The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has granted an Interim Approval (#IA-8) dated September 6, 2005 for the optional use of the RV Friendly Symbol Sign to designate businesses that have services that can accommodate recreational vehicles (RVs). The approval of the use of the RV Friendly logo in the highways exit signs will help RV drivers to identify where they can stop for supplies and other important services they need.
The approval allows the states to display the logo on gas, food and lodging highway exit signs. At the moment there are only four states that are using or preparing to use the RV Friendly symbol on highway signs. Those are Oregon, Louisiana, Washington and Tennessee. However, as time goes by more states are going to imitate this great initiative.
To use the RV Friendly sign you must submit a written request to the FHWA?s Office of Transportation Operations. The only thing that any state or local agency that would like to use the logo has to do is meet some basic requirements such as high canopies, pull-through and an adequate turning radius.
The proposal was an effort of the Oregon Travel Information Council (OTIC) and the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA). The research was conducted from June through August 2003 on Interstate 5 between exit 233 and exit 278. The objective of this research was to see the response of RV drivers to the RV Friendly Symbol.
The experiment was a success because it revealed that the symbol provides easy recognition and advanced notice to motorists that need specific services for motorhomes and RV trailer combinations. Evaluation included design studies to determine the visibility of the symbol, customer questionnaire and business interviews.