N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 17 § 2C.05

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 25, June 18, 2024
Section 2C.05 - Placement of Warning Signs

DELETE the entire section, including Table 2C-4.

INSERT Table NY2C-4 and the following paragraphs:

Standard:

00A All references to "Table 2C-4" in the MUTCD shall be understood to actually refer to Table NY2C-4.

Support:

00B For information on placement of warning signs, see Sections 2A.16 to 2A.21.

00C The time needed for detection, recognition, decision, and reaction is called the Perception-Response Time (PRT).

00D Table NY2C-4 lists suggested sign placement distances for three conditions; these values are based on essentially level approaches. The distances shown in Table NY2C-4 can be adjusted for roadway features, other signing, and to improve visibility.

Support:

00E Condition C in Table NY2C-4 comprises the distances associated with Condition B with an advisory speed equal to the posted or 85th-percentile speed. (e.g., The Condition C distance for 40 mph is 150 ft.)

Guidance:

00F Warning signs should be placed so that they provide an adequate PRT. The distances contained in Table NY2C-4 should be used as guides in determining advance posting distances, and should be applied with engineering judgment. Warning signs should not be placed too far in advance of the condition, such that drivers might tend to forget the warning because of other driving distractions, especially in urban areas.

00G Warning signs that advise road users about conditions that will likely not require a reduction in speed should be placed in accordance with Condition C distances.

00H Warning signs that advise road users about conditions that are not related to a specific location, such as Deer Crossing or SOFT SHOULDER, should be installed in an appropriate location, based on engineering judgment, since they are not covered by Table NY2C-4.

00I The values shown in Table NY2C-4 should be suitably increased on downgrade approaches to accommodate the greater deceleration distances involved. For moderate downgrades (generally five to eight percent), the values should be increased about 25 percent, and for steeper downgrades (more than eight percent), they should be increased about 50 percent.

Option:

00J On steep upgrades (more than eight percent), the values may be decreased approximately 20 percent.

00K Estimated grades and 85th percentile approach speeds are usually sufficient, and may be used in determining advance posting distances.

Guidance:

00L Minimum spacing between warning signs with different messages should be based on the estimated PRT for driver comprehension of, and reaction to, the second sign.

00M The effectiveness of the placement of warning signs should be periodically evaluated under both day and night conditions.

Table NY2C-4. Guidelines for Advance Placement of Warning Signs

Posted or 85th-Percentile Speed (mph)

Advance Placement Distance (ft)1

Condition A: Speed reduction and lane changing in heavy traffic2

Condition B: Deceleration to the listed advisory speed (mph) for the condition4

Condition C: No speed reduction necessary5

5

03

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

20

410

115

110

105

90

75

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

25

515

155

160

150

135

120

95

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

30

620

200

205

195

185

165

140

110

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

35

720

250

255

245

235

215

190

160

130

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

40

825

305

320

310

295

280

255

225

190

150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

45

930

360

380

370

360

340

315

285

255

210

165

-

-

-

-

-

-

50

1030

425

455

450

435

415

390

360

330

285

240

185

-

-

-

-

-

55

1135

495

530

520

505

490

460

435

400

355

315

255

205

-

-

-

-

60

1280

570

605

595

585

565

540

510

475

435

390

335

280

220

-

-

-

65

1365

645

670

690

675

660

630

605

570

525

485

425

375

315

240

-

-

70

1445

730

785

775

765

745

720

690

660

615

570

515

460

400

325

260

-

75

1545

820

880

870

855

840

810

785

750

705

660

605

550

495

420

350

275

Footnotes

1 The distances have not been modified to account for sign legibility.

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 taken from the 2004 AASHTO Policy, Exhibit 3-3, Decision Sight Distance, Avoidance Maneuver E.

3 Typical condition is the warning of a potential stop situation. Typical signs are Stop Ahead, Yield Ahead, Signal Ahead, and Intersection Warning signs. The distances are taken from the 2004 AASHTO Policy, Stopping Sight Distance, Exhibit 3-1.

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 distances are determined by providing a 2.5 second PRT and a vehicle deceleration rate of 10 ft/second2.

5 Typical signs are Added Lane, Road Narrows, Divided Highway, and Condition B signs displayed without an advisory speed.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 17 § 2C.05