Skip to main content

NEMA publishes new standard for portable traffic signals

The US National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published NEMA TS 5-2017 Portable Traffic Signal Systems (PTSS) Standard.
May 22, 2017 Read time: 1 min

The US 7174 National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published NEMA TS 5-2017 Portable Traffic Signal Systems (PTSS) Standard. This new standard covers traffic signalling equipment used to enable and expedite the safe movement of vehicle traffic in work zones during roadway construction, such as single-lane road closures during emergencies and planned events.

PTSS are commonly used to supersede flag use during roadway construction. While PTSS are used most commonly for single-lane road closures, they are also used during or after times of emergencies, planned events and non-normative vehicular signalisation needs.

PTSS are also used before or while permanent signals are being installed to reduce traffic bottlenecks and improve intersection safety during these transition times. PTSS are designed to enable critical movement of traffic using the implementation of appropriate new and existing standards.

Related Content

  • January 13, 2023
    Signal prioritisation as silver bullet
    We can’t keep building roads to solve congestion. But help is available: transit signal prioritisation can easily reduce traffic and bring back riders to mass transit, says Bobby Lee of Lyt
  • February 2, 2012
    Green requirements of traffic video systems
    Traficon's Head of Product and Application Management Robin Collaert offers up a discussion of the likely future green requirements of traffic video systems. At the most basic levels, ITS has the potential to significantly reduce the amounts of time which vehicles spend waiting at intersections, and less time spent waiting means less in the way of vehicular emissions. All of that will hardly come as news to most laypeople, let alone transport professionals. However, the reality is that even today too many r
  • March 14, 2012
    Developing a wireless cooperative traffic management system
    The use by MDOT of 90-foot concrete poles on which to mount CCTV equipment reduces the number of poles needed to monitor a given area and incidences of occlusion
  • November 20, 2013
    US Congress debates autonomous vehicles
    Emerging technologies have the potential to significantly reduce vehicle crashes and associated fatalities, according to Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, testifying at the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Speaking on behalf of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Steudle said, "Nothing is more exciting than the potential safety benefits of this emerging technology," said Steud