Sign Retroreflectivity

Adequately maintained retroreflective signs improve highway safety and prevent roadway departure crashes by bouncing light from vehicle headlights back toward the vehicle and the driver's eyes, making the signs appear brighter and easier to see and read. Because the retroreflective properties of traffic control devices deteriorate over time, highway agencies need to actively manage the maintenance of signs in order to ensure that they are clearly visible at night.

Funding Assistance

  • Eligibility of HSIP Funds for Sign Replacement:
    This FHWA memorandum addresses the eligibility of Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for sign replacement. It was issued in February 2008. See note below.

  • Sign Retroreflectivity Update and Funding Assistance:
    Prepared by the National Association of Towns and Townships, this document provides a list of Federal aid programs that can be used to help defray some of the State and local costs related to sign retroreflectivity. See note below.

NOTE: Revisions to reflect the May 2012 final rule that changed the MUTCD compliance date requirements and funding changes that may occur due to new highway legislation (MAP-21) are not reflected in this document and should be kept in mind while viewing the document.

Return to top

Program Contact

Cathy Satterfield

What’s New

Guidance memorandum on the Roadside Design Guide - 4th Edition NEW!

Memorandum - Roadside Safety Hardware-Federal-Aid Reimbursement Eligibility Process NEW!

2009 MUTCD Compliance Dates Revised NEW!

FHWA Technical Advisory T 5040.40: Center Line Rumble Strips NEW!

FHWA Memo: Technical Advisories for Rumble Strips NEW!

Roadway Departure Safety Implementation Plans

Roadway Departure Countermeasures

Roadside Design: Steel Strong Post W-beam. A guidance memo was issued on May 17, 2010 on the height of guardrail for new installations. Guidance regarding existing guardrail will be developed in the next several months, in consultation with AASHTO’s Technical Committee on Roadside Safety.

Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [HTML, PDF]

MUTCD Text of the Proposed Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Standard

Summary of the MUTCD Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Standard

Revised Assessment of Economic Impacts of Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity

Publications

Low Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety

The Safety Edge