The Department for Transport is to undertake its largest review of road signs for 40 years in an attempt to de-clutter Britain’s roads.The review, the most comprehensive since the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, will look at the effectiveness of the current signs. The DfT hopes that the review will make roads safer, and it will use the latest traffic sign technology to ease congestion and aid traffic flow.Minister for Transport Rosie Winterton wants road users, the highways authorities and road organisations to assist in the review, and believes that the way road signs are used needs to change. "Road conditions have changed dramatically over the years - and road signs need to keep pace with that change to provide the best information possible to all road users," said Winterton. The DfT will also look to tackle the problem of unnecessary and out-of-date signs that can cause confusion on the roads.President of the AA, Edmund King, has welcomed the review. “Clear, concise, relevant road signs help reduce congestion, CO2, frustration and accidents,” he said. “Confusing signs do the opposite, so we welcome a root-and-branch review of the UK's traffic signing system.”The first meeting is scheduled to take place next month; the review process should be established by 2009.
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Re: Road signs to be reviewed
Some consitency would be nice. On some roads speed limit signs are everywhere, others have none. Whilst most roads are too cluttered I would like to see more use of the little speed limit signs on lamp posts - they are unobtrusive and are a useful reminder.
Better maintenance of road junctions would also be good. Who can think planting bushes near junctions is a good thing?
Finally, I hope the review has a seperate section for London. I am unfortunate enough to have to drive through London regularly and I hate it. I simply don't know what I should be doing and am paranoid about missing a sign, because there are too many.
Re: Road signs to be reviewed
Worcestershire County Council have already taken a pro-active approach to reducing sign clutter, but not to the detriment of road safety, while also trying to improve clarity and reduce information-intake of existing signs. Even electronic VAS and VMS signs are used sporadically and in locations if deemed necessary.
Re: Road signs to be reviewed
I would say that this needs to go beyond modernizing roadside signs. The technology now exists to feed information into in car systems so that this can be brought to the drivers attention at the wheel.
This not only reduces clutter but decreases the number of obstacles to be hit should something untoward occur on the road.
We have reached the point where adding a suitable driver information system to a new vehicle almost certainly costs less than putting up a small roadside sign. Some external infrastructure would be needed but compared with the costs of designing and installing large signs it should be economically viable.
Whilst the blueprint for the latest Highways Agency hard shoulder running scheme appears to have overlooked in vehicle driver information systems a review of road signs must take this into consideration.