MUTCD D3-1: Street Name Signs

The D3-1 sign is covered in Section 2D.45 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition. Below are the provisions from that section that describe when the sign is used and how it is placed.

What it means and when it is used

• Guidance · Recommended (should)
  Street Name (D3-1 or D3-1a) signs (see Figure 2D-14 ) should be installed in urban areas at all street intersections regardless of other route signs that might be present and should be installed in rural areas to identify important roads that are not otherwise signed.
• Guidance · Recommended (should)
  To minimize wrong-way movements onto freeway or expressway exit ramps, Street Name signs should not be used at the intersection of a freeway or expressway exit ramp with the crossroad to display the name of the freeway or expressway to traffic on the crossroad.

Placement and mounting

• Guidance · Recommended (should)
  The determination of letter heights to be used on Street Name signs should be based on, but not limited to, the following considerations: A. Use of Advance Street Name signs (see Section 2D.46); B. Number of lanes on the intersection approach; C. Length of turn lanes; D. Distance the Street Name sign is located across the intersection (if a sign is not provided on the near side of the intersection).
• Guidance · Recommended (should)
  For two-lane local roadways with speed limits of 25 mph or less, the lettering on post-mounted Street Name signs may be composed of initial upper-case letters at least 4 inches in height and lower-case letters at least 3 inches in nominal lo op height.
• Support · Information
  A minimum upper-case letter height of 12 inches with a lower-case nominal loop height of 9 inches is recommended for all overhead Street Name signs regardless of posted speed limit as Street Name signs generally require greater legibility distances for road users to properly react.

Where to read the rest

• Full text: MUTCD Section 2D.45: Street Name Signs
• Minimum sign sizes by roadway type are in the size section for this chapter: Section 2D.05
• Mounting height, lateral offset and retroreflectivity for any sign: MUTCD sign placement guide

Related signs in Section 2D.45