How Traffic Signs Are Developed

Traffic signs provide important information about the law, warn about dangerous conditions and help you find your way. Sign symbols, colours and shapes have specific meanings and make the sign’s purpose easy to identify.

The need for new traffic signs is always growing and changing, especially to keep up with advancements in technology and community growth and development.

In Canada, the Transportation Association of Canada’s (TAC) Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (MUTCDC) serves as a toolbox of road signs, traffic signals, pavement markings and other devices that communicate to pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and other road users about important regulations, roadway characteristics, potential hazards and temporary conditions.

The MUTCDC is a national collaborative effort to improve road safety by harmonizing traffic control devices across Canada, without limiting the ability of provinces, territories and communities to test or adopt different, context-sensitive solutions. With the MUTCDC as a common starting point, provinces adopt their own laws, regulations and manuals on traffic control devices.

How is a traffic sign or control device considered to be included the MUTCDC? Take a look at our infographic below.