[USMA:27791] Off topic: Question on MUTCD 2003 Version

[John Woelflein]

I wrote to FHWA on why they changed the circle around the SI speed limit from red to black.

"Ranck, Fred" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Subject: RE: Question on MUTCD 2003 Version
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 09:21:48 -0600

John Woelflein:

 

Thank you for your interest in the design of the metric speed limit sign in the 2003 MUTCD.  My name is Fred Ranck and I am a safety/design engineer with the Federal Highway Administration�s Resource Center in Olympia Fields, Illinois, and a member of the FHWA�s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device�s team.

 

FHWA proposed a design for the metric speed limit sign in the Notice of Federal Rule Making Revision #2 in May of 2002 to make the design for the metric speed value unique and distinctive from the standard english units speed limit; this design included a circle around the speed value in red.   

 

In response to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making, FWHA received many comments, including objections to the use of the color red for the circle around the speed limit value;  based upon the comments to the docket, FHWA changed the color to black in the final rule in recognition of the comments to the docket.   The information available for this change is as follows from the final rule:

 

 34. In Section 2B.13 Speed Limit Sign (R2-1), numbered Section
2B.11 in the NPA, the FHWA modifies the STANDARD statement to reference the speed limit signs shown in Figure 2B-1. In the NPA, the FHWA  proposed a new, unique design for the metric speed limit sign. The sign had a red circle around the speed value with a ``km/h'' legend below,  and the supplemental ``km/h'' plaque removed. The FHWA received eight comments from the NCUTCD, ATSSA, and private citizens in general support of the new metric speed limit design, and ten comments from the Oregon and Minnesota DOTs and private citizens opposed to the sign
design. Those opposed cited concerns that the red circle is generally associated with a prohibitory regulatory ! message, and that a speed
limit does not fall into that category of message. In response to the
comments, the FHWA revises the sign in this final rule to include a
black circle around the speed value, rather than red. The concept of placing a circle around the metric speed limit digits was developed to provide a clear and easily noticed distinction between metric and
English speed limit signs. Because the color red suggests prohibition, and green is already used as a permissive message with hazardous
materials routing signs, the FHWA requires the black colored circle to provide distinction for a metric speed limit.    Based on this new design, the FHWA removes the first SUPPORT statement (from the 2000 MUTCD), as it is no longer needed. The new design of the metric Speed Limit sign better differentiates a metric speed limit sign from an English-unit speed limit sign, and also remedies the possible situation where the ``METRIC'' plaque used in the o! ld design is damaged or stolen and the sign appears to be an English
units Speed Limit sign with a higher but erroneous value. Other than
comments opposed to the change in the metric sign design, there were no comments specifically regarding this change, and the FHWA adopts this change. 

 

Fred Ranck

Safety/Design Engineer/MUTCD Team

Resource Center � Olympia Fields, IL

19900 Governors Drive

Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1021

Telephone #: 708-283-3545

Fax #: 708-283-3545

E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Woelflein [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, December 044, 2003 5:18 PM
To: FHWA, ExecSecretariat
Subject: Question on MUTCD 2003 Version

Could you please tell me why, with the new metric speed limit signs, the red circle around the speed limit number was changed to black?

The red-bordered circle with the number enclosed is an international signing convention. The color red indicates prohibition in most countries of the world, and the US has even been using the red circle with diagonal slash to indicate prohibition for more than 30 years.

I don't believe it's a good idea to use the color black for the circle color on the SI speed limit signs. Red is an attention-getter, as well. Do not enter, Yield, and many other signs use the color red. The new metric speed limit signs and suggested speed limit signs would be better if the color red were used.

On the other hand, if the color black is to be used for regulatory signs, why not change all of the "no left turn," "do not enter," and all the rest of the red signs to black as well, to be consistent at least?

Please consider changing the metric speed limit signs back to red, as they were originally suggested. Thank you.

 

John Woelflein

Nashua, NH

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