The American Association of State Highway Officials would publish the first national Manual and Specifications for the Manufacture, Display, and Erection of U.S. Standard Road Markers and Signs over two years later.

In 1943, the document was again renamed to the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, with further editions in 1952 and 1956.

[3] A 1965 law strengthened the MUTCD's legal authority by prohibiting the sale, purchase, or manufacture of noncompliant signs and signals.

Section 4511.11 legally requires all traffic control devices to conform to these standards on roads open to public travel.

Therefore, the manual is also used by county, township, and municipal highway departments, as well as by private construction firms, to ensure that the traffic control devices they use conform to the state standard.

Each standard sign or plaque in the SDMM is assigned an alphanumeric designation and organized according to the same series found in the SHSM.