Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 3 Regulatory Signs. 2008 (Second Impression 2008).pdf/52

PROHIBITION OF WAITING AND LOADING

Where a parking meter is suspended, the sign to diagram 640.1 is used as a temporary cover. This may indicate a prohibition of waiting or a prohibition of both waiting and loading. Where the temporary prohibition applies only during the hours of operation of the parking meters within a meter zone, the legend "during meter control" is added. The words "No waiting" or "No unloading" are not prescribed and must not be used.

The detailed design of signs for waiting and loading restrictions is set out on the appropriate working drawings and in section 12 of Chapter 7. Where more than one sign is provided at the same location, they should not be merged into a single multi—panel sign unless this is prescribed by the Regulations, e.g. diagram 640. Where new traffic regulation orders are to be introduced, restrictions should be kept as simple as possible to avoid complex traffic signs that might be difficult for drivers to understand. For example, a prohibition that applies overnight every day of the week is simply signed as 10pm—6am. If the prohibition did not apply on Sunday night and Monday morning, the signing would be more complex and potentially confusing; e.g. Monday 10pm—Midnight; Tues—Sat Midnight-6am, 10pm — Midnight; Sunday Midnight—6am.

A restriction always applies at all times unless qualified by an indication that it applies only at specific dates or times. It will lead to confusion, and undermine understanding of restrictions signed according to this convention, if expressions like "Mon—Sun" are used. Similarly, restrictions apply on public holidays unless signs specifically indicate that they do not.

Single panel signs for a permanent prohibition of waiting and loading are generally prescribed with an x—height in the range 20mm minimum to 40mm maximum. The appropriate x—height is determined by the need to ensure conspicuity rather than by the speed of traffic. Therefore the smaller x—heights are more appropriate for signs with larger amounts of information. For this reason, the double—panelled sign to diagram 640 is prescribed with a minimum x—height of 15mm. Choice of x—height will depend on prevailing conditions and the design of the sign. In a quiet narrow residential street, a 20mm x—height is likely to be adequate even for the smallest signs (e.g. a sign to diagram 639 with the legend "8am—6pm"). However, in a busy high street or a wide suburban road, a larger x—height such as 25mm is likely to be appropriate, particularly if the sign does not have high target value. The largest size of 40mm x—height is likely to be appropriate on urban dual carriageways or on other roads with a speed limit of 50mph or more. This applies to the sign to diagram 637.1 (prohibition of waiting on the verge or footway) when used on a rural road subject to the national speed limit. Signs for off—highway loading areas (see paras 6.21 to 6.25) have a single size of 40mm x—height (50mm for the legend "Loading area" on diagram 640.3).

Signs, other than the "no waiting on verge or footway" sign to diagram 637.1 (see para 6.37), should be erected parallel to the kerb, facing the carriageway and sited at approximately 60m intervals (on each side where the restriction applies to both sides of the road). This will normally be achieved by fixing the signs on every lamp column within the restricted length of road. Where there are no lamp columns or other suitable mounting points, posts will need to be erected. Providing conspicuity is not compromised, signs may be mounted at the back of the footway on posts, walls or railings. This is likely to be preferable where the footway is narrow. In environmentally sensitive areas where the post is sited at the back of the footway, consideration might be given to painting it a similar colour to the adjacent building (direction 41 allows a post to be any single colour, including its natural colour).