FHWA releases details on Residential Driveway Temporary Signal

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released details on its interim approval for optional use of a Residential Driveway Temporary Signal along a two-lane, two-way road segment to control traffic entering from residential driveways under limited conditions.

The announcement comes after FHWA staff shared the news with participants in the annual meeting of the National Committee on the Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD).

“An Interim Approval allows interim use, pending official rulemaking, of a new traffic control device, a revision to the application or manner of use of an existing traffic control device, or a provision not specifically described in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD),” FHWA Associate Administrator for Operations Martin C. Knopp said in a Jan. 8 memo.

ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry said approval of the device, formerly referred to as a Driveway Assistance Device or DAD, is beneficial on multiple fronts.

“The introduction of this innovative tool marks a significant leap forward for practitioners, enhancing both safety and mobility in work zones. By leveraging advanced technology, we can now ensure smoother traffic flow and a safer environment for both workers and drivers,” Perry said.

“State and local agencies are eager to adopt this cutting-edge technology to enhance work zone safety and mobility,” Perry added. “By integrating these advancements, they can ensure compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), thereby maintaining high standards of safety and efficiency for all road users.”

In his memorandum, Knopp explains the intended use of the Residential Driveway Temporary Signal.

  • Construction or maintenance activities on two-lane, two-way roadways might involve the closure of one of the lanes, resulting in alternating one-direction traffic on the remaining open lane through the temporary traffic control zone.
  • Typically, flaggers or temporary signals are used to control the movement into and through the temporary traffic control zone.
  • In many areas, there are residential driveways located within the one-lane, one-direction portion of the temporary traffic control zone. These access points create the potential for traffic to enter the roadway going in the wrong direction.
  • Oftentimes, these access points are not monitored, or flaggers are not deployed to direct the traffic entering the roadway in the proper direction.

The memo explains that the purpose of the Residential Driveway Temporary Signal is “to replace flaggers at residential driveways, specifically within the one lane, one direction segment of the temporary traffic control zone.”

The Residential Driveway Temporary Signal is described as “a single three-section signal face comprising of a steady circular red signal indication below which are mounted two adjacent flashing yellow arrow signal indications and signing to communicate when traffic can enter the road from the driveway and in which direction to proceed.”

Knopp noted that 10 state DOTs experimented with the device—then known as a Driveway Assistance Device—for a decade, from 2013-2023. This group evaluated cost effectiveness and came up with its views on the best layout for the signal face and sign requirements.

FHWA evaluated the findings of the state DOTs and “considers it to be successful for the applications that were tested,” according to Knopp’s memo.

“The overall result of the experiments showed that the Residential Driveway Temporary Signal is a useful and safe device for directing traffic from residential driveways in one-lane, one-direction temporary traffic control zone applications.”

The devices will be part of a Work Zone Safety Device Demonstration on March 4, during ATSSA’s 2025 Convention & Traffic Expo. The Convention will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 28-March 4.

The demonstration on the Traffic Expo floor is funded by an FHWA grant and will showcase tools used for work zone safety including Automated Flagging Assistance Devices (AFADs) and Portable Traffic Signals (PTS) in addition to Residential Driveway Temporary Signals.

Registration is now open for ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo.

Published Date

January 22, 2025

Post Type

  • News

Topic

  • ATSSA News

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