, and traffic signals. It is updated periodically to accommodate the nation's changing transportation needs and address new safety technologies, traffic control tools, and traffic management techniques.

On December 16, 2009 a final rule adopting the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD was published in the Federal Register with an effective date of January 15, 2010. States must adopt the 2009 National MUTCD as their legal State standard for traffic control devices within two years from the effective date. The Federal Register notice, which provides detailed discussion of the FHWA's decisions on major changes from the 2003 edition, can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-28322.pdf (PDF, 716KB).

FHWA does not print copies of the MUTCD. National organizations have partnered and printed hard copies of the MUTCD. These hard copies are available for sale. Go to ATSSA, ITE, AASHTO, or IMSA to get sales information.

On May 14, 2012 final rules adopting Revisions 1 and 2 of the 2009 MUTCD were published in the Federal Register with an effective date of June 13, 2012. On August 5, 2022 the final rule adopting Revision 3 of the 2009 MUTCD was published in the Federal Register with an effective date of September 6, 2022. The Federal Register notices, which provide detailed discussions of the FHWA's decisions, can be viewed at:

• Revision 1 - National Standards for Traffic Control Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways; Revision; Final Rule [FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2010-0170] (PDF 229KB, HTML)
• Revision 2 - National Standards for Traffic Control Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways; Revision; Final Rule [FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2010-0159 (PDF 242KB, HTML)
• Revision 3 - National Standards for Traffic Control Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways; Revision; Final Rule [FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2009-0139] (PDF 286KB, HTML)

The PDF version of the 2009 MUTCD with Revisions 1, 2, and 3 incorporated, dated July 2022 is the most current edition of the official FHWA publication.