Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 3 Regulatory Signs. 2008 (Second Impression 2008).pdf/9

 (i) where the restriction, requirement or prohibition applies only to one side of the road.

(ii) at a junction where traffic turns from a one-way road into the relevant road. The sign should be angled to face towards the driver.

(iii) at a junction where the carriageway of the relevant road is less than 5 m wide and the centre of the sign is no more than 2 m from the edge of the carriageway.

Both directions 8 and 9 also apply to signs indicating the beginning of a speed limit, see section 14. Guidance on siting other regulatory signs such as diagram 606 (direction in which traffic must proceed), diagram 612 (no right turn) and signs indicating waiting restrictions, can be found in the relevant sections of this chapter.

Signs giving effect to No Stopping orders (see section 9) should, whenever possible, be mounted to face traffic. A driver does not then have to stop to read the sign, possibly resulting in an offence.

The normal mounting height measured to the lower edge of a sign or backing board (or any supplementary plate) is between 900 mm and 1500 mm above the carriageway alongside. The greater height should be used where vehicle spray is likely to soil the sign, or above planted areas. Careful consideration should be given to any proposal to mount signs at a low height, such as on railings or bollards, as there is a risk of drivers not noticing them, especially at night or when they could be obscured by parked vehicles or pedestrians. Where signs are erected above footways, or in areas likely or intended to be used by pedestrians (e.g. pedestrian refuges), a headroom of 2300 mm is recommended, with 2100 mm as an absolute minimum. A clearance of at least 2300 mm should be maintained over a cycle track or shared cycleway / footway.

Supplementary plates should be separated from the sign or another plate by a vertical space not exceeding the x-height of the legend, and ideally half the x-height (but see para 1.28). When mounted on a backing board (see paras 1.31 to 1.33), this space should be 0.05 times the roundel diameter.

Except where they support a luminaire, posts should never project above the top of the sign (see clause 1204 in the Specification for Highway Works, Series 1200, Traffic Signs). This practice is unsightly, and needlessly increases visual intrusion and clutter.

Where posts are erected on footways, there should be an absolute minimum of 1000 mm of unobstructed width to allow the passage of wheelchairs. Posts not readily visible to pedestrians or cyclists may be provided with a yellow or white band in accordance with the requirements of direction 41(2).

Research has shown that the greater the number of signs which drivers are presented with simultaneously, the greater the difficulty they are likely to have in assimilating the information. This problem in dealing with information overload increases with age, so that older drivers suffer disproportionately. Generally, therefore, not more than two signs should be erected on any one post when intended to be read from an approaching vehicle. This also applies to signs mounted at the same location on separate posts. Where a sign requires a supplementary plate, the combination of sign and plate may be regarded as one sign. Exceptionally, three signs may be mounted on one post, or at the same location, provided none requires a supplementary plate.

STOP or GIVE WAY signs or signs indicating the start of a speed limit (terminal signs) should not be mounted on the same post as a warning sign. Speed limit terminal signs should wherever possible be mounted alone. For further guidance on mounting speed limit signs, including repeater signs, see paras 14.60 to 14.62. Sign combinations, excluding speed limit terminal signs, which may be mounted together should be placed in the following order from top to bottom:

(i) STOP or GIVE WAY or any triangular warning sign

(ii) speed limit repeater signs

(iii) other circular signs

(iv) rectangular signs. 7