The following are common traffic engineering and traffic operations terms and their definitions.

Palm Beach County adheres to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) standards and guidelines. Palm Beach County has additional requirements and policies that provide more detail as needed.

Traffic Signal
A traffic signal is a traffic control device that indicates to those operating a motorized or non motorized vehicle if they may proceed through an intersection or stop. The image below show a signalized intersection with 3 traffic signal heads on a mast arm.

Mast Arm Intersections and Strain Poles for Span Wire intersection
Street Lights and Luminaires
A street light is a light fixture attached to a pole that is meant to improve visibility at night time or other times of day when it is dark.

A luminaire is a street light that is the bulb, housing and arm attached to a traffic signal mast arm or pole.

Pedestrian Signal
A pedestrian signal controls pedestrian movements at signalized intersections. The indication on the pedestrian signal provides direction to pedestrians of when they can cross a particular roadway. These signal indications consist of the illuminated symbols of a WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) and an UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK).

Vehicle Detection
Vehicle detection devices are designed to detect if a vehicle is at an intersection and which movement that vehicle is waiting to make. When these devices detect demand, a signal is sent to the intersection's traffic controller so that the green for that movement will come up. There are many types of vehicle detection systems. In Palm Beach County, most intersections have inductive loops in the pavement and or overhead video detection. The vehicle detection cameras do not record video.

School Zone Flashers
At the beginning point of established school zones it is required to have a school zone speed limit sign and flashing beacon. The FDOT has established requirements for school zones and the required traffic control devices to alert drivers of the special speed zone. For more information, please reference the Speed Zoning for Highways, Roads and Streets in Florida manual.

Radar Speed Signs or Electronic Speed Feedback Signs
Palm Beach County Traffic Engineering does not have a program to install speed feedback signs. Research has indicated that they are not effective in the long term. The cost to install and maintain these signs are not justified by the marginal benefits they provide. Some law enforcement agencies have and deployed portable speed feedback signs. Please contact your respective law enforcement agency for more information on their available programs.
FDOT is the Florida Department of Transportation
MUTCD is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

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