Option:

The DO NOT PASS IN CENTER LANE (R4-81) sign may be used to supplement the R3-9a and R3-9b signs to prevent passing in center lanes that are marked as two-way left turn only lanes.

R4-81

36" x 42"

(900 mm x 1050 mm )

Guidance:

The Keep Right (R4-7) sign should be used on Y-lines with raised islands separating directions of travel. On mainline divided facilities, these signs should be installed on the first island or gore separation only.

Support:

Sheets 1 and 2 of North Carolina Standard Roadway Drawing No. 909.30(S) contains information regarding the use of this sign.

R4-7

18" x 24" (450 mm x 600 mm)

24" x 30" (600 mm x 750 mm)

36" x 48" (900 mm x 1200 mm)

48" x 60" (1200 mm x 1500 mm)

Option:

Additional installations may be used on intermediate ends of divisional islands and medians on Y-lines.

Guidance:

The WRONG WAY (R5-1a) sign should be used to supplement the DO NOT ENTER sign where an exit ramp intersects a crossroad or a crossroad intersects a one-way roadway in a manner that does not physically discourage or prevent wrong-way entry. The WRONG WAY sign should be placed at a location along the exit ramp or the one-way roadway farther from the crossroad than the DO NOT ENTER sign (see North Carolina Standard Roadway Drawing No. 909.10(S), Sheets 1 through 4). If the WRONG WAY sign would be visible to traffic to which it does not apply, the sign should be angled away from, or shielded from, the view of that traffic.

Section 2B.36.A STATE LAW-MOTORCYCLES BURN HEADLIGHTS Sign (R5-15),
RIDERS WEAR HELMETS Plaque (R5-16)

Option:

The STATE LAW-FASTEN SEAT BELTS (R5-17) sign may be placed on primary and Interstate highways at the State Line. The R5-17 sign may be erected side-by-side adjacent to the R5-15 and R5-16 signs (see North Carolina Standard Roadway Drawing No. 909.10(S) Sheets 1 and 2).

R5-17

30" x 24" (750 mm x 600 mm)

48" x 36" (1200 mm x 900 mm)

 

Section 2B.36.C MOVE OVER OR REDUCE SPEED FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLES Signs (R20-14 and R20-15)

Standard:

 The MOVE OVER OR REDUCE SPEED FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLES (R20-14) sign shall be erected near the State Line on all four-lane divided facilities entering the state. When erected at the State Line, the R20-17 sign shall be part of an assembly with the R20-14 sign. The R20-14 sign shall be used only on four-lane divided or multi-lane facilities with two or more travel lanes in the same direction (see North Carolina Roadway Standard Drawing No. 909.60(S), Sheet 1).

	R20-17 144" x 18" (3600 mm x 450 mm) 108" x1 2" (2700 mm x 300 mm)
	R20-14 144" x 48" (3600 mm x 1200 mm) 108" x36" (2700 mm x 900 mm)

 

 

The REDUCED SPEED FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLES (R20-15) sign shall be used only on two-lane roadways. When erected at the State Line, the R20-17 sign shall be part of an assembly with the R20-15 sign.

	R20-17 48" x 12" (1200 mm x 300 mm)
	R20-15 48" x 48" (1200 mm x 1200 mm)

 

Option:

Additional signs may be erected at specific locations as requested by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Division of Motor Vehicles, or other emergency management officials, as approved by the Division Engineer.

Support:

See General Statute 20-157.

Option:

The FENDER BENDER MOVE VEHICLE FROM ROAD (R20-16) sign may be erected at specific locations on the State Highway system as requested by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Division of Motor Vehicles, or other emergency management officials, as approved by the Division Engineer, to advise motorists that vehicles involved in minor crashes can be moved off the roadway legally (see General Statute 20-166).

The R20-16 sign may be installed at selected locations on other State Highway facilities where high traffic volumes create a potential for major traffic delays when crashes occur.

Guidance:

The FENDER BENDER MOVE VEHICLE FROM ROAD (R20-16) sign should be installed on all Interstate facilities at selected locations, as determined by the Division Engineer.

R20-16

78" x 36" (1950 mm x 900 mm)

Guidance:

 The RESERVED PARKING for persons with disabilities sign (without arrow) (R7-8a) should be used to designate a single parking space reserved (per General Statute 20-37.6(d)) for the physically impaired.

R7-8a

12" x 18"

(300 mm x 450 mm)

Support:

Where either the Board of Transportation or municipal ordinance prohibits parking on system roads and streets, the installation and maintenance of appropriate NO PARKING signs (R7 Series) are the responsibility of the Division of Highways or the municipality.

Where parking is permitted on system roads and streets but a municipality desires to control its duration or type, the signs shall be the responsibility of the municipality. They shall be installed and maintained at no expense to the Division of Highways.

Option:

The following signs may also be used to regulate parking:

R7-301 12" x 18" (300 mm x 450 mm)

R7-301 12" x 18" (300 mm x 450 mm) 18" x 24" (450 mm x 600 mm)

 The NO OVERNIGHT PARKING (R7-302a) sign may be placed in rest areas throughout the State and Welcome Centers at the State Line to prevent misuse of these facilities.

R7-302a

18" x 24"

(450 mm x 600 mm)

The R7-302b sign may be erected above the REST AREA NEXT RIGHT sign or the WELCOME CENTER (TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER) NEXT RIGHT sign on the approach to the facility.

R7-302b

108" x 16"

(2700 mm x 400 mm)

Option:

Upon approval by the appropriate Division Engineer, a property owner may designate an area of private property used for vehicular traffic as a public vehicular area to allow enforcement of vehicular violations.

Standard:

If an area of private property used for vehicular traffic has been designated as a public vehicular area (see G.S. 20-4.01(32) and G.S. 20-219.4), a standard NCDOT approved Public Vehicular Area (R20-1) sign shall be installed at the driveway or roadway entrance(s) to the area or outside the right of way for areas with adjacent non-public vehicular areas. The following conditions shall apply:

• The Division Engineer shall approve the location of the public vehicular area. Requests for these signs shall be made to the Division Engineer for the appropriate traffic engineering review.

• Pubic vehicular areas are not allowed within the fully controlled access limits of the right-of-way on the State Highway System.

• The Public Vehicular Area signs shall not interfere with or impair the effectiveness of official highway signs.

• Prior to sign erection, the location shall have been registered in the office of the Division Engineer and all costs for the registration of the public vehicular area shall have been paid by the person or organization requesting permission to erect such signs.

• The cost of the sign, the cost of the erection of the signs, and the maintenance cost of the signs shall be the responsibility of the person or organization requesting permission to erect such signs.

The sign shall be 36" x 36" (900 mm x 900 mm), shall have a retroreflective white background with a non-reflective black legend and border, and shall have the layout and message as shown below.

R20-1

36" x 36"

(900 mm x 900 mm)

Option:

The NO DUMPING ALLOWED (R20-2) sign may be used at a location where the practice of dumping trash on the right-of-way is prevalent.

R20-2

18" x 24" (450 mm x 600 mm)

24" x 30" (600 mm x 750 mm)

Guidance:

The NO FISHING FROM BRIDGE (R20-3) sign should be erected where there is a problem with fishing from bridges on Interstate or other controlled-access highways (see Section 19A of the North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) 2E.0408).

Support:

Counties and municipalities have the authority to regulate fishing from all bridges in the State Highway System that are not controlled-access highways. This also includes the draw span of any regularly attended drawbridge. See General Statutes 136-102.5, 153A-242, and 160A-302.1. This sign does not have to be reflectorized.

R20-3

24" x 30"

(600 mm x 750 mm)

Guidance:

Immediately upon erecting the NO JUMPING OR DIVING FROM BRIDGE sign, the local law enforcement agency should be notified in writing.

Support:

This sign does not have to be reflectorized.

R20-4

15" x 24"

(375 mm x 600 mm)

 

Option:

This sign may be used in municipalities where it is desirable to restrict through trucks to primary routes.

R20-5

48" x 60"

(1200 mm x 1500 mm)

Option:

This sign may be used along those highways where littering is a problem to inform road users of G.S. 14-399, which states that it is unlawful to litter the right-of-way of a State Highway or public road located outside of an incorporated town.

R20-6 30" x 30" (750 mm x 750 mm)

Guidance:

Signs R20-7 through R20-9 should be used sparingly.

Option:

The R20-10 sign may be used where right-of-way is controlled to provide adequate sight distance.

Guidance:

The R20-10 sign should be erected parallel to the sight distance right-of-way line.

Support:

The R20-7 through R20-10 signs do not have to be reflectorized.

R20-7 36" x 18 " (900 mm x 450 mm)		R20-8 36" x 18 " (900 mm x 450 mm)
R20-9 36" x 18 " (900 mm x 450 mm)		R20-10 36" x 12 " (900 mm x 3000 mm)

Option:

The R20-11 sign may be used at material stockpile locations where the property is owned by the Department of Transportation. The R20-11a sign may be used at locations where state-owned material is stockpiled in an area that is not owned by the Department of Transportation.

R20-11 36" x 24" (900 mm x 600 mm)	R20-11a 36" x 24" (900 mm x 600 mm)

 

Section 2B.63 STATE MAINTENANCE ENDS Sign (R20-12)

Option:

 The R20-12 sign may be used to indicate where a State road ends and a city street or private road begins.

R20-12

30" x 24"

(750 mm x 600 mm)

Guidance:

The R20-13 sign should be used only in advance of portable truck weigh stations.

A fluorescent yellow background color shall be used for the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Advance Warning (W10-1) sign.

(Note: The option stated in the MUTCD has been superceded by the addition to the standard.)

Guidance:

The sizes listed in the Minimum column in Table 2C-2 for diamond warning signs should not be used. A minimum size of 36" x 36" (900 mm x 900 mm) should be used for diamond warning signs on expressways and freeways. The sizes listed in the Expressway column should be used for all shapes of warning signs on conventional roads with 2 or more lanes per direction.

Support:

Table NC-2C-2 expands upon Table 2C-4 in the MUTCD by providing suggested distances and suggested maximum distances for advance placement of warning signs in North Carolina.

Guidance:

The 270-Degree Loop (W1-15) sign should be used in conjunction with the Advisory Speed (W13-1) plaque for loops on interchanges where significant numbers of vehicles fail to accomplish the turn safely. This sign is for limited use and should be used only at those locations where special emphasis is needed.

Section 2C.10 Chevron Alignment Sign (W1-8)

Guidance:

If Chevron Alignment (W1-8) signs are used along a curve, at least three Chevron Alignment signs should be used.

Guidance:

The Truck Rollover Warning (W1-13) sign should be installed at loops on interchanges where there is a significant potential for trucks to overturn while traveling along a ramp or loop. This sign is for limited use and should be used only at those locations where special emphasis is needed as indicated by accident analysis or by the geometrics of the ramp or loop design.

Guidance:

A NARROW BRIDGE (W5-2) sign should be used in advance of bridges that are 18 to 25 feet (5.5 to 7.6 m) wide where the clear roadway width is less than the width of the approach pavement plus 2 feet (0.6 m).

Guidance:

A ONE LANE BRIDGE (W5-3) sign should be used in advance of bridges whenever the clear roadway width is less than 18 feet (5.5 m).

1. The distances are adjusted for a sign legibility distance of 175 ft (50 m) for Condition A & B. The distances for Condition C have been adjusted for a sign legibility distance of 250 ft (75 m), which is appropriate for an alignment warning symbol sign.
2. Typical conditions are locations where the road user must use extra time to adjust speed and change lanes in heavy traffic because of a complex driving situation. Typical signs are Merge and Right Lane Ends. The distances are determined by providing the driver a PIEV time of 14.0 to 14.5 seconds for vehicle maneuvers (2001 AASHTO Policy, Exhibit 3-3, Decision Sight Distance, Avoidance Maneuver E) minus the legibility distance 175 ft (50 m) for the appropriate sign.
3. Typical condition is the warming of a potential stop situation (Condition B). Typical signs are Stop Ahead, Yield Ahead, Signal Ahead, and Intersection warning signs. The distances are based on the 2001 AASHTO Policy, Stopping Sight Distance, Exhibit 3-1, providing a PIEV time of 2.5 seconds, a deceleration rate of 11.2 ft/second² , minus the sign legibility distance of 175 ft (50 m).
4. Typical conditions are locations where the road user must decrease speed to maneuver through the warned condition. Typical signs are Turn, Curve, Reverse Turn, or Reverse Curve. The distance is determined by providing a 2.5 seconds PIEV time, a vehicle deceleration rate of 10 ft/seconds² , minus the sign legibility distance of 250 ft (75 m).
5. No suggested distances are provided for these speeds, as the placement location is dependent on sight conditions and other signing to provide an adequate advance warning for the driver.

Table NC-2C-2

Guidance:

The END FREEWAY (W6-4) and END FREEWAY 1/2 MI (W6-5) signs should be used in advance of a point on a freeway where there is a change to a lower class of highway, or where a congested condition exists requiring a definite reduction in speed. The W6-4 sign should be placed at least 750 feet (230 m) in advance of the end of the freeway, with 1,250 feet (380 m) to 1,500 feet (450 m) being desirable.

W6-4	W6-5

Support:

Section 3C.04 contains information regarding end-of-roadway markers.

Guidance:

Support:

The first Option paragraph in Section 2C.33 in the MUTCD does not apply (see North Carolina Roadway Standard Drawing No. 909.20(S), Sheets 1 and 2).

Guidance:

The PASSING ZONE AHEAD (W14-3a) sign should be used only along sections of 2-lane highways where special pavement markings have been installed to provide definite passing zones for a particular direction of travel. The sign should normally be erected 500 feet (150 m) in advance of the passing zone.

The W14-3a sign should not be placed just before left-turn lanes, as this might lead to confusion and the use of the left-turn lane for passing.

W14-3a

Guidance:

The Advisory Truck Speed (W13-4) sign should be posted on the right shoulder of the road at the gore of the exit lane leading to permanent official truck weigh stations. The speed limit to be shown on the sign should be determined by existing conditions.

Option:

The W13-4 sign may also be posted within the truck weigh station area on the immediate approach to the weighing scales.

W13-4

The Emergency Vehicle (W11-8) sign shall not be erected in advance of an emergency vehicle station unless it is approved by the Traffic Engineering and Safety Systems Branch.

Support:

The use of these signs will be considered only when all of the following conditions are met:

1. Traffic volumes on the road in front of the fire station averages at least 1,000 vehicles a day.
2. A substantial amount of the traffic is comprised of drivers who are unfamiliar with the route.
3. The stopping sight distance is less than 600 feet (180 m) along one or both of the approaches to the driveway(s).
4. The speed limit is 35 mph (60 km/h) or greater.

(Note: Per Paragraph 6 of the MUTCD, the W11-8 sign shall be used in advance of all emergency-vehicle traffic control signals. Approval from the Traffic Engineering and Safety Systems Branch is not required in this case.)

Option:

The Farm Vehicle (W11-5 or W11-5a) sign may be erected, when approved by the Traffic Engineer, at locations frequently used by farmers to cross state maintained roads with tractors and/or farming equipment. Although this sign is not intended to be used to warn of tractors/equipment being driven along the roadway and/or shoulders of the roadway, if the points of entering and exiting the roadway are in close proximity to each other, this may be considered a crossing area.

Guidance:

Consideration should be given to the type of farm equipment the tractor might be pulling across the roadway in determining adequate sight distance.

Option:

Upon approval by the Division Traffic Engineer, the Golf Cart (W11-11) sign may be installed at locations where golfers cross a state highway while golfing.

(Note: Paragraphs 6 and 7 of Section 2C.41 have been superceded by the new standard paragraph shown above)

Option:

The Deer Crossing (W11-3) sign may be installed when speeds are above 45 mph (70 km/h) and the investigations by the Division Traffic Engineer determine a site to be a frequent deer crossing and/or a high accident location involving deer.

Support:

Deer Crossing signs normally will not be installed in subdivisions or on unpaved roads because of slow speeds and local traffic.

Option:

Upon approval by the Division Traffic Engineer, the Equestrian Crossing (W11-7) sign may be installed at locations where equestrians frequently use bridle paths crossing state roads.

Support:

The W11-7 sign is not intended to be used to warn of horses being ridden along the shoulder of the roadway and normally would not be installed in subdivisions or on unpaved roads because of slow speeds and local traffic.

Guidance:

When determining an advisory speed with a ball-bank indicator, the 10-degree ball-bank indicator reading should be used.

Guidance:

In situations where there is a need to warn drivers to watch for bicyclists traveling along the highway, a SHARE THE ROAD (W16-1) plaque should be used.

Guidance:

These signs are intended for temporary use and should be removed promptly when the hazard no longer exists.

W8-13	W8-7a	W14-5

Guidance:

The W8-14 and W8-12 signs should be placed in advance of the hazardous area.

W8-14	W8-12

Guidance:

The ROAD SUBJECT TO FLOODING (W14-6) sign should be used when a roadway is subject to being closed because of intermittent flooding.

W14-6

Option:

The TRUCKS ENTERING HIGHWAY (W14-12) sign may be installed in advance of driveways and roads (such as from quarries, construction sites, and industrialized areas) where a traffic engineering study shows that large volumes of entering truck traffic pose hazards to the mainline traffic.

Standard:

The sign shall be removed promptly when no longer needed.

W14-12

 

Section 2C.55.F LOW FLYING PLANES Sign (W14-13)

Option:

 The LOW FLYING PLANES (W14-13) sign may be used in the vicinity of airports where low flying planes might startle drivers or where the planes present an actual collision hazard, such as where an airport runway ends close to where the flight path crosses the roadway.

W14-13

CHAPTER 2D. GUIDE SIGNS – CONVENTIONAL ROADS

Section 2D.03 Color, Retroreflection, and Illumination

Standard:

All messages, borders, and legends shall be retroreflective and all backgrounds shall be retroreflective regardless of any illumination.

Section 2D.06 Size of Lettering

Standard:

On low-volume roads (as defined in Section 5A.01 of the MUTCD), and on urban streets with speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h) or less, the principal legend shall be in letters at least 5 inches (125 mm) in height.

Guidance:

The sizes of Series D letters on guide signs for conventional roads should be as shown in the following table:

Series D Letter Sizes for Conventional Road Guide Signs

Type of Facility	Posted Speed Limit
	40 mph (60 km/h) and below	45 mph (70 km/h) or 50 mph (80 km/h)	55 mph (90 km/h) and above
2-Lane/2Way or 3-Lane Section	6 in (150 mm)	6 in (150 mm)	6 in (150 mm) [Minimum]   8 in (200 mm) [Desired]
2 or More Lanes in Each Direction	6 in (150 mm) [Minimum]   8 in (200 mm) [Desired]	8 in (200 mm)	8 in (200 mm)

At grade-separated intersections on conventional roads, the letter sizes shown in Tables 2E-1 and 2E-2 of the MUTCD should be used for the exit signing.

Section 2D.07.A Legend Design

Standard:

In rural areas where there are no major destinations (i.e. control city, county seat, other city or significant destination), the street name shall be used on the guide sign. In urban areas where there is a combination of a street name and a destination on the guide sign, the street name shall be above the destination on the sign.

Section 2D.08 Arrows

Standard:

North Carolina Roadway Standard Drawing No. 901.50 shall be used for arrow sizes and dimensions at specific angles.

Guidance:

When practical on the overhead sign at the exit or turn, the arrow should be placed to the right or left (for left exits) and centered vertically on the sign (excluding any exit panel dimension). For ground-mounted exit direction signs, the arrow should be centered horizontally under the message.

Section 2D.09 Numbered Highway Systems

Standard:

When two or more same type routes run concurrently, the lower numbered route shall be the first (left-most) shield of the same type routes and shall follow the sequence of smallest route number to largest route number.

Support:

For example, if I-85, U.S. 29, U.S. 52, and U.S. 70 routes are required on a guide sign, the route shields would be placed in that order.

Standard:

If a "TO" is required above a shield on a sign for trailblazing, placement of that shield shall be a lower priority than a designated route on the facility.

Support:

For example, if U.S. 1 and TO I-40 are required on a guide sign, the route shields would be placed in that order.

Section 2D.11 Design of Route Signs

Standard:

A three-digit N.C. Route sign shall be at least 36" x 36" (900 mm x 900 mm) in size on ground mounted and overhead guide signs.

Option:

A 36" x 36" (900 mm x 900 mm) three-digit N.C. Route sign may be used on f-assemblies.

M1-5

Standard:

The M1-30 and M1-31 signs shall be used to identify secondary roads on the State Highway System. The M1-30 sign shall be used only to identify the most important secondary roads (those roads having road numbers from 1000 to 1099). All other secondary roads, carrying numbers of 1100 or higher, shall be marked with the M1-31 signs, which are individual number and arrow panels grouped together to form the secondary road number. Each M1-30 and M1-31 sign shall have an appropriate arrow.

Option:

Except as stated in the following standard, the M1-30 and M1-31 signs may be posted on existing sign posts or, if necessary, on separate posts.

Standard:

The M1-30 and M1-31 signs shall not be posted on the face side of STOP or YIELD sign posts.

M1-30	M1-31

 

Section 2D.15 Cardinal Direction Auxiliary Signs (M3-1 through M3-4)

Standard:

The special 30" x 15" (750 mm x 375 mm) size panel shall be used with shield sizes equal to or greater than 36" x 36" (900 mm x 900 mm).

Section 2D.27 Route Sign Assemblies

Option:

Combination assemblies that use one cardinal directional auxiliary sign for two routes, and/or other auxiliary marker that applies to both routes, may be used for route sign assemblies, junction assemblies, directional assemblies, confirming or reassurance assemblies, and advance route turn assemblies.

Standard:

Combination assemblies shall not be used when a U.S. or N.C. route is included in a route assembly that has an Interstate route.

Section 2D.28 Junction Assembly

Guidance:

A posted speed limit of 45 mph (70 km/h) or less should be considered low speed for urban areas.

Section 2D.29 Advance Route Turn Assembly

Guidance:

A posted speed limit of 45 mph (70 km/h) or less should be considered a low-speed area. A posted speed limit of 50 mph (80 km/h) or more should be considered a high-speed area.

Section 2D.29.A LEFT (RIGHT) LANE Auxiliary Sign (M4-16)

Guidance:

A LEFT (RIGHT) LANE (M4-16) auxiliary sign should be used above the cardinal direction auxiliary sign of an advance assembly on a Y-line approach to an interchange when there are two or more through lanes in that direction.

Support:

These signs provide guidance to the motorist in a situation where he/she may not be sure which lane to be in for the turn, such as when approaching a partial cloverleaf interchange (see North Carolina Roadway Standard Drawing No. 909.30(S), Sheets 1 and 2).

M4-16L (Interstate)	M4-16R (Interstate)

Standard:

The LEFT (RIGHT) Lane auxiliary sign with the white background color shall be used when the freeway or expressway is a U.S. or N.C. route. The auxiliary sign with the blue background color shall only be used when the freeway or expressway is an Interstate route.

Section 2D.34 Destination Signs (D1 Series)

Support:

The following is an example of a design of a destination sign:

D1-3

Support:

If distances are included on destination signs, the following is an example of the design: