Traffic & Safety

This Traffic and Safety Manual is published by the Traffic and Safety Bureau. Unlike many other documents published by the Iowa Department of Transportation, this manual is only available online.

The book contains information about regulatory signs, warning signs, pavement markings, standard alphabets including illustrations. The Standard Highway Signs book is designed to be navigable from the Table of Contents. Opening the Table of Contents and clicking on any sign listed will open the appropriate document and page for viewing.

The standard road plans contained in this manual (commonly referred to as the "Red Book") have been developed to show standardized design features, construction methods and approved materials to be used in design plans for interstate, primary and secondary road construction in the state of Iowa.

Information within the MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public traffic. The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration.

This guide will acquaint you with Iowa laws regulating outdoor advertising signs along the state's primary highways. It defines various types of outdoor signs and presents the general prohibitions and sign controls which apply to them.

Iowa Primary Road Access Management Policy. In developing an access plan for a commercial site, an important factor is determining the potential traffic to be generated by the site and the directional distribution of site-generated traffic on the major approach routes and proposed entrance serving the site.

Policy for Accommodating and Adjustment of Utilities on the Primary Road System.

Traffic Safety Management Assessment Kosovo. At the request of the United States Department of Justice, International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), a traffic safety assessment team from Iowa traveled to Kosovo to facilitate and conduct a Traffic Safety Management Assessment.

Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) abstract or full reports are available for immediate download.