GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION OF SELECTED SIGNS AND MARKINGS ON LOW-VOLUME RURAL ROADS

Existing standards and guidelines for the application of signs and markings are unsuited and inefficient for use on low-volume rural roads (roads with less than an average of 400 vehicles/day). To alleviate this inadequacy, several potentially hazardous situations were evaluated to asertain actual needs for signs and markings as they relate to economy and safety. These evaluations were based on recent research and on probability of conflict analyses with regard to the needs for signing and marking of intersections, horizontal curves, and sections of inadequate passing sight distance. The research revealed that more efficient intersection control can be attained from the careful application of stop signs and crossroad warning signs based on approach speed, sight distance, and combined intersecting volumes. Treatment of horizontal curves can be made more efficient through the application of more stringent guidelines without adversely affecting safety. Striping of no-passing zones was found to be very inefficient in most instances because the probability of conflict in these situations is virtually nil; guidelines for alternative treatments are presented. Overall, the authors felt that application of guidelines suited to the rural context would result in savings in time, money, and frustration on the part of responsible agencies.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/597/597-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=GUIDELINES+FOR+APPLICATION+OF+SELECTED+SIGNS+AND+MARKINGS+ON+LOW-VOLUME+RURAL+ROADS&author=W.+Stockton&author=J.+Mounce&author=N.+Walton&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Control Devices. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Stockton, William R
  • Mounce, John M
  • Walton, Ned E
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 26-32
• Monograph Title: Traffic control: signals and other devices
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 597
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Curves (Geometry); Guidelines; Intersections; Low volume roads; No passing zones; Road markings; Rural highways; Speed control; Traffic signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Horizontal curvature
• Old TRIS Terms: Intersection speed control; Traffic marking
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149217
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025664
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 30 1977 12:00AM