Regulations

The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issues and maintains the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD). This document, originally issued in 1935, is periodically updated. In this course, we will discuss the most recent edition, which was published in 2009 and revised in May 2012. This newest document, titled "2009 MUTCD with Revisions 1 and 2 Incorporated," is available online.

The MUTCD includes all nationally mandated design, application, and placement standards for the use of traffic control devices. Traffic control devices include signs, signals, and pavement markings. The MUTCD regulations help to make sure that these devices will be used in a consistent way so that drivers do not become confused. The MUTCD applies to all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail that is open to public travel.

Most U.S. states have adopted the MUTCD. About a dozen U.S. states have written and adopted their own set of FHWA-approved regulations. You can learn more about the regulations in your own state by visiting the FHWA website.

Part 6 of the MUTCD regulations, entitled "Temporary Traffic Control," outlines specific regulations relating to the control of traffic passing through the roadway work zone area. Although in this course we will only touch on these rules, they are very important to work zone safety.

Aside from a short set of definitions provided in the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 29 CFR 1926.203, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) refers to the MUTCD as the guide for the safe control of traffic in roadway work zones.

A wide variety of other OSHA regulations pertain to roadway work zones, however. For example, OSHA construction industry regulations (29 CFR 1926 Subpart O) provide regulations for the operation of vehicles and equipment on off-road job sites that are not open to public traffic. There are many other applicable construction industry regulations, as well.

In this course, we will highlight some of the key OSHA regulations related to the roadway work zone. If you are responsible for ensuring that OSHA requirements are met, we recommend that you seek to learn more about all OSHA general workplace and construction workplace rules applicable to your situation.

In addition to the MUTCD and OSHA regulations, your state or local jurisdiction may also have regulations and procedures designed to protect the safety of workers during roadway construction. Your state or county departments of transportation may be able to offer guidance on this.

To learn more about Roadway Work Zones visit our Worker Safety in Roadway Work Zones Online Training web page.