Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 3 Regulatory Signs. 2008 (Second Impression 2008).pdf/84

CLEARWAY AND NO STOPPING SIGNS should normally be located near the centre of the bay. For longer taxi ranks, it might be preferable to mount a sign close to the beginning of the bay. In these circumstances additional signs, mounted parallel to the kerb, might be required near the centre of the bay. Where signs are mounted parallel to the kerb at the start and end of a taxi rank, an arrow should be added to the sign.

The signs are prescribed with an x—height in the range of 20mm minimum to 40 mm maximum. The smallest size is only appropriate where the sign is parallel to the kerb, as the x—height is too small for the sign to be read from a moving vehicle. Where the sign faces oncoming traffic, the x—height should be 40 mm.

An informatory sign to diagram 857.1 may be provided to display fare tables and any additional information such as the number of taxis allowed to wait in the stand and the conditions of hire (see para 6.16).

The Regulations allow the legend "taxis" on the sign to diagram 650.1 to be varied to "ambulances" or ”police vehicles”. Likewise the legend TAXIS forming part of the bay marking to diagram 1028.2 may be varied to AMBULANCES or POLICE. Paras 9.25 to 9.29 apply to these variations in the same way that they apply to taxi ranks.

The supplementary plate ”On taxi rank”, prescribed by the 1981 Regulations as diagram 642.1 and used in combination with diagram 642, ceased to be lawful from 1 January 2005 (regulation 3(2)(a)(iii)). These signs should now have been replaced by diagram 650.1.

The sign to diagram 636.2 indicates a temporary prohibition of stopping and is used mainly by the police in an emergency. If the sign is used by a local traffic authority to indicate the effect of a temporary order, the name of the authority must be shown on the sign, replacing the name of the police authority (see direction 39(4)). In most cases where a road needs to be kept clear for planned works, a temporary prohibition of waiting and loading will be adequate (see paras 6.26 to 6.29).

The time period shown may be varied or omitted; the expression "At any time" is not used (see Schedule 16, item 38). The sign, which is prescribed in one size only, should face oncoming traffic and be placed at regular intervals along the length of road to which the restriction applies. As there is no "End" sign, the signs to diagram 636.2 should be fairly closely spaced so that it is clear where the restriction ends. 82