Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 7 -The Design of Traffic Signs 2013.pdf/19

 Local Transport Note 1/94: The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs (to be superseded by Chapter 2) gives more detailed information on the principles of directional signing (see para 1.2).

Panels are designed in a similar manner to the basic sign described in section 2 in that the space between tiles and the inside border or edge is the same. Borders, which are always white, are used when a dark coloured panel is placed on a dark coloured background (e.g. a blue motorway panel on a green primary route sign). Where a border is applied this will be 0.5sw wide with an internal corner radius of 1 sw (note that the radius is not equal to the border width). When a border is not required the corner radius of the panel is 1sw. Pane/s are not placed on other pane/s (e.g. a brown tourist panel is not placed on a green or white destination panel). Two separate panels would be placed one above the other.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) panel differs from the others as it has a 1sw border which is coloured red. This border is always applied to the panel, which has a white background. When the panel is placed on a dark background, a 0.5sw white edge (equivalent to the border on other panels) is added to the outside of the red border.

On map type signs it is sometimes possible to tuck the route symbol into the legend block, in order to reduce the overall size of the sign. This can be accommodated by providing a cut-out in one of the corners of the panel. When a cut-out is provided this should be sufficient to accommodate the route symbol. It should not be extended to provide the minimum 2.5 sw horizontal gap to the letter tiles of the lower line, unless this is necessary to provide space for the route symbol. In most cases the cut-out will be in the bottom right hand corner, as shown in figure 3-8 (see also para 5.11).

Patches are similar to panels but have reduced space between the tiles and the inside border or edge. The corner radii remain the same as for panels. A patch may contain more than one route number on the same line. A second line should not be used and therefore it is not appropriate to provide a cut-out as for panels. A white border is provided when a dark coloured patch is placed on a dark coloured background. Patches may be placed on panels.

Figure 3-8 shows in detail the design of patches and panels.

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