Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 3 Regulatory Signs. 2008 (Second Impression 2008).pdf/109

 Direction 8 requires the placing of paired terminal signs to indicate the start of a speed limit. The sign to diagram 671 is used where a speed limit ends and the national speed limit applies. Diagram 671 is therefore referred to in direction 10 (signs indicating the end of a speed limit) and not in direction 8.

Direction 8(2) introduces the expression "relevant road", which, in the case of speed limits, means the length of road subject to the speed limit that is being signed and to which the speed limit order applies. This term is also used in direction 9 which sets out the requirements for signing speed limits at road junctions.

Direction 8(3) requires a speed limit terminal sign to be placed on each side of the relevant road, or on each side of the appropriate carriageway if the relevant road is a dual carriageway (i.e. on the near side and on the central reservation), at or as near as practicable to the point where the speed limit begins. On a road with a 30 mph speed limit by virtue of street lighting (i.e. a restricted road; see para 14.2), where the adjacent length of road is unlit and is subject to the national speed limit, the 30 mph speed limit will begin at the first lighting column. The terminal signs are placed on, or in line with, that column as appropriate. To ensure that drivers are aware of the commencement of the 30 mph limit, it is essential that the terminal signs are correctly placed and clearly visible (see para 14.19). If the 30 mph limit is to start at some other point (before or after the street lighting begins), it will be necessary to make a speed limit order and locate the terminal signs accordingly. Where a 30 mph limit commences on an unlit section of road and continues as a restricted road on the lit section, additional terminal signs must not be placed, in either direction, at the point where the street lighting begins, i.e. where the 30 mph speed limit order ends and the restricted road begins (but see para 14.22). Where a single carriageway road has a central traffic island, it is not a dual carriageway at that point (see regulation 4 for definitions of "dual carriageway road" and "central reservation"). The terminal signs should therefore be erected on both sides of the road, not on the near side and the central island. However, a third sign may be erected on the island if the road geometry makes the off side sign difficult to see. A third sign is otherwise unnecessary. Figures 14-1 to 14-3 show the requirements for siting terminal signs on both single and dual carriageway roads.

Direction 8(4) sets out conditions when a single terminal sign may be used to indicate the beginning of a restriction or prohibition (see para 1.19) but this does not apply to speed limits.

Direction 9 sets out the circumstances where the requirements specified in direction 8(3) (see para 14.7) may be relaxed. Direction 9(1)(a) removes the requirement to provide terminal signs imposed by direction 8(3) where the relevant road begins and has no junction with another road. This refers to the end of a cul—de—sac, where the speed limit on that road obviously begins but where terminal signs would serve no purpose. Direction 9(1)(b) removes the need to provide terminal signs where the relevant road begins at the junction of another road and both roads are subject to the same speed limit. The main body of direction 9 (i.e. 9(2) to 9(5) inclusive) applies to the signing of road junctions where the relevant road has a junction with the side of another road (referred to as "the other road") and each road has a different speed limit. The relevant road is the side road and the other road is the major road. The signing requirements are set out in paras 14.10 to 14.17. They apply to junctions with all roads to which the public has access, whether private or not (see para 2.1).

Direction 9(3) is concerned with the sign that indicates the speed limit on the side road (the relevant road) to traffic entering that road from the major road (the other road). A terminal sign need be provided only on the left hand side of the carriageway of the relevant road (the left hand side of the appropriate carriageway in the case of a dual carriageway road) not more than 20m from the junction (see also para 14.13). This distance should be measured from the edge of the carriageway of the major road.

Direction 9(4) is concerned with the signs that indicate the speed limit in force on the major road (the other road) to traffic leaving the side road (the relevant road). A terminal sign must be provided on each side of the carriageway of the relevant road not more than 20m before the junction unless direction 9(5) applies (see paras 14.12 and 14.13). Where the relevant road is a dual carriageway, this means on each side of the carriageway approaching the junction (i.e. the near side and the central reservation). If the relevant road is not a dual carriageway, but has a central traffic island within 20m of the junction, the terminal signs must be erected on both sides of the road, not just on the 107