MUTCD Wiki:Rules and Guidelines

MUTCD Wiki Rules and Guidelines

Like other wikis, this wiki is intended to be built and maintained by its users and contributors. However, to maximize its effectiveness, some general rules and guidelines are established to offer guidance and clarity.

The fundamental rule: This is a professional website. Act in a professional manner.

This site is used by and contributed to by professionals, academics, enthusiasts, and other interested and informed parties. It's a professional resource, and information should be expressed in as clear and professional a manner as practicable. Users do not need to be employed in the field of transportation to offer valuable contributions, but all users are expected to contribute and participate in a professional manner.

Terminology

This wiki focuses on traffic control devices used in the United States of America, so American terminology should be used unless no comparable term or phrasing exists in American practice. The use of American English phrasing and spelling is preferred, unless referring to a specific term that uses non-American English spelling or phrasing.

Commonly-accepted terms used in the MUTCD or other authoritative roadway design and operational references (such as the Green Book) should be used whenever practicable. If there is an overlap between officially-accepted terminology and terms used by others, the officially-accepted terminology should be used.

A few examples:

• Avoid the use of "big green sign" or "BGS" - instead use "highway guide sign" (or similar variant)
• Avoid the use of "sharrow" - instead use "shared lane marking" (the clear and official name)
• Avoid the use of "gantry" - instead use "sign structure", along with variants or modifiers as appropriate; i.e. "cantilever sign structure" or "sign bridge"
• Avoid the use of "suicide lane" - instead use "reversible lane" or "passing lane", whichever is appropriate

In this same vein, abbreviations or acronyms should be avoided unless the abbreviation/acronym is clear, well-defined, and unambiguous. Note that acronyms in common use in the field can be baffling to newcomers, so defining the acronym or abbreviation clearly in an appropriate manner is desirable by following good writing style by using the full term in the initial reference on a page and the acronym/abbreviation in subsequent references, or by referring to a glossary or official definition.

Opinions

We all have opinions, and thrive on expressing them. That being said, follow the basic rule above when expressing opinions or other items in this wiki. Professional opinions based on practice, research, or objective observation can be valuable additions to a page. However, opinions based primarily on taste, aesthetics, or personal preference may not be as appropriate, and can detract from the professionalism and usefulness of a page. For example, a robust and wide-ranging discussion of the pros and cons of a device based on experience and research can be very educational. But by contrast content such as "which state route marker is best?" could easily lead to acrimony and a less-than-professional discussion.

Objectivity v. Advocacy

Whenever practicable, information should be presented in an objective manner, and opinion should be labeled as such. Advocacy for specific devices and treatments should be avoided, as advocacy can be seen as impairing objectivity. Instead, a full exposition of a device or treatment's advantages and disadvantages in a clear and objective manner can achieve the same goals without the need for advocacy-focused content.