1 Book Ontario Traffic Manual March 2005 Introduction to the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 1 • Introduction to the Ontario Traffic Manual The Ontario Traffic Manual is directed to its primary Ontario users, traffic practitioners. The OTM incorporates current best practices in the Province of Ontario. The interpretations, recommendations and guidelines in Traffic Manual the Ontario Traffic Manual are intended to provide an understanding of traffic operations and they cover a broad range of traffic situations encountered in practice. They are based on many factors which may determine the specific design and operational effectiveness of traffic control systems. However, no manual can cover all contingencies or all cases encountered in the field. Therefore, field experience and knowledge of application are essential in Foreword deciding what to do in the absence of specific direction from the Manual itself and in overriding any The purpose of the Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM) recommendations in this Manual. is to provide information and guidance for transportation practitioners and to promote The traffic practitioner’s fundamental responsibility is uniformity of treatment in the design, application and to exercise engineering judgement and experience operation of traffic control devices and systems on technical matters in the best interests of the across Ontario. The objective is safe driving public and workers. Guidelines are provided in the behaviour, achieved by a predictable roadway OTM to assist in making those judgements, but they environment through the consistent, appropriate should not be used as a substitute for judgement. application of traffic control devices. Further purposes of the OTM are to provide a set of Design, application and operational guidelines and guidelines consistent with the intent of the Highway procedures should be used with judicious care and Traffic Act and to provide a basis for road authorities proper consideration of the prevailing to generate or update their own guidelines and circumstances. In some designs, applications, or standards. operational features, the traffic practitioner’s judgement is to meet or exceed a guideline while in The OTM is made up of a number of Books, which others a guideline might not be met for sound are being generated over a period of time, and for reasons, such as space availability, yet still produce a which a process of continuous updating is planned. design or operation which may be judged to be safe. Through the updating process, it is proposed that the Every effort should be made to stay as close to the OTM will become more comprehensive and guidelines as possible in situations like these, to representative by including many traffic control document reasons for departures from them, and to devices and applications appropriate for municipal maintain consistency of design so as not to violate use, in addition to those for highway use. Some of driver expectations. the Books of the OTM are new, while others incorporate updated material from the Ontario Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the King’s Highway Guide Signing Policy Manual (KHGSPM). Ontario Traffic Manual • March 2005 1 Book 1 • Introduction to the Ontario Traffic Manual Custodial Office Acknowledgements Inquiries about amendments, suggestions or comments regarding the Ontario Traffic Manual may Authors be directed to: Milton Harmelink, Ontario Traffic Manual Committee Dillon Consulting Limited Ministry of Transportation, Ontario Rodney Edwards Traffic Office Harpar Management Corporation 301 St. Paul Street, 2nd Floor St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R4 Telephone: (905) 704-2960 MTO Reviewers Fax: (905) 704-2888 Harold Doyle E-mail: [email protected] Traffic Office, Ministry of Transportation Ontario A user response form is provided at the end of Mazda Hodiwala Book 1 of this Manual. Inquiries regarding the Traffic Office, Ministry of Transportation Ontario purchase and distribution of this Manual may be Tracey Difede directed to the custodial office, or to: Traffic Office, Ministry of Transportation Ontario Publications Ontario Design and Production 880 Bay Street Toronto, ON M7A 1N8 Suzanne Rodenkirchen, Telephone: (416) 326-5300 or Green Leaf Communications 1-800-668-9938 TTY: 1-800-268-7095 Fax: (613) 566-2234 Website: http://www.publications.gov.on.ca/ 2 Ontario Traffic Manual • March 2005 Book 1 • Introduction to the Ontario Traffic Manual Table of Contents 1. Organization of the Ontario Traffic Manual . 13 2. Overview of Ontario Traffic Manual . 14 2.1 Background and Scope . 14 2.2 Objectives . 15 2.3 Relation to Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada . 16 2.4 Ontario Traffic Manual Committee . 16 Role and Mandate . 16 Committee Members . 16 2.5 Process for Revision and Adoption of Sign Designs into the OTM . 17 3. Legal Authority of Traffic Control Devices . 18 3.1 Legal Authority – Signs . 18 Prescribed Signs . 18 Official Signs . 18 Other Signs . 19 General . 19 3.2 Legal Authority – Markings and Delineation . 19 3.3 Legal Authority – Traffic Signals . 19 4. Legal Liability in Traffic Engineering . 20 5. Principles . 22 5.1 Driver Needs and Limitations . 22 5.2 Function and Objectives of Traffic Control Devices . 23 5.3 Excessive Use of Traffic Control Devices . 23 5.4 Standardization of Traffic Control Devices . 23 Detailed Sign Drawings . 24 Ontario Traffic Manual • March 2005 3 Book 1 • Introduction to the Ontario Traffic Manual 5.5 Standard Shape and Colour Codes for Signs and Pavement Markings . 24 Sign Shapes and Colours . 24 Pavement Marking Types and Colours. 26 5.6 Standardization of Position . 26 5.7 Standardization of Application . 26 5.8 Illumination and Reflectorization . 26 5.9 Maintenance . 26 5.10 Metric Measurement . 30 5.11 Meaning of “Must”, “Should”, “May” . 30 5.12 Development of New Traffic Control Devices . 30 6. Classification of Highways for Application of Traffic Control Devices . 31 7. Classification of Traffic Control Devices . 33 7.1 Hierarchy of Signing . 33 7.2 Classification of Traffic Signs . 34 Class R, Regulatory Signs . 34 Sub-class Ra, Right-of-way Control Signs . 34 Sub-class Rb, Road Use Control Signs . 34 Sub-class Rc, Miscellaneous Control Signs . 34 Class W, Warning Signs . 34 Sub-class Wa, Physical Conditions Signs . 34 Sub-class Wb, Traffic Regulations Ahead Signs . 34 Sub-class Wc, Pedestrian and Intermittent Hazard Signs . 34 Class TC, Temporary Conditions Signs . 34 Class I, Information Signs . 34 Sub-class G, Directional Guide Signs . 35 Sub-class M, Route Markers . 35 Sub-class T, Tourism Attraction Signing . 35 Sub-class L, Logo Signing for Motorist Services . 35 Sub-class C, Commercial Signs . 35 Tab Signs . 35 Supplementary Tab Signs . 35 Educational Tab Signs . 35 Dynamic Message Signs . 35 7.3 Classification of Markings and Delineation . 35 Pavement Markings. 35 Delineation . 36 4 Ontario Traffic Manual • March 2005 Book 1 • Introduction to the Ontario Traffic Manual Object Markings . 36 Glare Control . ..