Traffic Manual (CURRENT)

As of September 26, 2006, the California Department of Transportation has adopted the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (FHWA’s MUTCD 2003 Revision 1, as amended for use in California), also called the California MUTCD, to prescribe uniform standards and specifications for all official traffic control devices in California. This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the California Vehicle Code Section 21400 and the recommendation of the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC).

The non-traffic control device topics of the 1996 Caltrans Traffic Manual (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 7 and the lighting portion of chapter 9) are being retained in their current form until they are assimilated into other manuals or guidelines not yet determined.

Traffic Manual (1996 Metric Version with updates) as effective on May 19, 2004.
Description	Last Update
Ch. 1 - General Information	11/78
Ch. 2 - Traffic Volumes Systems	8/79
Ch. 3 - Accident and Roadway Records	8/96
Ch. 4 - Signs (Refer to the California MUTCD Part 2)	1/13/12
Ch. 5 - Traffic Controls for Construction and Maintenance Work Zones (Refer to the California MUTCD Part 6)	1/13/12
Ch. 6 - Markings (Refer to the California MUTCD Part 3)	1/13/12
Ch. 7 - Traffic Safety Systems	n/a
Ch. 8 - Regulations (Refer to California MUTCD Parts 1A, 2B, 3B and 6C)	1/13/12
Ch. 9 - Traffic Signals and Lighting	- - -
(For Traffic Signals, refer to California MUTCD Part 4)	1/13/12
(For Lighting, information in the Traffic Manual is still current)	11/02
Ch. 10 - School Area and Pedestrian Safety (Refer to the California MUTCD Part 7)	1/13/12
Ch. 11 - Rules and Regulations (Refer to the California MUTCD Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7)	1/13/12
Ch. 12 - Bikeway Signs and Markings (Refer to the California MUTCD Part 9 )	1/13/12

Traffic Manual Change Transmittals
PDF File Description	File Size	Effective Date
Ch. 9 - Traffic Signals and Lighting	1.06 Mb	11/13/02
Ch. 6 - Markings	73 kb	9/13/02
Ch. 7 - Traffic Safety Systems	5 kb	9/13/02
Ch. 7 - Traffic Safety Systems	182 kb	1/15/99
Ch. 5 - Manual of Traffic Controls	10 kb	1/30/00