Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation has published a manual of uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways. The manual has evolved over the years, taking into account the progress in the field. It has come a long way since the publication of Manual on Street Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings (for urban streets) in 1930.
“Traffic control devices are defined as all signs, signals, markings, and other devices used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a street, highway, pedestrian facility, bikeway, or private road open to public travel by authority of a public agency or official having jurisdiction, or, in the case of a private road, by authority of the private owner or private official having jurisdiction.”
“The purpose of traffic control devices, as well as the principles for their use, is to promote road safety and efficiency by providing for the orderly movement of all road users on streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. Traffic control devices notify road users of regulations and provide warning and guidance needed for the uniform and efficient operation of all elements of the traffic stream in a manner intended to minimize the occurrences of crashes.”
This manual can be used as a sourcebook for evolving and developing similar manual for Indian conditions in collaboration with connected authorities such as police department, transport authorities, highway authorities and local bodies.
Manual: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/mutcd2009edition.pdf
Urban Governance 