Indiana 2008 Edition Page 2C-1 CHAPTER 2C. WARNING SIGNS Section 2C.01 Function of Warning Signs Support: Warning signs call attention to unexpected conditions on or adjacent to a highway or street and to situations that might not be readily apparent to road users. Warning signs alert road users to conditions that might call for a reduction of speed or an action in the interest of safety and efficient traffic operations. Section 2C.02 Application of Warning Signs Standard: The use of warning signs shall be based on an engineering study or on engineering judgment. Guidance: The use of warning signs should be kept to a minimum as the unnecessary use of warning signs tends to breed disrespect for all signs. In situations where the condition or activity is seasonal or temporary, the warning sign should be removed or covered when the condition or activity does not exist. Support: The categories of warning signs are shown in Table 2C-1. Warning signs specified herein cover most of the conditions that are likely to be encountered. Additional warning signs for low-volume roads (as defined in Section 5A.01), temporary traffic control zones, school areas, highway-rail grade crossings, bicycle facilities, and highway-light rail transit grade crossings are discussed in Parts 5 through 10, respectively. Option: Word message warning signs other than those specified in this Manual may be developed and installed by State and local highway agencies. Table 2C-0 Indiana Word Message Warning Signs Category Group Section Signs MUTCD Codes Traffic Related Intersections 2C.37 Watch for LEFT TURN W2-Y7 Roadway Related Roadway Surface 2C.27 High Water W8-Y8 Condition Roadway Related Roadway Surface 2C.28 Watch for ICE on Bridges W8-Y9 Condition Traffic Related Motorized Traffic 2C.40 XXX Entrance W11-Y12 Non Vehicular Crossings 2C.42 Church W15-Y2 Non Vehicular Crossings 2C.42 Hospital W15-Y3 See Figure 2C-12 for the Indiana Word Message Warning Signs. Section 2C.03 Design of Warning Signs Standard: All warning signs shall be diamond-shaped (square with one diagonal vertical) with a black legend and border on a yellow background unless specifically designated otherwise. Warning signs shall be designed in accordance with the sizes, shapes, colors, and legends contained in the “Standard Highway Signs” book (see Section 1A.11). Option: Warning signs regarding conditions associated with pedestrians, bicyclists, playgrounds, school buses, and schools may have a black legend and border on a yellow background or a black legend and border on a fluorescent yellow-green background. Sect2C01 to 2C.03 Page 2C-2 Indiana 2008 Edition Section 2C.04 Size of Warning Signs Standard: The sizes for warning signs shall be as shown in Table 2C-2. Guidance: The Conventional Road size should be used on conventional roads. The Freeway and Expressway sizes should be used for higher-speed applications to provide larger signs for increased visibility and recognition. Option: The Minimum size may be used on low-speed roadways where the reduced legend size would be adequate for the warning or where physical conditions preclude the use of the other sizes. Oversized signs and larger sizes may be used for those special applications where speed, volume, or other factors result in conditions where increased emphasis, improved recognition, or increased legibility would be desirable. Standard: The minimum size for supplemental warning plaques shall be as shown in Table 2C-3. Option: Signs larger than those shown in Tables 2C-2 and 2C-3 may be used (see Section 2A.12). Section 2C.05 Placement of Warning Signs Support: For information on placement of warning signs, see Sections 2A.16 to 2A.21. The total time needed to perceive and complete a reaction to a sign is the sum of the times necessary for Perception, Identification (understanding), Emotion (decision making), and Volition (execution of decision),and is called the PIEV time. The PIEV time can vary from several seconds for general warning signs to 6 seconds or more for warning signs requiring high road user judgment. Table 2C-4 lists suggested sign placement distances for two conditions. This table is provided as an aid for determining warning sign location. Guidance: Warning signs should be placed so that they provide adequate PIEV time. The distances contained in Table 2C-4 are for guidance purposes 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. Minimum spacing between warning signs with different messages should be based on the estimated PIEV time for driver comprehension of and reaction to the second sign. The effectiveness of the placement of warning signs should be periodically evaluated under both day and night conditions. Option: Warning signs that advise road users about conditions that are not related to a specific location, such as Deer Crossing or SOFT SHOULDER, may be installed in an appropriate location, based on engineering judgment, since they are not covered in Table 2C-4. Sect. 2C.03 to 2C.05 Indiana 2008 Edition Page 2C-3 Table 2C-1. Categories Of Warning Signs Category Group Section Signs MUTCD Codes 2C.06 Turn, Curve, Reverse Turn W 1-1 through W 1-5, W 1-11, Reverse Curve, Winding Road, W 1-15 Changes Hairpin Curve, 270-Degree Curve In 2C.07 Combination Horizontal W 1-1a, W 1-2a Horizontal Alignment/Advisory Speed Alignment 2C.08 Combination Horizontal W 1-10 Alignment/Advisory Speed 2C.09 Large Arrow (one direction) W 1-6 2C.10 Chevron Alignment W 1-8 2C.11 Truck Rollover W 1-13 Vertical 2C.12 Hill W 7-1, W 7-1a, W 7-1b Roadway Alignment 2C.13 Truck Escape Ramp W 7-4, W 7-4a Related 2C.14 Hill Blocks View W 7-6 2C.15 Road Narrows W 5-1 2C.16-17 Narrow Bridge, One Lane Bridge W 5-2, W 5-3 Cross 2C.18-20 Divided Road, Divided Road W 6-1,v W 6-2, W 12-1 Section Ends, Double Arrow 2C.21 Dead End, No Outlet W 14-1, W 14-1a, W 14-2, W 14-2a 2C.22 Low Clearance W 12-2, W 12-2p 2C.23-24 Bump, Dip, Speed Hump W 8-1, W 8-2, W 17-1 Roadway 2C.25 Pavement Ends W 8-3 Surface 2C.26 Shoulder W 8-4, W 8-9, W 8-9a Condition 2C.27 Slippery When Wet W 8-5 2C.28 Bridges Ices Before Road W 8-13 Advance 2C.29-30 Stop Ahead, Yield Ahead, W 3-1, W 3-2, W 3-3, W 3-4, Traffic Signal Ahead, Be Prepared To Stop, W 3-5, W 3-5a Control Speed Reduction 2C.31-35 Merge, Lane Ends, Added Lane, W 4-1, W 4-2, W 4-3, W 4-5, Traffic Two-Way Traffic, Right Lane Ends, W 4-6, W 6-3, W 9-1, Flow Lane Ends Merge Left, W 9-2, W 14-3 No Passing Zone Change in 2C.36 Advisory Speed W 13-2, W 13-3, W 13-5 Traffic Speed Related 2C.37 Cross Road, Side Road, T, Y, and W 2-1 through W 2-6 Intersections Circular Intersection 2C.38 Large Arrow (two directions) W 1-7 2C.39 Oncoming Extended Green W 25-1, W 25-2 Vehicular 2C.40 Truck Crossing, Truck (symbol) W 8-6, W 11-1, W 11-5, Traffic Emergency Vehicle, Tractor, W 11-5a, W 11-8, W 11-10, Bicycle, Golf Cart, W 11-11, W 11-12p, W 11-14 Horse-Drawn Vehicle Nonvehicular 2C.41-42 Pedestrian, Deer, Cattle, W 11-2, W 11-3, W 11-4, Snowmobile, Horse, W 11-6, W 11-7, W 11-9, Wheelchair, Playground W 15-1 Distance 2C.45 XX Feet, XX Miles, Next XX Feet, W 16-2, W 16-3, W 16-4, Next XX Miles W 7-3a Speed 2C.46 Advisory Speed W 13-1 Arrow 2C.47 Advance Arrow, Directional Arrow, W 16-5p, W 16-6p, W 16-7p Diagonal Arrow Hill-Related 2C.48 Trucks Use Low Gear, X% Grade W 7-2, W 7-3 Supplemental Street Name 2C.49 Advance Street Name Sign W 16-8 Plaques Plaque Intersection 2C.50 Cross Traffic Does Not Stop W 4-4p Share The 2C.51 Share The Road W 16-1 Road HOW 2C.52 High-Occupancy Vehicle W 16-11 Photo Enforced 2C.53 Photo Enforced W 16-10 Traffic Circle 2C.37 Traffic Circle W 6-12p Sect. 2C.05 Page 2C-4 Indiana 2008 Edition Table 2C-2. Warning Sign Sizes Description Conventional Express- Freeway Minimum Oversized Shape Sign Series Road way Diamond W1, W2, W7, 750 X 750 900 X 900 1200 X 1200 600 X 600 W8, W9, W11, (30 X 30) (36 X 36) (48 X 48) (24 X 24) ___ W14, W15, W17-1 W1 Combination, 900 X 900 1200 X 1200 X 750 X 750 W3, W4, W5, (36 X 36) 1200 1200 (30 X 30) ___ W6, W8-3, (48 X 48) (48 X 48) W10, WF12 Rectangular W1 – Arrows 1200 X 600 ___ ___ 900 X 450 1500 X 750 (48 X 24) (36 X 18) (60 X 30) W1 – Chevrons 450 X 600 750 X 900 900 X 1200 300 X 450 ___ (18 X m24) (30 X 36) (36 X 48) (12 X 18) W7-4 1950 X 1200 1950 X 1200 1950 X 1200 ___ ___ (78 X 48) (78 X 48) (78 X 48) W7-4b, 4c 1950 X 1500 1950 X 1500 1950 X 1500 ___ ___ (78 X 60) (78 X 60) (78 X 60) W10-9, 10 600 X 450 ___ ___ ___ ___ (24 X 18) W12-2p 2100 X 600 2100 X 600 2100 X 600 ___ ___ (84 X 24) (84 X 24) (84 X 24) W13-2, 3, 5, 600 X 750 900 X 1200 1200 X 600 X 750 1200 X W25 (24 X 30) (36 X 48) 1500 (24 X 30) 1500 (48 X 60) (48 X 60) Pennant W14-3 900 X 1200 ___ ___ 750 X 1000 1200 X 1600 X 1200 X 1000 X 1600 (36 X 48 (30 X 40 X (48 X 64 X X 48) 40) 64) Circular W10-1 900 (36) 1200 (48) ___ 750 (30) 1200 (48) Dia.