Road signs in Puerto Rico are regulated in the Manual de Rotulación para las Vías Públicas de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s supplement to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the standard for road signs, signals, and markings in the United States. It is developed by the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) "in substantial conformance to" the national MUTCD developed by the Federal Highway Administration.
The first edition of the Manual de Rotulación para las Vías Públicas de Puerto Rico was published in 1979. This manual was most recently updated in 2020. Puerto Rico is among the territories of the United States to have adopted the national MUTCD in conjunction with a supplemental volume. The inscriptions on road signs are written in Spanish since it is an official language of Puerto Rico and is most widely spoken in Puerto Rico.
The suffix (D) in parentheses means "right", from Spanish derecha, while the (I) in parentheses means "left", from Spanish izquierda.
Regulatory signs
Regulatory signs give instructions to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Signs including Stop, Yield, No Turns, No Trucks, No Parking, No Stopping, Minimum Speed, Right Turn Only, Do Not Enter, Weight Limit, and Speed Limit are considered regulatory signs. Some have special shapes, such as the octagon for the Stop sign.
R1 series: Stop and yield
The MUTCD's R1 series is for Stop and Yield. Although the 4-WAY plaque (R1-3) was deprecated in the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD in favor of the ALL WAY plaque (R1-3P), the 4-VIAS plaque (R1-3) is still used in Puerto Rico.
R2 series: Speed limit
The MUTCD's R2 series is for speed limit signs. Speed limits in the United States are always in miles per hour.
R3 series: Lane usage and turns
The MUTCD's R3 series of signs is for lane usage and turn signs.
R4 series: Regulation of movement
The MUTCD's R4 series of signs is for the regulation of movement signs.
R5 series: Exclusionary
The MUTCD's R5 series of signs is for exclusionary signs. The most common of these signs is the do not enter sign.
R6 series: One way and divided highway
The MUTCD's R6 series of signs is for one way and divided highway signs. The most common of these signs is the One way (Transito) sign.
R7 series: Parking
The MUTCD allows for three types of parking signs: permissive, No Parking, and No Standing. However, in most states, there is an additional more restrictive one, No Stopping. These signs are found in the R7 series of signs in the MUTCD. Permissive parking signs allow for parking for either an unlimited or varied amount of time. They are often used in conjunction with parking meters and parking permits. They are specified by the MUTCD to be green on white. Local variations occur with additional information and slightly different designs. No Parking signs indicate that loading or unloading while temporarily stopped is permitted, but the driver must not leave the vicinity of the vehicle. Some No Parking signs display time restrictions, while others are permanent restrictions. There are also temporary versions of the signs, often of similar design to the permanent ones. These signs are specified by the MUTCD to be red on white, although local variations occur. No Standing signs indicate that stopping temporarily to load or unload passengers is allowed, but vehicles cannot be stopped at the location for longer periods of time, even if the driver remains with the vehicle. As with no parking signs, some restrictions displayed on the signs are permanent, and some are time-based.
R8 series: Parking and emergency restrictions
The MUTCD's R8 series of signs is for parking restriction and emergency restriction signs.
R9 series: Bicycles and pedestrians
The MUTCD's R9 series of signs is for bicycle and pedestrian signs.
R10 series: Traffic signal
The MUTCD's R10 series of signs is for traffic signal related signs.
R11 series: Road closed
The MUTCD's R11 series of signs is for road closure-related signs.
R12 series: Weight limits
The MUTCD's R12 series of signs is for weight limit-related signs.
R14 series: Truck routes
The MUTCD's R14 series of signs is for truck route-related signs.
R16 series: Seat belts and headlight use
The MUTCD's R16 series of signs is for seat belt and headlight use-related signs.
Warning signs
Warning signs are found in the W series of the national MUTCD. They highlight existing conditions, such as a curve, school, dead end street, or traffic signal. They can also warn of possible danger such as bumps, bicycles, low flying aircraft, or emergency vehicles. They are either yellow or fluorescent yellow in color and, with a few exceptions, are usually diamond-shaped and sometimes have square or rectangular smaller signs or plaques associated with them. Most W series signs can also be found with orange backgrounds for temporary use in situations such as construction zones. Some of the temporary-use signs are for use only in temporary situations.
W1 series: Horizontal alignment
The MUTCD's W1 series of signs is for warning signs relating to horizontal alignment.
W2 series: Intersections
The MUTCD's W2 series of signs is for warning signs relating to intersections.
W3 series: Advance traffic control
The MUTCD's W3 series of signs is for warning signs relating to advance traffic controls. The MUTCD provides options for graphic and text signs.
W4 series: Lanes and merges
The MUTCD's W4 series of signs is for warning signs relating to lane merges and added lanes, as well as lane endings.
W5 series: Road width restrictions
The MUTCD's W5 series of signs is for warning signs relating to road width restrictions.
W6 series: Divided highway
The MUTCD's W6 series of signs is for warning signs relating to divided highways.
W7 series: Hills
The MUTCD's W7 series of signs is for warning signs relating to hills.
W8 series: Pavement and roadway conditions
The MUTCD's W8 series of signs is for warning signs relating to pavement and roadway conditions.
W11 series: Advance warnings
The MUTCD's W11 series of signs is for warning signs relating to advance warnings. The MUTCD allows use of a fluorescent yellow-green background color for signs relating to non-motorized vehicles crossing the road.
W12 series: Low Clearance Warnings
The MUTCD's W12 series of signs is for warning signs relating to low clearance.
W13 series: Advisory speeds
The MUTCD's W13 series of signs is for warning signs relating to advisory speeds. Speed limits in the United States are always in miles per hour.
W14 series: Dead end streets and no passing zones
The MUTCD's W14 series of signs is for warning signs relating to dead-end streets and no-passing zones. As all situations are not covered, several states and local governments have additional signs for other types of situations not covered by the MUTCD.
W15 series: Playgrounds
The MUTCD's W15 series of signs is for warning signs relating to playgrounds.
W16 series: Supplemental plaques
The MUTCD's W16 series of signs is for supplemental plaques for warning signs.
W17 series: Speed humps
The MUTCD's W17 series of signs is for warnings relating to speed humps.
Object markers
Construction signs
Guide signs
School zone signs
The S series of signs are specially designated by the MUTCD for use around schools. Some states have additional school warning-related signs in the S series, the W series of warning signs, and/or the R series of regulatory signs of the state supplement or state MUTCD. As of 2009 the MUTCD requires school warning signs to have fluorescent yellow-green backgrounds.
Bicycle signs
References
External links
- Media related to Road signs in Puerto Rico at Wikimedia Commons
- 2020 Manual de Rotulación para las Vías Públicas de Puerto Rico (in Spanish)
