Assessing Road Readiness of Pavement Markings for Autonomous Vehicle Technology & MUTCD Compliance

Abstract: Roadway infrastructure will need to change to improve safety and the efficient operation of vehicle safety systems in Connected Vehicles (CV), Autonomous Vehicles (AV) & vehicles with Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) as well as human drivers.

In 2022 the FHWA Mandatory Minimum Pavement Retroreflectivity Requirements came into force. This update to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) will play a key role in reducing transportation related fatalities and serious injuries. The ruling will also help to support the operation of Autonomous Driver Assisted Systems (ADAS) that are increasingly dependent on high quality longitudinal pavement markings day & night in dry & wet conditions in order to operate correctly. This poses real & urgent issues for road agencies to address and to meet the compliance deadline in 2026.

Q. How many miles of the agencies roads are covered by the new MUTCD ruling ?
Q. The cost of MUTCD compliance to the agency ?
Q. What condition are my roads in now ?
Q. How do I prioritize roads for MUTCD compliance ?
Q. Where do I start and how do I go about compliance

Vehicle safety systems such as CV, AV & ADAS are changing industry maintenance trends & requirements. Good maintenance practices and cost-effective pavement assessment are now available. Road Workers safety is improved as no boots on the ground for assessment. Agencies now have to plan strategically to ensure compliance with MUTCD mandatory requirements.

New technological innovations and web based software are now available to assist agencies with these issues efficiently, safely in a sustainable manner. These innovations ensure agencies have an effective plan & their roads are safe & allow effective use of these new vehicle technologies as well as managing compliance with the MUTCD pavement marking minimum retroreflective values