Handbook of Traffic Control Practices for Low Volume Rural Roads

Russell, Eugene R. · 2005 · ROSA P / Kansas. Dept. of Transportation

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Summary

This document, the third edition of the *Handbook of Traffic Control Practices for Low Volume Rural Roads* (LVR Handbook), addresses the challenge of maintaining safe roadway conditions on rural roads with limited funding. Specifically, it targets low-volume rural roads (LVR), defined as facilities outside built-up areas with an average annual daily traffic (AADT) of fewer than 400 vehicles. The primary motivation is to assist local government units, such as county and township engineers, in balancing maximum safety with minimum cost. The handbook aims to standardize signing and marking practices to meet driver expectations, thereby reducing crash risks and potential legal liability for local jurisdictions. The handbook serves as supplementary guidance to the 2003 edition of the *Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices* (MUTCD). It is not a standalone standard but provides compatible, detailed recommendations for interpreting and applying MUTCD guidelines to LVR contexts. The content is organized into chapters covering specific traffic control devices and scenarios, including warning and regulatory signs, highway-rail intersections, narrow bridges, culverts, and temporary traffic control zones. The handbook emphasizes that while it provides specific guidance, the ultimate decision to install devices rests on engineering judgment or engineering studies, as mandated by the MUTCD. It includes technical tables for minimum taper lengths, sight distance guidelines, and sign placement distances, alongside figures illustrating proper installation techniques. Key findings and recommendations center on three core principles: driver expectancy, positive guidance, and consistency. The handbook argues that drivers form expectations based on recent roadway experiences and general knowledge; inconsistencies, such as sudden narrowing or hidden curves, violate these expectations and increase crash risk. To address this, the text advocates for "positive guidance," where drivers are provided sufficient information to safely navigate obstacles. A primary technique highlighted is "tapering," where the roadway edge is gradually narrowed ahead of a narrow structure to guide drivers away from hazards like culvert ends. The handbook specifies minimum taper lengths based on prevailing speeds and the width of the taper. It also categorizes roads by driver perception (e.g., rough/narrow vs. smooth/wide), noting that smoother roads require more warning signs for inconsistencies because drivers expect higher consistency and travel faster. The significance of this handbook lies in its practical application for local officials who may lack specialized traffic engineering staff. By providing clear, MUTCD-compliant guidelines for common rural road scenarios, it promotes uniformity in traffic control device usage across jurisdictions. This uniformity enhances safety by ensuring that drivers, including those unfamiliar with the area, can predict road conditions and respond appropriately. The handbook also includes tools for self-assessment and inventory management, encouraging local agencies to systematically evaluate and maintain their traffic control devices. Ultimately, it seeks to improve rural road safety through rational, cost-effective engineering practices that align with national standards.

Key finding

The handbook is a supplementary guidance document intended to assist local government units in providing safe local roads by balancing maximum safety with minimum cost, but it is not a legal standard and does not replace the MUTCD or engineering judgment.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• signage environment
• sign visibility legibility
• perceptual countermeasures
• rail grade crossings