A Federal Highway Administration official has confirmed that the Public Safety Vest promoted by the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition is compliant with Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards.

In a letter to the CVVFA Emergency Responder Safety Institute, the FHWA's Associate Administrator for Operations Jeffrey Paniati confirmed that the Public Safety Vest standards (ANSI 207-2006) meet the requirements of Federal Regulation 23 CFR 634. The decision clarifies an important issue for highway responders as they prepare to comply with this federal regulation, which will require all workers on federal-aid highways to wear an ANSI-approved high-visibility safety garment. The requirements are slated to take effect Nov. 24, 2008.

Paniati said that the standards for Public Safety Vests (ANSI 207-2006) were found, by FHWA, to be compatible with ANSI/ISEA Class II requirements for nighttime visibility and will be included in the next revision of the MUTCD.

NTIMC promoted development of the Public Safety Vest, which is designed with functional features to make it easier for public-safety responders to have access to their equipment and to do their work unencumbered while wearing high-visibility safety gear.