Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 04

Traffic
Signs
Manual
C
H
A
P
T
E
R
4
Warning Signs
2013
Trafc
Signs
Manual
Chapter4
WarningSigns
DepartmentforTransport
DepartmentforRegionalDevelopment(NorthernIreland)
ScottishGovernment
WelshGovernment
London:TSO
Trafc Signs Manual 2013
Contents of Chapters 1-8
CHAPTER 1 Introduction
CHAPTER 2 Informatory Signs *
CHAPTER 3 Regulatory Signs
CHAPTER 4 Warning Signs
CHAPTER 5 Road Markings
CHAPTER 6 Illumination of Trafc Signs *
CHAPTER 7 The Design of Trafc Signs
CHAPTER 8 Trafc Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations
* To be published
Published with the permission of the Department for Transport on behalf of the Controller of
Her Majestys Stationery Ofce.
Crown copyright 2004 and 2013
Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the Crown.
You may re-use this document/publication (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium,
under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.
gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.
ISBN 9780115532245
First published 1980
Fourth edition 2013
Printed in the United Kingdom, for TSO, using material containing 100% post-consumer bres,
FSC Recycled certied and PCF (Process Chlorine Free)
J2669080 C5 07/13
3
Trafc Signs Manual
Chapter 4
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 4
2. JUNCTIONS 10
3. DEVIATION OF ROUTE 14
4. ROAD NARROWS 19
5. TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AND DUAL CARRIAGEWAY ROADS 22
6. HILLS 27
7. BRIDGES AND OTHER STRUCTURES 29
8. TRAFFIC SIGNALS 41
9. PEDESTRIANS 43
10. ANIMALS AND FARM TRAFFIC 46
11. WATER 50
12. ROAD SURFACE 52
13. ROAD HUMPS 54
14. LOW-FLYING AIRCRAFT 56
15. FALLING OR FALLEN ROCKS 57
16. HAZARD MARKERS 58
17. OTHER DANGER 59
18. DISTANCE PLATES 60
19. MISCELLANEOUS HAZARDS 61
20. SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES 62
21. LEVEL CROSSINGS 64
22. CYCLING 71
23. REFUGE BEACON 72
APPENDIX A: Sizes of warning signs and siting details 73
APPENDIX B: Sizes of supplementary plates 76
APPENDIX C: Variation of numerals 79
APPENDIX D: Schedule of diagram numbers 82
INDEX 85
4
1 INTRODUCTION

GENERAL
1.1 TheTrafcSignsManualisintendedtogive
advicetotrafcauthoritiesandtheiragentsonthe
correctuseofsignsandroadmarkings.Mandatory
requirementsaresetoutinthecurrentversionof
theTrafcSignsRegulationsandGeneralDirections;
nothinginthemanualcanoverridethese.Theadvice
isgiventoassistauthoritiesinthedischargeof
theirdutiesundersection122oftheRoadTrafc
RegulationAct1984,butitisfortrafcauthorities
todeterminewhatsigningtheyconsidernecessary
tomeetthoseduties.
1.2TheTrafcSignsManualisapplicableinEngland,
NorthernIreland,ScotlandandWales.References
totheSecretaryofStateshouldthereforebe
interpretedasreferringtotheSecretaryofStatefor
Transport,theDepartmentforRegionalDevelopment
(NorthernIreland),theScottishGovernmentorthe
WelshGovernmentasappropriate.
1.3 AnyreferencetoaChapterisareference
toaChapteroftheT rafcSignsManual,andany
referencetoasection,unlessotherwisestated,is
areferencetoasectioninthischapteroftheManual.
Wheremoredetailedbackgroundinformation
mightbehelpful,referenceismadetoStandards
andAdviceNotesintheDesignManualforRoads
andBridges,availablefromTSOor
www.dft.gov.uk/ha/standards/dmrb.
1.4AnyreferencetotheRegulationsorthe
DirectionsisareferencetotheTrafcSigns
RegulationsandGeneralDirections2002applicable
toEngland,ScotlandandWales.Referencetoa
diagramnumberortoaScheduleisareference
toadiagramorscheduleinthoseRegulations.In
NorthernIrelandtherelevantlegislationistheTrafc
SignsRegulations(NorthernIreland)1997.Diagram
andregulationnumberingoccasionallydiffersin
theNorthernIrelandRegulations;thisisnotedinthe
textwhereappropriate.Notallsignsreferredtointhe
textareincludedinthelatterRegulations.References
todirectionsarenotapplicableinNorthernIreland;
wherethesearementioned,adviceshouldbesought
fromtheDepartmentforRegionalDevelopment's
RoadsServiceHeadquarters.
1.5 Alltrafcsigns(includingroadmarkings)
placedonahighwayorroadtowhichthepublichas
accessmustbeeitherprescribedbyRegulationsor
authorisedbytheSecretaryofStateforTransport,
theDepartmentforRegionalDevelopment(Northern
Ireland),theScottishGovernmentortheWelsh
Governmentasappropriate.Careshouldbetaken
toensurethatnonon-prescribedsignisusedunless
ithasbeenauthorisedinwriting.Failuretodoso
mayleaveanauthorityopentolitigation.Except
inthecaseofcertainsignstoindicatetemporary
obstructionsorplacedbythepoliceinanemergency,
signsmaybeplacedonlybyorwiththepermissionof
thetrafcauthority.
USEOFWARNINGSIGNS
1.6Warningsignsareusedtoalertdriversto
potentialdangerahead.Theyindicateaneedfor
specialcautionbyroadusersandmayrequirea
reductioninspeedorsomeothermanoeuvre.
1.7Appropriatewarningsignscangreatlyassist
roadsafety.Tobemosteffective,however,they
shouldbeusedsparingly.Theirfrequentuseto
warnofconditionswhicharereadilyapparent
tendstobringthemintodisreputeanddetractsfrom
theireffectiveness.Unjustiedsigningshouldnot
beusedatindividuallocationssimplyinresponseto
complaintsfromthepublic.Careshouldbetakento
ensurethatarouteistreatedconsistently,especially
whereitcrossestheboundarybetweentwotrafc
authorities.
1.8 Precisedimensionsforalldiagramsareindicated
inthePseriesofworkingdrawingsavailableat
www.gov.uk/working-drawings-for-trafc-signs.
Thesealsoillustratethepermittedvariantsofsymbols
andshowthecorrectlayoutofsupplementaryplates
notillustratedintheRegulations.TheSseries
ofworkingdrawingsprovidesdetailsofthemore
complexsymbolsandpictograms.
1.9Certainwarningsignsmaybeincorporatedinto
directionalsigns;forfurtherdetailsseeChapter7.
1.10Detailedguidanceontheuseofwarningsigns
atroadworksisgiveninChapter8.
1.11 Topreventtheproliferationofobsoletesigns,
andunnecessaryvisualintrusion,direction37limitsto
amaximumofthreemonthstheperiodforwhichthe
signstodiagram790NEWLEVELCROSSING
CONTROLAHEADanddiagram7014NEW
ROUNDABOUTAHEAD,andtheirvariants,may
bedisplayed.Seealsopara1.43andsection7.
5
INTRODUCTION
VEHICLE-ACTIVATEDSIGNS
1.12 Regulation58(7)permitscertainwarningsigns
(diagrams504.1,505.1,506.1,507.1,510,512,
512.1,512.2and513)whendisplayedbymeansof
light-emittingcharactersorsymbolsalsotodisplay
belowthesign,andatthesametime,thelegend
SLOWDOWNincharactersnotlessthanone
quarteroftheheightofthetriangle.Thesignswillbe
triggeredbyvehiclesexceedingapre-determinedsafe
speedontheapproachtoajunctionorbend.They
shouldbeusedonlytosupplementxedsigning,and
notasasubstituteforit.Vehicle-activatedsignsshould
notbeconsidereduntilthexedsigningandroad
markingshavebeencheckedtoensurethattheycomply
fullywiththeguidanceinthischapterandinChapter5
intermsofcorrectsize,siting,visibilityandcondition.
SIGNSIZES
1.13Warningsignsarenormallyprescribedinve
sizes.Thenormalminimumsizeisindicatedinthe
diagrams,withalternativesizesinbrackets.Allsizes
areinmillimetresunlessstatedotherwise.Signsneed
tobeofasizeappropriatetotheprevailingtrafc
speedontheroadonwhichtheyareused.Onroads
witha30mphspeedlimit,thesmallestprescribed
sizeofwarningtriangle(normally600mm)isusually
adequate.Onroadswherespeedsarehigher,signs
needtobelarger.Thisenablesthemtobedetected
atagreaterdistanceandensuresthatdrivershave
sufcienttimetorecogniseandassimilatethe
warningandtakeanynecessaryactionbefore
thehazardismet.Thelargestsignsareforuseon
motorwaysorhigh-speedroads.Warningsignswhich
arenotappropriateforsuchroadsarenotgenerally
prescribedinthelargest(1500mm)size.AppendixA
detailstheappropriatesizeofsignforvariousspeed
ranges,basedonthe85thpercentileapproachspeed.
1.14Wherespecialamenityconsiderationsapply,
ortherearephysicalconstraintsonthewidthofsign
thatcanbeaccommodated,thenextsmallersizecan
besubstituted.Itshouldhoweverbeborneinmind
thatsmallersignsarelikelytobeseenlater,anddo
notbecomelegibleuntildriversareclosertothem,
givinglesstimetoreact.
1.15Iftheaccidentrecordsuggeststhatdriversare
failingtonoticethewarning,orseeingittoolateto
takethenecessaryaction,thenextlargersizecanbe
used.Conspicuitycanalsobeincreasedbytheuseof
yellowbackingboards(seeparas1.32to1.34).
1.16Manywarningsignsareaccompaniedby
supplementaryplates.AppendixBrecommends
appropriatex-heightstomatchthesizeoftheplates
tothesizeofthetriangletheyareusedwith,andto
ensureadequatelegibility.Therearerestrictionson
whichplatesmaybeusedwithindividualsigns;the
platesprescribedforusewitheachsignareindicated
beloweachdiagramillustratedinthischapter.
Detaileddrawingsshowingthecorrectlayoutsfor
allpermittedvariantshavebeenproducedbythe
DepartmentforTransport(seepara1.8).
1.17Aspecialsign(diagram7014)isprescribed
towarndriversofapermanentchangeintheroad
layoutahead(seealsopara1.11).Severalvariants
areprescribed,e.g.GAPCLOSEDAHEAD,
NEWTRAFFICSIGNALSAHEADandNEWZEBRA
CROSSINGAHEAD.Thex-heightofthesignmay
varybetween50and200mm(i.e.thecapitalletter
heightvariesbetween70and280mm).The
appropriatex-heightataspecicsitewilldepend
uponthespeedoftrafc,withthe50mmx-height
suitableforspeedsupto30mphand150or200mm
for70mph.Intermediatesizesshouldbeusedfor
speedsbetweentheseextremes.
1.18 TheTrafcSigns(Amendment)(No.2)
RegulationsandGeneralDirections2011prescribea
newsign(diagram7014.1)tobeusedintheeventof
eitheratemporaryorpermanentreductionin
headroomatabridge.Thissignpreviouslyrequired
authorisation.Thex-heightmaybebetween50mm
and200mm,withthesameselectioncriteriaasfor
diagram7014(seepara1.17).
1.19 Theminimumx-heightoftheANIMAL
DISEASEsign,diagram574,isdeterminedina
similarmannertodiagram7014asdescribedin
para1.17,exceptthattheminimumsizeis40mm.
Thissizemaybeusedonnarrowruralroadswhere
speedsarelowandspaceisrestricted.
SITING
1.20 Ingeneral,thegreaterthespeedofapproach,
thefurtherinadvanceofthehazardthesignneeds
tobeplaced.Thisistoensurethatdrivershave
thenecessarytimetorespondtothewarning.
AppendixAsetsoutrecommendationsforthe
distancefromthehazardatwhichasignshould
besited.Ifitisimpracticabletoplaceasignwithin
about10%oftherecommendeddistance,itshould
besitedfurtherupstreamofthehazardatthe
6
INTRODUCTION
nearestpracticablepoint.Itmaybeappropriateto
supplementitwithadistanceplatetodiagram572
(seesection18).Asignshouldnotnormallybesited
morethan10%closerthantherecommended
distance,asthiswouldbeunlikelytoprovide
sufcientwarning.Wherethisisunavoidable,a
distanceplateshouldalwaysbeused,indicating
thedistancetothehazardtothenearest10yards.
1.21Warningsignsshouldnormallybeplacedon
thelefthandsideoftheroad,unlessstatedotherwise
inthetext(e.g.hazardmarkerstodiagrams560and
561).However,siteconditionssometimesmakethis
impracticable.Awarningsignmightbeplacedon
therighthandsideonalefthandbendifitwould
otherwisebehiddenfromview,oriftherewouldbe
noroomforitontheleft.Ifasignisplacedonthe
righthandsideoftheroad,caremustbetakento
ensurethatadriverwouldnotbemisledatnightor
infogastowhichsidetopass.Itwillsometimesbe
appropriatetoduplicatewarningsignsbyproviding
themoneachsideoftheroad,asisrecommendedat
theendofadualcarriageway,orontheapproachto
aroundaboutonahigh-speedroad.
1.22 Itisessentialthatdrivershaveanunobstructed
viewoftrafcsigns.Thedistancewhichshouldbe
keptclearofobstructionstothesightline,whether
causedbyfoliage,othersignsorstreetfurnitureis
knownastheclearvisibilitydistance.Thehigherthe
prevailingtrafcspeeds,thegreaterthisdistance
needstobe.Itisimportantthereforethatsightlines
areproperlymaintainedsothattheintendedwarning
isnotcompromised.Careinsitingcanminimise
futureproblemsofobscuration.Sightlinesshouldnot
crossprivatelandasitwillbedifculttocontrolthe
growthofvegetationortheplacementofother
obstructions.Itisequallyimportantthatwarning
signsshouldnotbeplacedwheretheywillobstruct
theviewofothersigns.e.g.advancedirectionsigns.
Suchproblemsmightbeavoidedbysitingthesign
furtherfromthehazard,orontherighthandsideof
theroad.
1.23 AppendixAspeciesminimumclearvisibility
distances.Theseshouldnormallybemeasuredfrom
thecentreofthemostdisadvantageddrivinglane.It
isimportantthatthefullrecommendedsightlineto
thewholeofthesignfaceispreserved.Trimmingof
foliageonlyintheimmediatevicinityofthesignmay
notbesufcient;signvisibilityshouldalwaysbe
checkedfromtheappropriateviewingdistance.
MOUNTING
1.24Thenormalmountingheightmeasuredtothe
loweredgeofawarningsignisbetween900mm
and1500mmabovethecarriagewayalongside.The
greaterheightshouldbeusedwhereroadsprayis
likelytosoilthesign.Wheresignsareerectedabove
footways,orinareaslikelyorintendedtobeusedby
pedestrians(e.g.pedestrianrefuges),aminimum
headroomof2300mmisrecommended,with
2100mmasanabsoluteminimum.Aclearanceof
2300mmshouldbemaintainedoveracycletrack
orsharedcycleway/footway.Whensupplementary
platesareused,theheightshouldbemeasuredto
thebottomoftheplate.
1.25Platesshouldbeseparatedfromthesignor
anotherplatebyaverticalspacenotexceedingthe
x-heightofthelettering.
1.26Exceptwheretheysupportaluminaire,posts
shouldneverprojectabovethetopofthesign.This
practiceisunsightly,andneedlesslyincreasesvisual
intrusionandclutter.
MOUNTINGMORETHANONESIGNONAPOST
1.27Researchhasshownthatthegreaterthe
numberofsignswhichdriversarepresentedwith
simultaneously,thegreaterthedifcultytheyare
likelytohaveinassimilatingtheinformation.This
problemindealingwithinformationoverload
increaseswithage,sothatolderdriverssuffer
disproportionately.Generally,therefore,notmore
thantwosignsshouldbemountedononepost.
Whenasignisaccompaniedbyasupplementary
plate,thecombinationofsignandplateshouldbe
regardedasonesignforthispurpose.Exceptionally,
threesignsmaybemountedononepostprovided
nonerequiresasupplementaryplate.
1.28Warningsignsshouldnotbemountedonthe
samepostasaSTOPorGIVEWAYorterminalspeed
limitsign,normountedonatrafcsignalpost.When
mountedwithothertypesofsign,thetriangular
warningsignsshouldalwaysbemountedatthetop.
1.29Wheretwoormorewarningsignsare
erectedtogether,thesignrelatingtothehazardrst
encounteredshouldbeplaceduppermost.Whena
newsignisaddedtoanexistingpost,itisimportant
toensurethatthecorrectorderismaintained,if
necessaryadjustingthepositionoftheexistingsigns.
7
INTRODUCTION
1.30 Generallynoassemblyshouldexceedaheight
of4mabovegroundlevel.Allproposedassemblies
shouldbecriticallyexaminedtoensurethatthe
intendedwarningsareclear.Accountshouldalways
betakenofthepotentialenvironmentalimpactoftall
andclutteredarraysofsigns.
1.31Itshouldalsobeborneinmindthat
high-mountedsignsmayreceivelittlelightfrom
vehicleheadlamps,particularlyondippedbeam.
Wheresuchsignsarenotdirectlylitbutrelyon
reectorisationtobeseenatnight,theyarelikelyto
belesslegible(seealsopara1.36).
BACKINGBOARDS
1.32Toimproveconspicuityagainstacomplexor
darkbackground,awarningsignmaybemounted
onagreyoryellowbackingboard(direction42).A
backingboardcanalsomakeforaneaterassembly,
e.g.whenasignrequiresasupplementaryplate,
andalsoeliminatestheriskoftheplatebecoming
misaligned.Ayellowbackingboardmustbe
rectangularinshape,butagreyboardmaybe
non-rectangular,e.g.toenableatriangularsigntobe
bracketedoffalightingcolumn(seeChapter1).
Abackingboardmustnotitselfbeprovidedwitha
border,norgivetheimpressionofbeinganadditional
border.Whereitseemsthatasignisnotbeing
noticedbydrivers,itshouldbecheckedtoensure
thatitiswell-sited,notobscuredbyfoliageorother
obstructions,andisoftheappropriatesizeandin
goodcondition.Onlythenshouldtheuseofayellow
backingboardbeconsidered.
1.33Ayellowbackingboardmaybereectorised
toincreaseitsconspicuityatnight.Thisshouldnot
usuallybenecessaryonunlitroads,althoughitmight
sometimesbehelpfulonlitroads,particularlywhere
thesignitselfisunlit.Itmayalsobeuorescent;this
greatlyincreasesconspicuityindullweatherandat
dusk.Fluorescencecanalsobeparticularlyeffectivein
drawingattentiontosignsmountedindeepshadow,
e.g.belowoverhangingtrees.However,uorescence
isvisuallyintrusiveandshouldbeusedwith
discretion.Thenewtrueyellowmaterialsareless
garishthantheoriginalyellow-greentypeandare
muchtobepreferred.
1.34Therearepotentialdisadvantagestothe
useofbackingboards.Thelargeroverallsizeof
theassemblycansometimesobstructsightlines.
Abackingboardcandeprivetriangularsignsofa
primaryrecognitionaid;theirdistinctivesilhouette.
Yellowbackingboardscanbeespecially
environmentallyintrusive,andtheirover-usecould
eventuallydevaluetheirattention-attractingbenets.
Alessgarishwayofincreasingasignsconspicuityis
simplytoprovideastandardsignoflargersize.Not
onlywillthisbemorenoticeablethanasmallersign,
butitwillalsoimprovelegibilityandhencereading
distance,whichayellowbackingboardcannot.
Detailedguidanceonthecorrectdesignanduseof
backingboardscanbefoundinChapter7(paras
14.19to14.24).
ILLUMINATION
1.35Onunlitroads,reectorisationgenerally
producesanadequatelevelofsignluminancein
theilluminationfromavehiclesheadlamps.In
areasofstreetlighting,however,muchhigher
levelsofluminancearerequiredtoensurethatsigns
arealwaysadequatelyconspicuous.Reectorised
materialscannotguaranteeluminancelevels
comparabletothoseprovidedbydirectlighting.
Modernmicroprismaticmaterialsachievehigh
luminancesformanydriversindenedsituations,
butnotforalldriversinallcircumstances.
1.36 ExceptinNorthernIreland,thecurrent
Regulationsthereforerequiremostregulatory
andwarningsignstobedirectlylitwhensitedwithin
50metresofastreetlampwhichformspartofa
systemofstreetlighting.Inmostothercircumstances,
reectorisationalonewillbesatisfactory.However,
somesignsaresitedwheretheywillnotreceive
adequateilluminationfromheadlamps,anditmight
thenbeprudenttoprovidedirectlightingregardless
oftheregulatoryrequirements.Examplesinclude
signsmountedunusuallyhighabovethelevelofthe
carriageway,orontheoffsideoftheroad.
Retroreectionisalsolesseffectivewherethesignis
presentedatalargeangletothedirectionof
oncomingtrafc.
1.37 Illuminationrequirementsarereferencedas
Item5inthetablesassociatedwitheachdiagram
illustratedintheRegulations,andthedetailed
requirementssetoutinSchedule17.Mostwarning
signsarerequiredtobeilluminatedinaccordance
withSchedule17Item1orItem4.Item4allowsa
simplealternativebetweenreectorisationanddirect
lighting,whereverthesignissited.Item1signsare
requiredtobedirectlylitiftheyaresitedwithin
50metresofastreetlampformingpartofasystem
8
INTRODUCTION
ofstreetlighting.However,certainexceptionsare
permittedinparagraph(4)incolumn(3)ofItem1.
Theseincluderoadworkssignsonaroadwherethe
permanentspeedlimitis40mphorlessandsigns
markedwithanasteriskincolumn(2),providedthey
areplacedonasinglecarriagewayroadwhichisnot
aprincipalortrunkroadandhasaspeedlimitof
30mphorless.Signsthatqualifyforthisexemption
fromdirectlightingneedonlybereectorised,
althoughtheymaybedirectlylit.Itisrecommended
thathigh-performancemicroprismaticretroreective
materialsareusedwhereanasteriskedsignis
reectorisedinsteadofbeingdirectlylit.Materials
thatofferperformancelittlebetterthanconventional
beadedsheetingsareunlikelytobeadequate.
1.38 Allwarningsigns,includingthoseusedat
streetworksandroadworksmustthereforebeeither
reectorisedordirectlylit,exceptfortheoverhead
blackandyellowhazardmarkingsandwhitechord
markingsusedonrailwaybridgesandsimilar
structures,wherethisisoptional.Itisrecommended
thatsignsthataredirectlylitarealsoreectorisedin
ordertomaintainsomedegreeofilluminationinthe
eventoffailureofthelighting.Whereasignis
reectorised,allpartsofthesignfacenotcoloured
blackmustbereectorised(regulation19).Partial
reectorisationisunlawful,asispartiallighting.
MAINTENANCE
1.39 Overaperiodofyears,signsgraduallybecome
fadedandtheirretroreectivepropertiesdiminish.
Thiswillreducebothconspicuityandlegibility,byday
andbynight.Excessivelydiscolouredorfadedsigns
(e.g.whitebackgroundswhichhavebecomegrey
orbrown,orredbordersfadedtopink)andsigns
wherethelegendorgraphicispeelingcannotbe
fullyeffectiveandneedtobereplaced.Guidance
canbefoundinTD25,inVolume8oftheDesign
ManualforRoadsandBridges(seepara1.3).
1.40Signsshouldbecleanedatintervalsappropriate
tothesiteconditions.Signslocatedwheretheyare
subjecttoheavysoilingfrompassingtrafc,oralgae
growth(acommonproblemwithsignsbeneathtree
canopies)willneedmorefrequentcleaning.Neglect
reducestheexternalcontrastbetweenthesignand
itssurroundings,makingitlesslikelytobenoticedby
drivers.Italsoreducestheinternalcontrastbetween
legendandsignbackground,makingthesignmore
difculttoread.Moreover,itseriouslyreduceslight
transmissionthroughtheretroreectivemedium.
Dirtysignswillbefarlesseffectiveatnight.Older
driversareparticularlydisadvantaged;theageing
processoftheeyemeansthatprogressivelymore
lightisrequiredtomaintainthesamelegibility
performance.Dimmersignstakelongertorecognise
andtoread,reducingthetimeavailablefordriversto
takeappropriateaction.
1.41 Theimportanceofmaintainingthenecessary
clearvisibilitydistanceisemphasisedinparas1.22
and1.23.Regularinspection,particularlyinsummer
whentherapidgrowthoffoliageandother
vegetationismostlikelytocauseobscuration,
willensureearlydetectionofanyproblems.
1.42Areferencenumbermaybeplacedonthe
backofasigninacontrastingcolourincharacters
notexceeding50mminheight(direction42(3)).Itis
unlawful,aswellasdistractingandunsightly,toplace
referencenumbersonthesignfaceoronthefrontof
abackingboard.
TEMPORARYSIGNS
1.43 Certainsignsareintendedtobedisplayedonly
duringtransientconditions.Theseincludediagrams
551.1(Migratorytoadcrossing),554(Floodor
Nosmoking),554.2(Ice),556(Unevenroad),557
(Slipperyroad)andsomeapplicationsof562plated
with563(Otherdanger).Theyshouldberemoved
whenthedangerhaspassed.Manytemporary
signsarespecicallyrequiredbytheDirectionstobe
removedwhentheproblemtheywarnofnolonger
applies,includingdiagram574ANIMALDISEASE
andvariantsofdiagram7010.1ROADAHEAD
CLOSEDetc.Diagram7014warnsofapermanent
changeinroadlayoutornewtrafcsignalsetc;
thissignmustberemovedwithinthreemonthsof
completionoftheworks(direction37).Diagram
7014.1warnsofareductioninheadroomata
bridge.Wherethisreductionistemporary,thesign
mayberetainedonlyforthedurationofthe
reduction.Whenapermanentreductionoccurs,
resultinginheadroomoflessthat16-6(5.03m),
thesignmayberetainedforaperiodofsixmonths
(seepara7.9).Authoritiesthatfailtocomplywith
theirstatutoryresponsibilitiestoremoveredundant
signsnotonlydevaluethesignsbutcontributeto
signclutter.
1.44 Regulation53(1)(e)permitsatrafcauthority
toprovideatemporarysigntowarnofatemporary
hazardcausedbyworksbeingexecutedonaroad,
9
INTRODUCTION

adverseweatherconditionsorothernaturalcauses,
thefailureofstreetlightingormalfunctionofor
damagetootherequipmentusedinconnectionwith
theroad,ordamagetotheroaditself.Direction38
requiressuchsignstoberemovedassoonasthe
hazardhaspassed,andinanycasewithinsixmonths.
1.45AsignprescribedintheRegulationsmustbe
usedwherethewarningcanbeconveyedbysuch
asign.Otherwiseitmaybedesignedfollowingthe
requirementsspeciedinregulation53.Theback
ofatemporarysignmustbegrey,blackorinanon-
reectivemetallicnish,asforalmostallothersigns
(direction42).Theuseofayelloworothercoloured
backisunsightly,visuallyintrusiveandunlawful.
2 JUNCTIONS
2.1 Thesigntodiagram501,togetherwithaplate
todiagram502or503showingtheappropriate
distance,shouldbeusedwheretheclearvisibility
distance(seeparas1.22and1.23)totheSTOPor
GIVEWAYsignislessthanthedistancegivenintable
2-1.Thesignmayalsobeaccompaniedbytheword
SLOW(diagram1024)markedonthecarriageway.
Wherethejunctioniswithadualcarriagewayroad,
aplatetodiagram608maybeaddedbelowthe
STOPorGIVEWAYplate(seealsoparas5.15to
5.17).Wherethereisagapinthecentralreservation
andarightturnispermitted,thisshouldreducethe
riskofdriversturningintothewrongcarriageway.
SeeChapter3forfurtherguidanceontheSTOPand
GIVEWAYsigns,andChapter5forroadmarkingsat
junctions.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
501 Junction ahead controlled by
a STOP or GIVE WAY sign
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
502 Distance to a STOP line
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
503 Distance to a GIVE WAY line
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
608 Dual carriageway
Diagram501maybeusedonlyincombinationwithasupplementaryplatetodiagram502or503.The
supplementaryplatesmaynotbeusedalone.Thedistancemaybevaried(seeAppendixC).Asupplementary
platetodiagram608(Dualcarriageway)maybeusedinadditiontoaplatetodiagram502or503
Table2-1 Advancewarningsigncriteria,sizesandsiting
85th
percentile
speed
(mph)
Clearvisibility
distancebelow
whichanadvance
warningsignshould
beprovided
(m)
Sizeofadvance
warningsign
(seenote1)
(mm)
Supplementaryplate
x-height
(seenote1)
(mm)
Distanceofadvance
warningsignfrom
STOPorGIVEWAY
line
(seenotes2and3)
(m)
Upto30
31to40
41to50
Over50
45
60
90(150)
150
600
750(600)
900(750)
1200(900)
62.5
75(62.5)
100(75)
125(100)
45
45-110
110-180
180-245
NOTES
1.Alternativesignsizesareshowninbrackets.Asthesearesafety-criticalsignswarningofarequirementto
givewayorstop,thesmalleralternativeshouldbeusedonlywherephysicalconstraintsmakethisnecessaryor,
exceptionally,wherespecialamenityconsiderationsapply.Alargersizethanrecommendedmaybeusedwhere
theaccidentrecordjustiesgreateremphasis,asmaythegreaterclearvisibilitydistanceincolumn2.Thesizeof
thesupplementaryplateismatchedtothecorrespondingsign,e.g.62.5mmwith600mm,100mmwith
900mm.The50mmsizeplatetodiagram608isnotusedwiththissign.
2.ReferenceshouldbemadetoNote5inAppendixAformorespecicguidanceonsitingdistance.
3.Thedistanceshownonthesupplementaryplatemustalwaysbeinyards,tothenearest10yards.Metres
mustnotbeused.
10 10
JUNCTIONS

600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
504.1 Crossroads ahead
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
505.1 T-junction ahead
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
506.1 Side road ahead
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
507.1 Staggered junction ahead
Thesesignsmaybeusedwithdiagram511or572.
Diagram506.1mayadditionallybeusedwith7301
WORKSACCESSor7302WORKSEXIT.
Forpermittedvariantsseepara2.3
PRIORITYJUNCTIONS
2.2 Signstodiagrams504.1to507.1indicatethe
presenceofajunction.Thepriorityrouteisindicated
bythethickerroutesymbol.Thismaynotnecessarily
bearouteofthesamestatusorwiththesameroute
number.Thesignsmaybeusedonlyonthepriority
route,i.e.thewidthofthepartofthesymbol
indicatingtheapproacharmmustnotbevaried.
Diagram505.1mustnotbeusedonanapproach
thatdoesnothavepriorityatthejunction.Where
advancewarningofthejunctionisconsidered
necessaryonthenon-priorityapproach,diagram501
withtheappropriatedistanceplateshouldbeused.
2.3 Diagrams505.1,506.1and507.1maybe
reversed.Diagrams504.1,506.1and507.1maybe
variedsothatthethickersymbolindicatesthepriority
route,exceptthatindiagrams504.1and507.1the
thickersymbolmustnotindicatethatapriorityroute
iscrossingahead;theSTOPorGIVEWAYsignto
diagram601.1or602shouldbeusedinthese
circumstances.Detailsofthevariantsareshown
ontheworkingdrawings(seepara1.8).Noother
modicationsarepermitted.
2.4 Thesigntodiagram507.1shouldbeusedonly
inthefollowingcircumstances:
(i) wherethe85thpercentilespeedoftrafc
is30mphorlessandthestaggerdoesnot
exceed50m,or
(ii) wherethe85thpercentilespeedoftrafc
isgreaterthan30mphandthestagger
doesnotexceed120m.
2.5Ifthepriorityrouteisitselfthestaggeredroute
throughthejunction,diagram507.1mustnotbe
used,butamap-typeadvancedirectionsignmightbe
benecial.Inallothercases,thetwojunctionsshould
besignedindividuallywithsignstodiagram506.1.
Asupplementarydistanceplatetodiagram572(see
section18)shouldbeprovidedatthesecondsignin
caseswherethesitingdistanceshownincolumn4of
thetableinAppendixAisgreaterthanthedistance
betweenthetwojunctions.
2.6Warningsignsshouldnotgenerallybeused
wheretheindicationofajunctionisgivenbya
map-typeadvancedirectionsign.Norisawarning
signnormallyrequiredwhenastack-typeadvance
directionsignisused,exceptwherethelayoutwill
nototherwisebeapparent,e.g.atastaggered
11
JUNCTIONS
crossroads.Signsarerequiredatjunctionscontrolled
bytrafcsignalsonlyinthecircumstancesdescribed
inpara8.3.Exceptionally,warningsignsmaybe
providedinadditiontoadvancedirectionsignswhere
visibilityissopoorthatdriversareunabletoobtain
anadequateadvanceviewofthejunctionorthe
directionalsignsassociatedwithit.
2.7Junctionwarningsignsarenotnormallyprovided
onveryminorruralroads,norinurbanareaswhere
itwouldbeimpracticabletosigneveryjunction.
Theymayofcoursebeusedwhereaspecicneed
hasbeenidentied.
TRAFFICMERGE
2.8 Asigntodiagram508.1or509.1isusedto
givewarningwheretwophysicallyseparatedstreams
oftrafcproceedinginthesamedirectionjointhe
samecarriageway.Thesesignsmaybeusedonly
insituationswherethetrafcstreamjoiningfroma
sliproadcrossesaroadmarkingtodiagram1010
(direction17)andisrequiredtoconcedepriorityto
anythroughtrafc.Theyarenotintendedforuseat
lanegainjunctionswhereoneormoretrafclanes
areaddedtothemaincarriageway.Diagrams868,
868.1and873to876maybeusedinthese
circumstances.
2.9Thesigntodiagram508.1isusedtowarn
thatthereistrafcjoiningonthelefthandsideand
shouldbesitedontheleftofthemaincarriageway.
Thesigntodiagram509.1isusedtowarndrivers
thattheyareabouttojoinamaincarriageway
andmayhavetoconcedepriority.Neithersignis
reversible.Thedesignsprescribedinthe1964,1975
and1981Regulations(diagrams508and509)where
botharmsofthesymbolhaveequalweight,were
requiredbythe1994Regulationstoberemovedby
31December1998andarenowthereforeunlawful.
2.10Trafcmergewarningsignsshouldnormallybe
usedonlyinthefollowingcircumstances:
(i) wherethereisnootheradvancesigning
onamaincarriagewayindicatingajunction
ahead,e.g.wherethereisanaccesssliproad,
butnoexitsliproadprecedingittoalert
driverstothelikelihoodofjoiningtrafc,or
(ii) wherethereisaseriesofclosely-spaced
junctionswhichareamixtureoflanegain
andlanemerge(butseepara2.11),or
(iii) whereitisnotapparenttodriversthatthey
areonasliproad(e.g.aformermainroad
throughavillagejoiningaby-pass,orthe
maincarriagewayofamotorwayjoining
anothermotorway).
2.11 Rectangularmergesignsbasedonthelanegain
signsreferredtoinpara2.8areavailableonspecial
authorisation(seepara1.5).Thesemaybemore
appropriateinthecircumstancedescribedinpara
2.10(ii).Furtherguidanceontheuseofthesesigns
willbegiveninChapter2.
2.12 Aplatetodiagram572shouldbeusedwhen
thedistancebetweenthesignandthemergepoint
isdifferentfromthatrecommendedinAppendixA
(butseepara1.20).
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
508.1 Traffic merges ahead
from the left
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
509.1 Traffic merges ahead
onto main carriageway
Thesesignsmaybeusedonlyinconjunctionwith
diagram1010andmaybeusedwithdiagram572
12
JUNCTIONS
ROUNDABOUTS
2.13 Thesigntodiagram510maybeusedto
indicatetheapproachtoaroundaboutwhere
adequatewarningisnotconveyedbyamap-type
advancedirectionsign.Itmaybeusedwitha
supplementaryplatetodiagram511,513.1or572.
Theroundaboutwarningsignshouldbeusedonly
fortrueroundabouts.Itshouldnotbeusedtogive
advancewarningofagyratorysystemorwherethe
approachtoanotherwisestandardroundaboutis
controlledbysignals(seeparas8.4and8.5).
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
510 Roundabout ahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram511,513.1or572
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
511 Reduce speed now
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram
504.1,505.1,506.1,507.1,510,512,512.1,512.2,
513,516,517,520,523.1,524.1,528or556
7014 New roundabout ahead
50 min
200 max
Adistanceinyardstothenearest10yardsmaybe
addedbefore,orsubstitutedforthewordAHEAD
2.14Onhighstandardall-purposedualcarriageway
roadssubjecttoaspeedlimitof70mph,diagram
510shouldbeusedinadditiontothemap-type
advancedirectionsignandbesupplementedbya
platetodiagram511REDUCESPEEDNOW.One
signandplateshouldbesituatedonthecentral
reservation500minadvanceoftheroundabout,
withaduplicateontheleftside450minadvance
(seealsoparas5.7and5.13).
2.15 Wherearoundaboutonsucharoadfollows
aseriesofgradeseparatedjunctions,thesigning
describedinpara2.14shouldbesupplementedby
anadditionalsigntodiagram510oneachsideof
thecarriageway,platedwithdiagram572mile.
Onotherroads,whereaccidentsresultfromexcessive
approachspeeds,signstodiagram510shouldbe
sitedinaccordancewiththerecommendationsin
AppendixA.
2.16Atmini-roundabouts,aroundaboutwarning
signshouldbeprovidediftheclearvisibilitydistance
(seepara1.23)ofthesigntodiagram611.1isless
thanindicatedintherelevantsectionsoftable2-1
andthejunctionisnotprecededbyanadvance
directionsigntodiagrams2024,2119or2120
depictingtheroundabout.
2.17 TheREDUCESPEEDNOWplatemaybeused
withthediagramsdetailed,whereitisconsidered
thatawarningsignalonemightnotresultina
sufcientreductionofspeedtoenablethehazard
tobenegotiatedinsafety.
2.18Wherefurtheremphasisisneededonhigh-
speedapproachesondualcarriagewayroads,the
countdownmarkerstodiagrams823,824and
825maybeused,sited300,200and100yards
respectivelyfromthegivewayline.Thebackground
colourmustbechangedtogreenwhenusedona
primaryroute,andwhite(withblacksymbolsand
border)onanon-primaryroute.Thesignsshould
normallybemountedinpairsoneachsideofthe
carriageway,withthesignsonthecentralreservation
beingreversedsothatthebarsinclinedownwardsto
theleft.
2.19 Thesigntodiagram7014withthelegend
NEWROUNDABOUTAHEAD(seepara1.17for
guidanceonsize)maybeerectedtowarnofanew
roundabout.Itsuseisrestrictedtoaperiodofnot
morethan3monthsfromcompletionoftheworks
(direction37),afterwhichitmustberemoved.
13
3 DEVIATIONOFROUTE
BENDSIGNS
3.1 Diagram512shouldbeusedtogiveadvance
warningofabendwhichadrivermightnddifcult
tonegotiatewithoutslowingdownandtheseverity
ofwhichcannoteasilybeseeneitherbydayorby
night.Thesymbolshouldindicateabendtotheleft
orrightasappropriate.Thedegreeofdangerata
bendvariesmainlywithfourfactors-thespeedof
approach,theradiusofcurvature,thesuperelevation
andtheskidresistanceoftheroadsurface.No
uniformobjectivetestcanbeappliedandtrafc
authoritiesmustrelyonasubjectiveassessmentof
thesefactorswhendecidingwhethertousethesign.
3.2 Theradiusofcurvaturenotonlyaffectsthesafe
speedappropriatetothebend,itmightalsoreduce
forwardvisibilitysothatdriversneedtoslowdown.
3.3 Thesignshouldbeusedsparinglyandonlyto
indicateabendhazard.Itshouldnotbeusedsimply
toallaylocalapprehensionregardingthespeed
oftrafc.Over-useofthesigncouldeventually
compromiseitscontributiontoroadsafety.
3.4 Onhighstandardall-purposedualcarriageway
roads,thesignsshouldbeerectedinadvanceofany
bendofradiuslessthan450metres.
3.5 Edgeofcarriagewaymarkingsmaybeusedwith
thissign.Itmightalsobeappropriatetochangethe
centrelinetoawarningline.Chapter5givesfurther
guidanceontheuseofthesemarkings.
3.6 Wherejunctionswhichwarrantsigningin
accordancewithpara2.2occuronsharpbends,
useofdiagrams512.1or512.2avoidstheneed
forseparatesigns.
3.7 Thesigntodiagram513shouldbeusedonly
wherebendsofsimilarseverityfollowinclose
proximity.Thesymbolmustbereversedwherethe
rstbendistotheright;driversarelikelytobemisled
ifitisintheoppositedirectiontothatindicated.The
signshouldbeusedonlywhenthedistancebetween
thebendsislessthanthatgivenintable3-1.See
AppendixAforfurtherguidanceonthesizeand
sitingofwarningsigns.
3.8 Thedistanceplate(diagram570,seesection18)
shouldbeusedwhereaseriesofbendsfolloweach
otheratdistanceintervalslessthanthosereferredto
inthetable.Whereadoublebendsignisusedwith
adistanceplate,bendsorcombinationsofbends
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
512 Bend ahead
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
512.1 Junction on a bend ahead
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
512.2 Junction on a bend ahead
Thesesignsmaybeusedwithdiagram511,513.1,
513.2,526or575.Thesymbolsmaybereversed
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
513 Double bend ahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram511,513.1,513.2,526,
570or575.Thesymbolmaybereversed
14 14
DEVIATION OF ROUTE
Table3-1
85thpercentile Signsize Distance
speed betweenbends
(mph) (mm) (m)
Upto30 600 100
31to40 750 200
41to50 900 250
51to60 1200 300
Over60 1500 350
NOTE:Thedistancebetweenbendsismeasured
fromtheendofonebendtothestartofthenext.
occurringwithinthedistanceshownontheplate
shouldnotbesignedindividually.However,they
maybehighlightedindividuallyusingdiagram515
(seeparas3.13to3.19).
ADVERSECAMBER
3.9 Useoftheadversecamberplatetodiagram
513.1tosupplementabendwarningsignmay
beappropriateforsigningasharpbendwhereno
superelevationhasbeenapplied.Thesignmaybe
usedinothercircumstanceswherelossofcontrol
accidentsareattributedtoinsufcientsuperelevation,
e.g.arighthandbendonasteepdownhillgradient,
orwhencirculatingaroundabout.However,over-use
willdevaluethesignanditshouldbeusedonly
wheretheproblemislikelytobesevere.
3.10 Driversshouldexpecttoencounteradverseor
insufcientcamberonroundabouts.Whileapproach
alignmentshouldideallyensurethatvehicles,
particularlyHGVs,entertheroundaboutatasafe
speed,thisisnotalwayspossible.Wherethereisa
problemoflargevehiclesoverturningontheentryto,
orcirculatorycarriagewayof,aroundabout,the
non-prescribedsigntodiagramNP423(seegure
3-1)canbeconsidered.Thelowerpanelcanbe
omittedorvariedtodiagram513.2.Notethatthis
signrequiresspecialauthorisation(seepara1.5).
Althoughthissignincludesapictorialrepresentation
ofanoverturninglorry,itlackstherecognisablered
triangle.Itshouldthereforebeusedonlyto
supplementstandardwarningsigns.
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
513.1 Adverse camber
510,512,512.1,512.2or513
Roadbends Roadbends
toleft toright
Figure3-1Riskoflorriesoverturning
onadversecamber
Thissignrequiresauthorisation
MAXIMUMSPEEDADVISED
3.11 Theadvisoryspeedsigntodiagram513.2
Maximumspeedadvisedisprescribedforuseonly
incombinationwiththeLoosechippingssignto
diagram7009(seepara12.4)orthebendwarning
signstodiagrams512,512.1,512.2or513.Thesign
shouldbeusedsparingly,asingeneralitshouldbe
fordriverstojudgewhatspeedtoadopt.Itisnot
easytodetermineastandardsafespeedtonegotiate
a bend;factorswhichinuencethisincluderadius
ofcurvature,camber/superelevation,roadsurface
conditionandtypeofvehicle.Thesignmaybeused
wheretheroadlayoutissuchthatadrivermightbe
misled,e.g.atanexitfromahigh-speedroadwhere
signicantslowingisrequiredbeforenegotiating
asharpbend.Itmayalsobeusedonhigh-speed
roadswherethehorizontaldesignradiuscannot
200
(250)
(300)
(62.5)
(400)
(75)
(500)
(100)
(125)
513.2 Maximum speed advised
50
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram512,
512.1,512.2,513or7009.Thespeedmaybevaried
15
DEVIATION OF ROUTE
beachieved,butamandatoryspeedlimitisnot
imposed.Itmustnotbeusedwithmandatory
speedlimitsigns,norinplaceofrepeatersigns.
3.12Analternativetodiagram513.2,wheredrivers
tendtoenterabendatexcessivespeed,istoplate
thebendwarningsignwithdiagram511REDUCE
SPEEDNOW(seepara2.17).
CHEVRONSIGNS
3.13 Thesigntodiagram515shouldbeusedon
roundaboutstofacetrafconeachapproachand
elsewheretodenotesharpchangesinthedirection
ofaroadwhereabendsignalonewouldnotbe
asufcientwarning.Thesignmayalsobeusedata
T-junctionwherethemajorroadturnsthrough90.
Careshouldbetakentoensurethatarouteissigned
uniformly,withsuccessivebendsofsimilarseverity
alwaystreatedconsistently.
200
(300)
(400)
45
400
(600)
(800)
600
(900)
(1200)
515 Sharp deviation of route
Thenumberanddirectionofchevronsmaybevaried.
Maybeusedwithdiagram515.2andwhenusedon
thecentralislandofaroundaboutmustbeusedwith
diagram606
3.14 Becausethesignisoftenmountedinaposition
whereitisespeciallyvulnerabletobeingstruckbya
vehicleofwhichthedriverhaslostcontrol,supports
thatwillyieldeasilyunderimpactshouldbe
considered(seealsopara3.22).
3.15Chevronsignsshouldneverbemounted
oneimmediatelyabovetheother,asthisproduces
aconfusingzig-zagpattern.Theymustnotbe
supplementedbydiagonalstripes,chequering
orotherunlawfulbackgroundmarkings.Where
greaterconspicuityisrequired,perhapsbecauseof
thebackgroundthesignisviewedagainst,ayellow
backingboardmaybeused.Thewidthoftheyellow
areashouldnotbelessthanhalfthehorizontalwidth
ofthewhitechevron.Alternatively,alargersizesign
todiagram515maybeprovided.Increasingthesize
ofthechevronswillresultinthesignbeingseen
earlier,providedthatsufcientsightdistanceis
available.Theimprovedconspicuityandlegibility
distancemightencourageagreaterspeedreduction.
3.16 Thesignisprescribedinheightsof400mm,
600mmand800mm.Thesmallestsizeisintended
tobeusedwherethe85thpercentilespeedonthe
approachtothebenddoesnotexceed50mph.The
600mmsizeshouldbeusedforapproachspeeds
between51and60mph,and800mmwherespeeds
exceed60mph.Tominimisethepotentialdanger
ofsharpedges,thecornersmayberounded,witha
radiusnotgreaterthan10mm.Whensitedadjacent
toareasusedbypedestrians,theverticaledgesof
thesignplatesshouldalsobeprotected,e.g.bythe
useofrectangularpostsushwiththeedgesof
thesign.
3.17 Asignshouldnormallycompriseaminimumof
twochevrons.Aseriesofsinglechevronsisdifcult
toinstallandmaintaininalignmentandshouldbe
usedonlywherethereisinadequatespaceforlonger
assemblies.Onlongbends,agreaternumberof
chevronsmayberequired.Singlechevronsarealso
vulnerabletobeingturned.Thisispotentiallyserious
astheymightthengiveamisleadingimpressiontoa
driverapproachingfromtheoppositedirection.This
canbeavoidedbyusingtwoposts,oronesquare
post.Theshortestprescribedsignisasinglemodule
extendingfromthetipofonechevrontothetipof
thenext,asillustratedinthediagram.
3.18Caremustbetakenwhenpositioningchevrons
toensurethattheydonotmisleaddriversfromthe
oppositedirection.Chevronssignsshouldbeplaced
sothatvehiclesarerequiredtopassinfrontof
themandnotbehind.Theyshouldneverbeusedin
advanceofabendasanalternativetodiagram512.
3.19Thenormalmountingheightis1000mmto
theloweredgeofthesign,butgreatermounting
heightsmaybeappropriatetomeetparticular
circumstances,e.g.whereabendispartlyhidden
overthebrowofahill.Whenusedonthecentral
islandofaroundabout,theheightshouldbe
measuredfromthekerbleveltothecentreofthe
chevron,andthesignmustbeaccompaniedby
thedirectionalarrowtodiagram606(direction
20(3)).Thismaybemountedabove,oratthesame
levelasthechevronsbutinfrontofthem.Inthe
lattercase,atleastonecompletechevronshould
bevisibleoneachside.
16
DEVIATION OF ROUTE

3.20Thesesignsmaybeusedonallroundabouts
otherthanmini-roundabouts.Inpracticeitwill
notbenecessarytousethemattheverysmallest
roundabouts,providedthespeedlimitis30mphor
less,thediagram606arrowbeingsufcient.They
shouldnormallybeusedwheneverthediameterof
thecentralislandexceeds8metres.
3.21Ifthesignisusedinthecentralreserveoron
theoffsideofasliproadontheimmediateapproach
toaroundabout,itshouldnotbesitedwhereit
wouldimpairthedriversviewofcirculatingtrafc.
3.22Diagrams515.1and515.1Aaremadefrom
exiblematerialanddesignedtorecoverwhenstruck
byavehicle.Inotherrespectsthesesignsaresimilar
todiagram515.Theiruseatparticularlyvulnerable
locationsmighthelptoreducemaintenancecosts.
3.23 Thesigntodiagram515.2isformedofblock
pavingontheperimeterofaroundabout.Itmust
alwaysbeaccompaniedbyaverticalsigntodiagram
606facingeachapproach,butthepavingmay
beusedtogetherwithorinplaceofdiagram515
or515.1A.Thisarrangementmaybeusedonany
roundaboutwithadiameterof4metresormore.
Thelargerwidthofchevron(600mm)shouldbeused
whenthespacebetweenadjacentchevronsisequal
toorgreaterthan1200mm.Insuchcaseseither
elevenorthirteencoursesshouldbeused.Thewhite
blocksmustbereectorised.Authoritiesconsidering
suchinstallationsshouldtakethemaintenance
implicationsofdirtandweedcontrolintoaccount.
600 min 624 max 200
400
(900 min 936 max) (300)
(600)
(1200 min 1248 max) (400)
(800)
45
1000
6 max
cross section
515.1 Flexible form of diagram 515
Thenumberanddirectionofthechevronsand
thenumberofelementsmakingupthesign
maybevaried
600 min 624 max 200
400
(900 min 936 max) (300)
(600)
(1200 min 1248 max) (400)
(800)
45
800
(700)
(600)
6 max
cross section
515.1A Flexible form of diagram 515
for use at roundabouts
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram606.
Mayalsobeusedwithdiagram515.2.Thenumber
ofchevronsandthenumberofelementsmaybevaried
17
DEVIATION OF ROUTE

s k

(4
0
0
)
5
0
0

(6
0
0
)
(6
0
0
)
r
a
d
i
u
s
2
0
0
0
m
i
n

(
8
0
0
)
(
1
0
0
0
)
1
2
0
0
(
1
4
0
0
)

E
q
u
a
l
Concrete bloc
(C
harc
o
a
l)
(
7
)

(
9
)

1
1

(
1
3
)

(3
0
0
)
4
0
0 Black
White
paving blocks
KERB
Equal
PLAN
1000 min
1500 max
C
o
u
r
s
e
s

100 mm wide
paving blocks
100 mm wide
Road surface
5
0
%
m
a
x

3
3
%
m
in

(
8
0
0
)
(
1
0
0
0
)
1
2
0
0

(
1
4
0
0
)
KERB
CROSS SECTION
slope
515.2 Similarto515butconstructedofblockpaving
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram606.Mayalsobeusedwithdiagram515or515.1A
18
4ROADNARROWS
4.1 Signstodiagrams516or517shouldbeused
whereareductioninwidthonasinglecarriageway
roadpresentsahazard.Dualcarriagewaysituations
aredealtwithinpara4.6.Signswillnotnormallybe
neededifthenarrowingdoesnotresultintheloss
ofalaneandinvolvesatapernomoreseverethan
indicatedintable4-1.However,signsshouldbe
providedregardlessoftherateoftaperwherea
laneislostonasinglecarriagewayroadorwhere
thereductioninwidthissogreatthatthecentreline
markinghastobeomitted(seealsopara4.4).The
REDUCESPEEDNOWplate(diagram511)should
beusedifasignicantspeedreductionisadvisable.
Thesesignsmustnotbeusedtowarnofthe
terminationofadualcarriageway(seediagrams520
and521,andparas5.1to5.8).
Table4-1Tapercriteriaforwarningsign
85thpercentilespeed Taper
(mph)
Upto30 1in40
31to40 1in60
41to50 1in80
Over50 1in100
4.2 Thesignsmaybesupplementedbyedgelines,
hatchedmarkingsandhazardmarkerstodiagrams
560or561.Diagram575Oncomingvehiclesin
middleofroadmaybeusedifdriversarelikelyto
besurprisedbyanoncomingvehicle(seepara19.3).
4.3 Thesigntodiagram517shouldbeusedin
preferenceto516ifthenarrowingoccursmainlyon
oneside.Wherethisisthenearside,thesymbolis
reversed.Attheterminationofasinglecarriageway
climbinglane,therighthandversionisusedin
advanceofthestartofthelanelossatthedistance
speciedinAppendixA,andrepeatedathalfthis
distance.Thesecondsignisnotnecessaryifthe85th
percentilespeedisbelow50mph.Detailsofroad
markinglayoutsandtapersforclimbinglanescan
befoundinChapter5(paras5.27to5.35)andTD9
inVolume6oftheDesignManualforRoadsand
Bridges(seepara1.3).
4.4Wherearoadwithtwolanesinonedirection,
otherthanaclimbinglane,narrowstoasinglelane,
oraroadwithasinglelaneineachdirectionnarrows
toasingletrack,anadvancewarningsignwiththe
appropriatesupplementaryplatetodiagram518or
519shouldalwaysbeprovided.Ifthesignhastobe
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
516 Road narrows on both sides ahead
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
517 Road narrows on right ahead
Thesesignsmaybeusedwithdiagram511,518,
519,572,or575.Thesymbolisreversedwhen
theroadnarrowsontheleft
(50)
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
518 Single file traffic in each direction
62.5
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwith
diagram516,517or520.Adistance,
anarroworbothmaybeadded
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
519 Roadwideenoughfor
onelineofvehiclesonly
50
diagram516or517.Adistance,
anarroworbothmaybeadded
19
ROAD NARROWS
sitedatadistancefromthehazardsignicantly
differentfromthatrecommendedinAppendixA,a
distancemaybeaddedinaccordancewithSchedule
16item6(seeAppendixC).Anindicationofthe
distanceoverwhichtherestrictionextendsmay
begiven,e.g.Singleletrafcfor400yds.Ifthe
roadindicatedisasideroad,anarrowmaybeadded,
pointinghorizontallytotheleftortotheright.Details
areshownontheworkingdrawings(seepara1.8).
4.5Ifaroadiswideenoughforonlyonelineof
vehiclesbuttherearepassingplacesmarkedwith
diagram822PASSINGPLACE,diagram821
Singletrackroadwithpassingplacesshouldbe
usedateachendofthesingletracksection.The
legendwithpassingplacesmaybevariedtoNo
passingplacesforandadistanceinyardsormiles.
4.6 Thelossofalaneonadualcarriagewayroad,
onasliproadatagradeseparatedjunctionoron
aone-waystreetshouldbeindicatedusingthesign
todiagram872.1.Thesignillustratedisforuseon
aprimaryroute.Thebackgroundcolourisvariedto
bluewhenthesignisusedonamotorwayandto
whitewithblacksymbolsandborderwhenusedon
anon-primaryroute.
4.7 Thesizeofdiagram872.1isdeterminedby
themeasurementacrossthearrowhead.Asignis
placedoneachsideofthecarriageway,andthepair
repeatedonroadswithhighertrafcspeeds.Sizes
anddistancesfromthestartofthetaperaredetailed
intable4-2.Onmotorwaysandotherdualthree-lane
carriagewayroadssubjecttoa70mphspeedlimit,
threepairsofsignsshouldnormallybeprovided,at
800,360and180metresfromthestartofthetaper.
4.8 Guidanceontheassociatedroadmarkings
wherethenumberoflanesisreducedonahigh-
speedroadcanbefoundinChapter5(para4.53).
450 (600)
450
(600)
822 Passing place on
a narrow road
75
62.5
821 Roadaheadwideenough
foronelineofvehicles,but
haspassingplacesatintervals
withpassingplacesmaybevariedto
Usepassingplacestopermitovertaking
ortoNopassingplacesforandadistance
expressedinyardsormilesasappropriate
(240)(320)
400(480)
(120)
(160)
200
(240)
872.1 Reduction in the number
of traffic lanes ahead
(shown with diagram 876)
Theupperpanelmaybereversedinamirrorimage.
Thenumberofaheadarrowsmaybevaried.
Thedistancemaybevaried(seeAppendixC).
Thelowerpanel(diagram876)maybeomitted
20
21
ROAD NARROWS
Table4-2Sizeandsitingofsignstodiagram872.1
85th Sizeof x-heightof Firstsignsonapproach Secondsignsonapproach
percentile
speed
arrowhead legend
Distanceto
startoftaper
Legend Distanceto
startoftaper
Legend
(mph) (mm) (mm) (m) (m)
Upto30 240 120 45
1
None None None
31to40 240 120 135 150yds None None
41to50 320 160 180 200yds None None
51to60 320 160 270 300yds 135 150yds
Over60 400 200 360 400yds 180 200yds
Motorway
2
400(480)
3
200(240)
3
800 mile 360
4
400yds
NOTES
1.Ontwo-lanecarriagewayssubjecttoa30mphspeedlimit,asinglesignmountedonthesideoftheroad
onwhichthelaneistobelostmaybeadequate,althoughthepossibilityofobscurationbyparkedvehicles
shouldbeconsidered.
2.Alsoall-purposedualthree-lanecarriagewayroadssubjecttoa70mphspeedlimit.
3.Bracketeddimensionisusedwheretherearefourormorelanes.
4.Athirdpairofsignsshouldbeprovidedatadistanceof180mindicatingadistanceof200yds.
5TWO-WAYTRAFFICANDDUALCARRIAGEWAYROADS
TWO-WAYTRAFFIC
5.1 Thesignstodiagrams520and521indicatethe
resumptionoftwo-waytrafconasinglecarriageway
roadafteralengthofdualcarriagewayand,inthe
caseofdiagram521,afteraone-wayroad.Thesign
todiagram522indicatesatwo-wayroadcrossing
ahead(seepara5.4).
5.2Pairsofopposingarrowstodiagram1038,
indicatingtheaheaddirection,maybeusedto
supplementthesigntodiagram521.Thismaybe
particularlyhelpfulwhereasinglecarriagewayroad
issimilarinappearancetoonecarriagewayofadual
carriagewayroad.
ENDOFONE-WAYROAD
5.3 Diagram521shouldbeusedtoindicatea
changefromonetotwo-waytrafc,andalsoatthe
commencementofanytwo-waysideroadsthatform
ajunctionwithaone-wayroad.Itshouldbeerected
ascloseaspossibletothebeginningoftwo-way
working,consistentwithbeingreadilyvisibleto
turningtrafc,andmayberepeatedafter100
metres.
5.4 Diagram522isgenerallyusedonaone-way
roadtoindicatethataroaditjoinsoronethat
crossesitcarriestwo-waytrafc.Itisnormallysited
onthebackofthenoentrysign.However,itmight
alsobehelpfulonatwo-wayroadwhereitiscrossed
byanothertwo-wayroadafterasuccessionof
intersectionswithone-wayroads.
ENDOFDUALCARRIAGEWAY
5.5Theroadmarkingsrequiredwhereadual
carriagewayroadreducestoasinglecarriageway
aredetailedinChapter5.Table5-1belowliststhe
appropriatetapers.Figure5-1illustratesthesigns
andmarkingsneededinabuilt-upareawherespeeds
arerelativelylow.Thesigntodiagram520shouldbe
sitedinadvanceoftheendofthedualcarriageway
attheusualdistanceappropriatetowarningsigns
(seeAppendixA).Thesigntodiagram521shouldbe
erectedatorasnearaspossibletothebeginningof
two-wayworking,andmayberepeatedafter100
metres.
5.6Wheretrafcspeedsarehigh,asoninter-urban
roads,morecomprehensivesigningasingure5-2
shouldbeprovided.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
520 Dual carriageway ends ahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram511,518or572
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
521 Two-way traffic
Maybeusedwithdiagram570or572
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
522 Two-way traffic on route
crossing ahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram572
Table5-1
85thpercentilespeed Taper
(mph)
Upto40 1in40
41to50 1in45
51to60 1in50
Over60 1in55
22
TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AND DUAL CARRIAGEWAY ROADS
AsdetailA
AsdetailA
AsdetailA
DetailA
Figure5-1
Signinganurbandualcarriagewayroad
23
2
0
m
2
0
m
2
0
0
m
4
0
0
m
2
0
m
ForwarningarrowpositionsseeChapter5
ForwarninglineseeChapter5
Figure5-2
Signingtheendofaruraldualcarriagewayroad
24
818 Dual carriageway ahead
(75)
100
(125)
(150)
(200)
(75)
100
(125)
(150)
(200)
818.1 Distance to the start of
a dual carriageway
Thedistancemaybereduced
STARTOFDUALCARRIAGEWAY
5.9Onasinglecarriagewayroadwhichwidens
toadualcarriagewayforalengthofatleast400
metres,anadvancesigntodiagram818shouldbe
provided.Sitingdistances,normallymeasuredback
fromthenoseofthecentralhatchmarkingatthe
startofthedualcarriageway,aresimilartothose
indicatedinAppendixAforwarningtriangles.If
thedualcarriagewayisshorterthan400metres,
noadvancesignshouldbeprovided.Thesignto
diagram818.1Amaybeusedtowarndriversthat
adualledlengthisshortandsomightnotbelong
enoughtopermitovertaking.Thesignmaydisplay
distancesofmileormileonly.
5.10Furtheradvancewarninguptoadistanceof
twomilesmayalsobegivenbyasigntodiagram
818.1.Thissignmaybeusedtoencouragedrivers
todelayovertakinguntilthedualcarriagewayis
reached.Distancesgreaterthantwomilesarenot
permitted,asthismightresultinimpatientdrivers
tryingtoovertakeonanunsuitablelengthofroad.
5.11Forguidanceontheappropriatex-heightfor
thesesigns,seetable5-2.
5.12 Keepleftsigns(diagram610)shouldalways
beplacedatthestartofthecentralreservation,and
atanygaps.SeeChapter3forfurtherguidance.
(75)
100
(125)
(150)
(200)
818.1A Shortlengthofdualcarriageway
beginningdirectlyahead
Thedistancemaybevariedto

Table5-2Sizeofdualcarriagewaysigns
85thpercentilespeed x-height(seenote)
(mph) (mm)
Upto30 75
31to40 100
41to50 125
Over50 150(200)
NOTE:Thelargersizeshowninbracketsmaybeused
onhighstandardsinglecarriagewayroadswhere
speedsarehigh(e.g.on10mwidecarriageways).
5.7Whereahigh-speeddualcarriagewayroad
endsataroundabout,signstodiagram520
shouldbeerectedonbothsidesofthecarriageway
approximately100metresbeforetheroundabout.A
signtodiagram521shouldbeerectedapproximately
50metresaftertheroundabout.Warningsignsto
diagram510shouldalsobeusedasappropriate(see
paras2.13to2.15).
5.8Wherespeedsonthedualcarriagewayroad
arehigh,butthelengthofduallingissoshortthatit
wouldnotbepossibletositethesignsinaccordance
withgure5-2,theymaybesitedatnotlessthan
onehalfthenormaldistancefromtheendofthe
centralreservation,providedtheyarestillduplicated
ontherighthandsideofthecarriageway.
25
ROUNDABOUTSONDUALCARRIAGEWAYS
5.13Aplainbollardshouldbeusedonthecentral
reservationofadualcarriagewayoronthesplitter
islandofanyotherroadleavingaroundabout.A
bollardmaybedispensedwithwhereadirectly-lit
directionsignisprovidedinsuchaposition.Ifthe
physicallayoutdoesnotadequatelydetertrafc
fromturningintothewrongcarriagewayorsliproad
insuchsituations,direction7(3)permitsnoentry
signstodiagram616accompaniedbyNOENTRY
markingsonthecarriageway(diagram1046)tobe
usedwithouttheneedforatrafcorder,subjectto
thepriorapprovaloftheSecretaryofState(seepara
1.2).Furtherguidanceonthesigningofroundabouts
maybefoundinparas2.13to2.19,3.13,3.19to
3.23and5.7.
GAPCLOSURES
5.14Whereagapinthecentralreservationofadual
carriagewayhasbeenclosed,atemporarysignto
diagram7014(seepara1.17forguidanceonsize)
variedtoGAPCLOSEDAHEADshouldbeprovided,
warningdriversofthechangedlayout.Thisshouldbe
sitedonthecentralreservationasuitabledistancein
advanceoftheclosure.Itwillusuallybehelpfulto
addthedistanceinyards(tothenearest10yards)on
aseparatelineafterCLOSED.AHEADmaythen
beomitted.Thissignmustnotberetainedforlonger
thanthreemonths(direction37).Anorightturn
sign(diagram612)shouldbeplacedonthecentral
7014 (variant)
Gap closed ahead
50 min
200 max
Adistanceinyardstothenearesttenyardsmaybe
addedbeforeorsubstitutedforAHEAD
reservationimmediatelyprecedingtheformergap.
Althoughnottime-limitedbydirection37,thisshould
beremovedatthesametimeastheGAPCLOSED
sign.Junctionwarningsignsmayneedtoberemoved
orreplaced(e.g.diagram506.1indicatingasideroad
mighthavetobesubstitutedfordiagram504.1
indicatingacrossroads).Amendedsideroadsigning
shouldbeinaccordancewithpara5.15.
SIDEROADS
5.15Whereaminorroadcrossesorjoinsadual
carriageway,GIVEWAYorSTOPsigns(seeChapter3)
shouldnormallybeprovidedontheminorroad,
supplementedbyaDualcarriagewayplateto
diagram608(seepara2.1).Whereadvancewarning
isneeded,signstodiagram501supplementedbythe
plates502or503asappropriateshouldbeerectedin
accordancewithtable2-1.TheDualcarriageway
platemaybeprovidedbelowthesesignsalso.
5.16Specialcareisneededinsigningminor
roadjunctionswithdualcarriagewayroadsifthe
carriagewaysareseparatedbyaverywidecentral
reservationandthefurthercarriagewaycouldbe
mistakenforaseparateroadorcannoteasilybe
seenbyadriverontheminorroad.Insuchcases,as
anadditionalsafeguard,NOENTRY(diagram1046)
shouldbemarkedonthenearercarriagewayto
preventdriversfromturningrightintoit.Itmayalso
beappropriatetoerectnoentrysigns(diagram
616)oneachsideofthenearercarriageway,angled
soastobeseenbyadriverattemptingarightturn.
Priorapprovalmustbeobtainedinwritingfrom
theSecretaryofStatebeforeusingthesesignsand
markingsinsuchcircumstances(seepara5.13).If
thelayoutisnotself-evident,amap-typesignon
theminorroadapproachmightbehelpful.
5.17Onasideroadwhichjoinsadualcarriageway
roadwherethereisnogapinthecentralreservation,
aturnleftaheadsign(diagram609)togetherwith
aDualcarriagewayplate(diagram608)shouldbe
used.Aturnleftsign(diagram606)withaDual
carriagewayplateshouldbeerectedonthecentral
reservationoppositethesideroad(seegure5-1).
26
6HILLS
GENERAL
6.1Steephillsaresignedusingdiagrams523.1and
524.1togetherwithassociatedsupplementaryplates.
Thegradientiscalculatedusingthetangentofthe
angleconcerned,althoughinpracticeitmakeslittle
differencewhetherthesineorthetangentisused.
Thegradientonnewsignsmustbeexpressedasa
percentage;oldsignsshowingaratiomayremain
inplaceuntillife-expired.
DESCENT
6.2 Thesigntodiagram523.1shouldnormallybe
usedonlywherethegradientis10%ormore.The
actualgradienttothenearestwholenumbershould
beindicatedonthesign,e.g.agradientof10.4%
shouldbesignedas10%,but10.6%as11%.
6.3 Onverysteeporlonghillswhereadditional
warningisconsiderednecessary,thesignmaybe
repeatedasappropriate,supplementedwiththe
Lowgearplatesshownindiagrams525,526
or527.Theseplatesmustnotbeusedalone.
6.4Thecircumstancesjustifyingtheadditionalplates
cannotbestatedprecisely.Trafcauthorities,after
consultingthepolice,willhavetoassesstheneedto
advisedriverstoengagealowergearandgaugethe
likelihoodofthisinstructionbeingrespected.Itis
difculttopersuadedriverstoselectalowergear
todescendalonghilliftheirownassessmentofthe
needisdifferent.Wheredrivershaveagoodviewof
thedescentandcanmaketheirownjudgement,then
aninstructiontochangegearwillbeobeyedonlyif
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
523.1 Steep hill downwards
Maybeusedwithdiagram511,525,526,527,570,
572,573or817.2.Thenumeralsmaybevaried
(seeAppendixC)
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
524.1 Steep hill upwards
Maybeusedwithdiagram511,525,526,527,570,
572or573.Thenumeralsmaybevaried
(seeAppendixC)
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
525 Low gear now
diagram523.1or524.1
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
526 Keep in low gear
512.1,512.2,513,523.1,524.1or554.1
(50)
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
527 Low gear for 1 miles
62.5
523.1or524.1.Thedistancemaybevaried
(seeAppendixC)
27
28
HILLS
theythinkitcorrect.Instructionsshouldnotbegiven
iftheyarelikelytobeignoredandanyexistingsigns
whicharenotbeingrespectedshouldberemoved.
6.5Lowgearplatesarenotnormallyusedunless
thegradientoverallorinpartexceeds12%andthe
hillislongerthan800metres.Theyaremorelikely
tobejustiedwheretherearealsosharpbends.
6.6 TheinstructiontoKeepinlowgear(diagram
526)shouldbeusedatintervalsofnotlessthan800
metreswherethegradientexceeds12%;itmaybe
accompaniedbydiagram554.1Tryyourbrakes
(seepara11.2).Whenusedinadvanceofanescape
lane,diagram523.1shouldbereplacedby554.1as
shownintable6-1.Exceptionally,diagram526may
beusedatashorterinterval,e.g.whereanincrease
ofgradientishiddenfromview.
6.7 Steephillsignswithoutplatesmaybe
repeatedonahillwherethegradientsteepensbut
shouldnotbeplacedatintervalsoflessthan550
metresunlessthegradientincreasesby5%ormore.
6.8 Onlongdescents,certainsectionsmaybe
steepwhilstothersarebelowthe10%criterionfor
provisionofsigns.Itmightthenbebettertotreatthe
steeperpartsasseparatehillsandsignaccordingly.
ESCAPELANES
6.9Whereanescapelaneorarresterbedisavailable,
theEscapelaneaheadsign(817.2)shouldbeused.
Itshouldformpartofasequenceofsignswith
aheadvariedasintable6-1.Thesignmayalso
bevariedtoshowtheescapelanetotheleftona
straightroad.Permittedvariantsareillustratedon
theworkingdrawings(seepara1.8).Theorderof
Table6-1
Location Warning Plate Variant
sign of817.2
Attopofhill
400yardsfrom
escapelane
200yardsfrom
escapelane
Atentryto
escapelane
523.1
554.1
523.1
523.1
525
526
526
526
ahead
400yds
200yds
arrow
thesignplates,fromthetop,shouldbe:warningsign
(523.1or554.1):supplementaryplate(525or526):
diagram817.2.
ASCENT
6.10 Thesignshownindiagram524.1shouldbe
usedonly:
(i) wherethegradientis15%ormore,or
(ii) wheretheascentislongerthan1600metres
andthegradientis10%ormore,inwhich
casethesignshouldbeaccompaniedbya
distanceplatetodiagram570(seesection18).
6.11 Thesupplementaryplatestodiagrams525,526
and527shouldnotnormallybeusedwiththeascent
warning,exceptinrarecircumstancese.g.wherea
verysharpincreaseingradientishiddenfromview
andthereisarecordofaccidentsduetovehicles
stallingandrollingbackoutofcontrol.
6.12 Forsignstodiagram583and583.1(indicating
slow-movingvehicles)seeparas20.3and20.4.
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
817.2 Escape lane ahead
diagram523.1togetherwitheither525or526,
ordiagram554.1with526.Thewordaheadmay
bevariedtoadistanceortoanarrowpointingto
theleft,oromitted.Theangleoftheroutesymbol
maybevariedtoaccordwiththelayout
7 BRIDGESANDOTHERSTRUCTURES
HUMPBRIDGES
7.1Thesigntodiagram528shouldbeusedwhere
ahumpbridgeissoseverethatunlessdriversare
forewarnedtheymightlosecontroloftheirvehicles.
Ifvisibilityisinadequate,doublewhitelinesora
hazardlineshouldbelaidinaccordancewiththe
normalcriteria(seeChapter5).Ifthehumpbridge
hidesafurtherhazard,anothersignindicating
thisshouldbeprovidedonthesamepost(with
thesignindicatingthersthazardencountered
placeduppermost).Ifthereisariskoflong
vehiclesgroundingonthebridge,diagram782(see
para21.13)shouldbeusedalso,mountedbelow
diagram528.Theyshouldbesited,withadistance
plate,ontheapproachtoajunctionatwhichvehicles
candivert,andrepeatedatthestandardsiting
distancefromthestructure(seeAppendixA).
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
528 Humpbridgeahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram511,572,573,575or782
BRIDGEPARAPETOROTHEROBSTRUCTION
7.2Signstodiagram528.1shouldbeusedwhere
abridgeparapet,abutmentorotherobstruction
isimmediatelyadjacentto,orencroachesonto,
thecarriageway.Thisincludesanyparapetor
abutmentontheoffsidewhereitwouldbea
hazardtodriversovertakingorpassingatemporary
obstructiononthenearside.Inadditiontotherisk
topassingroadtrafc,damagetoaparapetcan
alsoresultinconsiderabledangertorailtrafc.
Itisthereforeparticularlyimportantthatsignsto
diagram528.1onparapetsorabutmentsofbridges
arecorrectlyinstalledandmaintainedtoahigh
standard.Theuseofthesesignshelpstomakethe
vulnerablepartsofastructuremoreconspicuous.If
theobstructionisaccompaniedbyanarrowingofthe
carriageway,roadnarrowssignstodiagram516
or517(seesection4)andedgelinesshouldalsobe
used.Thesignsshouldbeusedasinthediagram,
slopingdownwardstowardsthecarriageway.The
Regulationspermittheuseofyellowmaterialwhich
isbothretroreectiveanduorescent(seepara7.6).

m
i
n

x

e
q
u
a
l

e
q
300
u
a
l

1
5
0 2
5
0
m
a
750 min
1000 max
528.1 Endofbridgeparapet
orotherobstruction
OPENINGBRIDGE
7.3 Thesigntodiagram529shouldbeusedin
advanceofopeningbridges(liftingorswing).If
movementontoabridgeiscontrolledbywig-wag
signalstodiagram3014,aplatetodiagram773
(seesection21)shouldbeadded.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
529 Openingbridgeahead
29
BRIDGES AND OTHER STRUCTURES
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
529.1 Tunnelahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram572,573,575or773
Figure7-1Nameandlengthoftunnel
onamotorway
Whenindicatingatunnelonanall-purposeroad,
thesignhasblackcharactersonawhitebackground
withablackborder.Thesignisnotprescribedbythe
Regulationsandrequiresauthorisation
TUNNELS
7.4 Thesignshownindiagram529.1isforuse
inadvanceoftunnels.Ifthetunneliscontrolledby
wig-wagsignals,thesignshouldbesupplemented
byaplatetodiagram773(seesection21).
7.5 TheRoadTunnelSafetyRegulations2007
requirethatatunnelslengthshouldbeindicated
onasignattheportal.Thisshouldbedoneusing
anon-prescribedvariantofdiagram2401or2928
(seegure7-1andpara1.5).Itisnotappropriateto
usediagram529.1,wherethesupplementaryplate
indicatesthedistanceaheadtothehazard.
LOWBRIDGES
7.6Incidentsinwhichroadvehiclesstrikelow
bridgespresentaserioushazardtobothrailand
roadusers.Thereisasignicantnumberofreported
bridgestrikeseachyear.Ittakesonlyarelativelysmall
amountofforcetodisplacebridgegirderssufciently
toderailatrain.Seriousdamagecanalsobecaused
toarchbridges.Itisthereforeparticularlyimportant
thatthesignsandmarkingsonlowbridgesare
correctlyinstalledandmaintainedtoahighstandard.
Theuseofblackandyellowhazardmarkingshelps
tomakethevulnerablepartsofastructuremore
conspicuous.Theyellowpartsofthesemarkingsmay
alsobereectorised,makingthemmuchbrighterat
night,anduorescent.Thelattergreatlyincreases
conspicuityindullweatherandatdusk(seepara
1.33forfurtherguidanceonuorescence).However,
uorescenceisvisuallyintrusiveandisthereforebest
connedtostructuresthatareknowntobeatrisk.
7.7Thestandardminimumclearanceoverevery
partofthecarriagewayofapublicroadis16'-6"
(5.03m).Wheretheclearanceoveranypartisless
thanthis,signsshouldbeprovided.Whereadual
carriagewayroadhashardshoulderswithrestricted
headroom,thisshouldbeseparatelysigned,
supplementedwiththehazardmarkingsindiagram
530.2orthechordmarkingsusedatarchbridges
(seeparas7.23and7.24).
MEASUREMENTOFHEIGHT
7.8 Allbridgesandotherstructureswithaheadroom
oflessthan16'-6"(5.03m)shouldbeclearlysigned.
TheRegulationsallowheightstobeshownineither
imperialunitsorbothmetricandimperialunits.Itis
stronglyrecommendedthatbothunitsaredisplayed
onsigns,especiallyonmainroutesandroadsused
frequentlybyforeignvehicles.Metricsignsalone
mustnotbeused;eithertwosignsoracombined
metric/ imperialsignmustbeused.Imperialand
metricheightsshouldbecalculatedseparately.
7.9 Thebridgeheightshouldbere-measuredwhen
worksontheroadortothebridgemighthave
affectedtheavailableheadroom.Permanentsigns
shouldbechangedifnecessaryandatemporarysign
todiagram7014.1maybeerectedforaperiodof
6monthsfollowingcompletionoftheworks.
50 min
200 max
7014.1 Reductioninbridgeheadroomahead
Theheightmaybevaried
30
7.10 Careshouldbetakentoensurethatvehiclesof
themaximumlengthpermittedbytheConstruction
andUseRegulationswillbeabletopasssafelyunder
thebridge.Thisisparticularlyimportantwherethe
roaddipsorhogssharplyorisonacurvingalignment
underthebridge.Changesingradientmightaffect
theheadroom,e.g.theeffectiveclearancewillbe
reducedforalongwheelbasevehiclespanningadip.
Wheretheroadpassingunderastructureisonasag
curve,theheadroomshouldbemeasuredalongthe
carriagewayovera25mchord.
7.11 Theimperialgureshownonsignstoindicate
theavailableheadroomshouldbeatleast3inches
lessthanthemeasuredheighttoallowasafety
margin.Iftheresultinggureisnotamultipleof
3inches,itshouldberoundeddowntothenearest
lowermultipleof3inches.
Example1:measuredheight15'-2",
subtract3"tocreateasafetymargin14'-11",
rounddowntonearestmultipleof3"
andsignas14'-9".
Example2:measuredheight14'-6",
subtract3"tocreateasafetymargin14'-3",
andsignas14'-3"(roundingdownnotrequired
asalreadyexpressedtothenearest3")
Thus,themaximumheadroomthatwillnormally
appearonasignis16'-0".
METRICHEIGHTS
7.12Toobtainthemetricgureshownonsigns,the
bridgeheightshouldbemeasuredtotwodecimal
places,roundingdowntothenearest0.01m.The
followingmethodisthenusedtocalculatethe
appropriatesignedheight:
(i) iftheseconddecimaldigitis8or9,delete
itandsignthebridgewiththeremaining
wholenumberandtherstdecimaldigit,
(ii) iftheseconddecimaldigitis7orless,
deleteitandreducetherstdecimaldigit
by1.Signthebridgewiththeremaining
wholenumberandrstdecimaldigit,as
reduced,
e.g. measuredheight4.19m,signas4.1m,
measuredheight4.17m,signas4.0m.
Theheightshownonthesignmustbetoonlyone
decimalplace.Themaximumheadroomthatwill
normallyappearonasignis4.9m.
DIVERSIONSIGNING
7.13Inordertoreducetheriskofthedriverof
anoverheightvehiclebeingconfrontedwithan
impassablebridge,itisimportantthatproperly
planneddiversionroutesigningisprovided,certainly
whereastructurehasahistoryofrepeatedstrikes.
Insuchacase,itisnotsufcienttorelyonwarning
signsalone.Diversionroutesigningmaybe
incorporatedintostandardjunctionadvancedirection
signsandag-typesigns,orseparatelymounted
signstodiagram818.4or818.5maybeprovided
(seeparas7.15and7.16),orbothtypesofsigning
maybeusedtogether.Thesigntodiagram818.3is
usedtogiveadvancewarningofanon-archbridge,
butwithoutindicatinganalternativeroute.Thissign
mightbeappropriateinadvanceofanydiversion
routesigningorontheimmediateapproachtoa
bridge(seepara7.18).
7.14 TheRegulationsprescribebothmap-typeand
stack-typeadvancedirectionsignsforindicating
alternativeroutesavoidingalowbridge(diagrams
2002and2003onprimaryroutes;2107and2108
usingSchedule16item32variantsonnon-primary
routes).Prohibitoryroundelsareusedwherethe
restrictionismandatory(seepara7.17),otherwise
thetriangularwarningsignsshownindiagram2002,
orthedualheightwarningsignshownindiagram
530A,areused.Theag-typesignsatthejunction
shouldalsoincorporateawarningsign,asindiagram
2027,orprohibitorysignasappropriate.Directional
signswithaprohibitoryroundelmustalsoincludea
distanceplateunlesstherestrictioncommencesat
thejunction.Fordesigndetails,seeChapter7paras
4.16to4.27,5.60to5.81,6.12to6.15,7.6to7.10
and11.16.
7.15Analternativerouteavoidingamandatory
heightrestrictionmaybesignedusingasignto
diagram818.4,atthex-heightindicatedinAppendix
A.Thesignshouldbeplacedwherethedrivercansee
itingoodtimetomakethenecessarymanoeuvre,
beforetheadvancedirectionsignforthenext
junctionatwhichtheroutesadvisedaresigned.Itis
essentialthatfullroutecontinuitysigningisprovided
tothepointwheretheoriginalrouteisresumed.
31
60 min
300 max
Roundel
dimensions
are shown on the
working drawing
(see para 1.8)
818.3 Mandatoryheightlimit
atlowbridgeahead
LowbridgemaybevariedtoHeightlimitor
omitted(withtheremaininglegendplacedbelowthe
roundel).Anarrowmaybeaddedorsubstitutedfor
thedistance(withaheadomittedineachcase).
Thedistancemaybevaried(seeAppendixC).
Detailsofthepermittedvariantsareshowninthe
tablebelowthediagramintheRegulations
60 min
300 max
Roundel
dimensions
are shown on the
working drawing
(see para 1.8)
818.4 Mandatoryheightlimit
atlowbridgeaheadand
indicationofalternativeroute
Anarrowmaybeaddedabovetheroundel.Low
bridgemaybevariedtoHeightlimitoromitted,
withthelocationvariedasappropriateorchangedto
adistance(seeAppendixC).aheadmaybeadded
afterthedistancewhennoarrowisshown.The
alternativeroutemaybevariedasappropriateand
mayincludeareferencetoamotorwayjunction.
Adiversionroutesymbolmaybeadded.Detailsof
thepermittedvariantsareshowninthetablebelow
thediagramintheRegulations
60 min
300 max
818.5 Availableheadroomatlowbridgeahead
andindicationofalternativeroute
(Advancesignforanarchbridge)
Anarrowmaybeaddedabovethediagram530A
symbol.Thelocationmaybevariedasappropriate
orchangedtoadistance(seeAppendixC).ahead
maybeaddedafterthedistancewhennoarrowis
shown.Thediagram530Asymbolmaybevariedto
diagram530.Thealternativeroutemaybevaried
asappropriateandmayincludeareferencetoa
motorwayjunction.Adiversionroutesymbolmaybe
added.Detailsofthepermittedvariantsareshownin
thetablebelowthediagramintheRegulations
7.16 Atarchbridges,wheretheavailableheadroom
isindicatedbysignstodiagram532.2,532.2A,532.3
or532.3A,analternativeroutemaybesignedusing
asigntodiagram818.5,atthex-heightindicatedin
AppendixA.Aswithmandatoryheightrestrictions,
thesignshouldbeplacedwherethedrivercanseeit
ingoodtimetomakethenecessarymanoeuvreand
fullroutecontinuitysigningshouldbeprovided.
NON-ARCHBRIDGES
7.17 Mandatorysignsshouldnormallybeusedat
non-archbridges,astheycangivemoreeffective
protectionthanwarningsigns.Trafcregulation
ordersarenotrequiredformandatoryheightlimit
signsatabridge,tunnelorsimilarstructureover
thehighway(seedirection7(3)),butarerequired
forlimitsimposedforenvironmentalreasons.
32

600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
629.2 Mandatoryheightrestriction
750
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
629.2A Mandatoryheightrestriction
(metricandimperialunits)
Thesesignsmaybeusedwithdiagram530.2.
Theheightmaybevaried(seeAppendixC)
7.18 Signstodiagram629.2or629.2Amaybe
used,butthelatter,whichshowsbothimperialand
metricdimensions,ispreferred.Thesignsshouldbe
mountedonthebridge,asadriverseeingabridge
withnoheightlimitindicatedmightwellassume
theheadroomtobeatleast16'-6".Theymayalso
beplacedattheroadsideinadvanceofthebridge
inaccordancewithdirection8(inmostcasesasign
beingrequiredoneachsideoftheroad),butasit
isanoffencefordriversofoverheightvehiclesto
passthesesigns,theyshouldnotbeplacedwhere
theywouldpreventlegitimately-requiredaccessto
premisesorsideroads.Evenwhendiversionsigning
hasbeenprovided,itisstillnecessarytogiveproper
advancewarningoftheheightrestriction.Signsto
diagram530or530Aarenotappropriate,asthey
givenoindicationoftheprohibition.Diagram818.3
(ordiagram818.4ifitisconsiderednecessaryto
includethediversionroute)shouldbeused;itwill
sometimesbepossibletoindicateanescaperoutefor
driverswhohavemissedthediversionsignsbysiting
thissigninadvanceofthelastdiversionorturning
pointbeforethebridge.Ifitismuchfurtherfromthe
bridgethantheusualwarningdistanceindicatedin
AppendixA,anothersigntodiagram818.3or818.4
mayberequiredattheappropriateplace.Diagram
818.3or818.4mayalsobeusedtoindicatea
restrictioninasideroadbyincludinganarrowonthe
sign(thelegendaheadmustnotbeusedwiththe
arrow).Thesigningontheapproachtoanon-arch
bridgeisshowningure7-2.
7.19Althoughwarningsignstodiagram530or
530Amaybemountedonnon-archbridgesasan
alternativetomandatorysigns,thispracticeisnot
recommended.

e
q
e
q
1
5
0
m
i
n

2
5
0
m
a
x
u
a
l
u
a
l

1560
max
min
45
530.2 Reducedheadroomatahazard
300
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram530,629.2or629.2A
33

Endofdiversionrouteforoverheightvehicles
Signingatstructure
Diagram629.2Aplusconspicuitymarkingsto
diagram530.2
Prohibitorysigns,ifappropriate(seepara7.18)
Diagram629.2A
Note:Ifaccessisrequiredtopremises,thesesigns
maybereplacedbyasinglesigntodiagram818.3
Advisorysigninadvanceoflastturning
opportunity,ifneeded
Diagram818.3
Advisorysigninginadvance
ofstartofdiversionroutefor
overheightvehicles
Diagram2002or2003
(Diagram2107or2108on
non-primaryroutes)
Diagram818.4
Notes: (1)Eitherdiagram2002etc.or
818.4,orbothtypesofadvisory
signing,maybeusedas
appropriate.
(2)Continuitysigningisessential
onthediversionroute.
NOTE:Blackand
yellowmarkingson
bridgeshouldnot
extendoverfootway
Figure7-2Signsonapproachtoanon-archbridgewithadiversionaryroute
34
7.20 Theconspicuityofthebridgecanbe
signicantlyenhancedbyuseofthemarking
todiagram530.2.Wheretheyellowpartsofthe
markingaremadeofretroreectivematerial,they
mayalsobeuorescent(seepara7.6).Therstof
thetwoalternativetypes,withacut-outforthe
signs,shouldnormallybeusedonthelowestpartof
thebridgeelevation.Iftheconstructionofthebridge
issuchthatsignscannotbelocatedinthisposition,
thesecondalternativeshouldbeused,withthesigns
mountedabove.
ARCHBRIDGES
7.21Mandatorysignsarenotusedatarchbridges,
asthemainrisktothesecomesfromvehicleswhich,
althoughlowenoughtopassthroughthecentral
partofthearch,mightstrikethecurvedshoulderof
thestructure.SeeChapter5(paras22.5to22.10)
forguidanceontheuseofroadmarkingsatarch
bridges.
7.22 Archbridgesshouldbesignedusingdiagram
531.1and531.2(butseepara7.24).Signsto
diagram531.1arealwaysonesizelargerthan
normallyrequiredforawarningsign,witha
minimumheightof750mm.Thisisbecausea
smallerlegendthanusualhastobeusedinorder
toaccommodatethearchsymbol.Thesesignsare
intendedforuseinadvanceofthebridge,and
shouldnormallybeusedonbothapproachesatthe
standardsitingdistances(seeAppendixA).They
shouldnotbeusedonthebridgeitselfnorshould
theybeincorporatedindirectionalsignsorthesign
todiagram818.5wherediagram530or530Ashould
beused.Thesigningontheapproachtoanarch
bridgeisshowningure7-3.
7.23Thechordmarkingtodiagram532.2or
532.2A,orifappropriatethedoublechordto
diagram532.3or532.3A,shouldbeusedonthe
bridgestructure.Itshouldalwaysbereectorised,
tomakeiteasiertoseeatnight.Ifthedoublechord
isused,thetriangularsignsatthesideofthearch
shouldbetheappropriatesizefortheroad(see
AppendixA),andthoseatthetopofthearchone
sizelarger.Theheightindicatedonthewarningsign
todiagram531.1willbethatforthechordabovethe
centreoftheroad.
750
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
750
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
531.1 Availableheadroom
atarchbridgeahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram531.2,572or573.
Theheightmaybevaried(seeAppendixC).
Themetricsignmaybeomittedbutmust
notbeusedalone
(100)
(125)
(150)
531.2 Highvehiclestousemiddle
oftheroadatarchbridgeahead
75
diagram531.1.Anarrowmaybeaddedto
thesignpointingeithertotheleftortotheright
35

Endofdiversionrouteforoverheightvehicles
Signingatstructure
Diagram532.2Aor532.3A
Roadmarkingsifneeded(seeChapter5)
Finalwarningsign
Diagram531.1(seepara7.22forlocation)
Diagram531.2ifneeded
Additionalsigninadvanceoflastturning
opportunity,ifneeded
Diagram531.1plus572
Advisorysigninginadvance
ofstartofdiversionroutefor
overheightvehicles
Diagram2002or2003
(Diagram2107or2108on
non-primaryroutes)
Diagram818.5
Notes: (1)Eitherdiagram2002etc.or
818.5,orbothtypesofadvisory
signing,maybeusedas
appropriate.
(2)Continuitysigningisessential
onthediversionroute.
Figure7-3Signsonapproachtoanarchbridgewithadiversionaryroute
NOTE:Blackand
yellowmarkingson
bridgeshouldnot
extendoverfootway
36

300
min
1
5
0
m
i
n

2
5
0
m
a
x

3
0
0

e
q
u
a
l

e
q
u
a
l

750
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
250
(300)
(400)
(500)
75 min
75 min
See para 7.24
532.2 Maximumheadroomatcentreofarchbridgeindicatedbysignstodiagram530
Theblackandyellowmarkingsmaybeomitted.Themetricsignmaybeomitted.

300
(400)
(500)
(600)
300
min
1
5
0
m
i
n

2
5
0
m
a
x

3
0
0

e
q
u
a
l

e
q
u
a
l

75 min
75 min
900
(1200)
(1500)
(1800)
See para 7.24
532.2A Maximumheadroomatcentreofarchbridgeindicatedbyasigntodiagram530A
Theblackandyellowmarkingsmaybeomitted.Theheightmaybevaried(seeAppendixC)
37
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
300
min
300
min
750 (900)
(1200)
(1500)
250
(300)
(400)
(500)
75 min
75
min
See para 7.24
532.3 Maximumheadroomatsideandincentreofarchbridgeindicatedbysignstodiagram530
Theblackandyellowmarkingsshownindiagram532.2maybeadded.
Themetricsignsmaybeomitted.Theheightmaybevaried(seeAppendixC)
250
(300)
(400)
(500)
300
min
See para 7.24
900
(1200)
(1500)
(1800)
300
(400)
(500)
(600)
75 min
300
min
75
min
750
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
532.3A Maximumheadroomatsideandincentreofarchbridgeindicatedbysignstodiagram530A
Theblackandyellowmarkingsshownindiagram532.2Amaybeadded.
38
7.24Thechordmarkingshouldindicatethe
availableheadroomoverawidthofnotlessthan3
metres.Theheightindicatedonthewarningsigns,
determinedinaccordancewithparas7.8to7.12,
shouldbethelowestheadroombetweenthechord
limits.Onanarrowbridgewheretheheadroom
decreasesrapidlyawayfromthecentre,a3metre
chordmarkingisappropriate.Onawidebridge
withonlyagradualreductioninheadroomitmight
bepossibletoincreasethechordwidthto6metres
ormorewithoutexcessivelyrestrictingthesigned
height,thusmaintainingtwo-wayoperationforall
vehiclesthatcanpassunderthebridge.Inthese
circumstances,thewarningsigntodiagram531.1
isunlikelytorequirethesupplementaryplateto
diagram531.2.Where16'-6"(5.03m)headroom
isavailableovermuchofthecarriagewaywidth,
butnotallofit,diagram532.3or532.3Ashould
beusedwiththecentralsignsvariedto16'-6"
(5.0m)andthesignsonthesidechordsindicating
theclearanceavailableatthenearsidechannel(see
paras7.10and7.11formeasurementofclearances).
Blackandyellowmarkingsshownindiagram532.2
or532.2Ashouldthenbeusedoverthoseparts
ofthecarriagewaywheretheclearanceisbelow
16'-6",togivegreateremphasistotherestricted
height.Itisrecommendedthattheyellowpartsof
themarkingshouldberetroreective;theymayalso
beuorescent(seepara7.6).Thechordmarkings
shownindiagrams532.3and532.3Amaybe
usedincircumstancesotherthandescribedabove,
particularlyonwideroadswheretherearetwo
lanesinoneorbothdirections,withthesidechord
positionedoverthelefthandlane.Sidechordsare
alsousefulwherevehicleswithaheightwellbelow
thatshownforthecentreoftheroadmightstrikethe
bridgeifkeepingclosetothelefthandsideofthe
carriageway.
COMPOSITEBRIDGES
7.25Somebridgesoriginallybuiltasarches
havebeenadaptedwiththeadditionofgirdersor
beams.Wherethearchisthelowestpart,thewhole
structureshouldbesignedasanarchbridge.Black
andyellowstripedplates(tohighlighttheproleof
thearch)shouldbesuspendedfromthebridgebeam,
togetherwithfurtherplatesonthearchitself.
7.26Wherethebeamislowerthananypartof
thearch,thewholestructureshouldbesignedas
anon-archbridgeandplateswithblackandyellow
markingstodiagram530.2suspendedfromthe
archattheheightofthebeam.Similarly,wheretwo
adjacentbeambridgeshavedifferentheadroom,the
platesshouldbelocatedonthehigherbridgeatthe
heightofthelowerone.
7.27 Experiencehasshownthatthesesuspended
plateswillthemselvesbestruckfromtimetotime
andthatrigidly-mountedaluminiumsubstrates
arenotsuitable.Rubberorotherexiblematerial
shouldbeusedforthebacking,suspendedby
meansofchainsorhingesxedsecurelytothe
bridgestructurebyamethodagreedwiththebridge
owner.Theplatesshouldnotbexedrigidlyby
screwsorboltstothefaceofthebridge,asthere
isagreaterriskthanwithexibly-suspendedplates
ofthembeingdislodgedandfallingontovehicleson
theroadbeneath.Theuseofrubber-backedplates
willhelptoavoidannoyancetonearbyresidents
fromthenoiseofhangingmetalplatesstriking
thebridgestructureinwindorvehicleslipstream.
Itisrecommendedthattheyellowpartsofthe
markingshouldberetroreective;theymayalsobe
uorescent(seepara7.6).Whenthesignsarelit,the
platesshouldalsobelitwheneverpracticable.Thisis
particularlyhelpfulwhereagirderbridgeisfollowed
byamorerestrictivearchbridge.
OVERHEADPOWERCABLES
7.28 Forguidanceonsigningoverheadpower
cables,seeparas21.9to21.12.
OVERHANGINGBUILDINGS
7.29Whereanoverhangingbuildingorother
structurecausesarestrictionoverpartofthe
carriageway,theplatetodiagram530.1shouldbe
usedwithdiagram530or530A.Adistancemaybe
added.Wherethebuildingisinanotherroad,an
arrowmaybeadded,pointinghorizontallytothe
leftortotheright.Detailsaregivenontheworking
drawing(seepara1.8).
39

600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
530 Availableheadroomwithimperialand
metricunitsshownonseparatesigns
Maybeusedwithdiagram530.1,530.2,572or
573.Theheightmaybevaried(seeAppendixC).The
metricsignmaybeomittedorplacedtotheright
oftheimperialsign,butmustnotbeusedalone
750
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
(1800)
530A Singlesignshowingavailableheadroom
inbothmetricandimperialunits
Maybeusedwithdiagram530.1,530.2,572or573.
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
530.1 Buildingoverhanging
partofcarriageway
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram530
or530A.Adistance,anarroworbothmaybeadded.
buildingmaybevariedtobuildings
ortostructure
40
8TRAFFICSIGNALS
8.1 Thetrafcsignalswarningsignisshownin
diagram543.Aplatetodiagram573(seesection18)
isusedwherethesignalsarelocatedalonganother
road.Whenusedonadualcarriagewayroad,the
signsshouldbeduplicatedonthecentralreservation.
8.2 Thesignmaybeusedwithallthree-aspecttype
trafcsignals,includingPelican,ToucanandPufn
crossingsandportabletrafcsignalsusedatroad
works.Itisnotforusewithwig-wagsignalsto
diagram3014,wherediagram563.1or773
shouldbeusedwiththeappropriatewarningsign
(seesections17and21).Norshoulditnormally
beusedwherevisibilityisimpairedonlybyparked
vehicles,whentheimpositionofwaitingandloading
restrictionsshouldbeconsidered.Theguidancein
thissectionappliesonlytopermanentinstallations.
SeeChapter8forguidanceinrespectoftemporary
installations.
8.3 Diagram543shouldgenerallybeusedonly
wherethevisibilitydistanceofthesignalsisless
thanthatspeciedintable8-1.Thedistancesquoted
makesomeallowanceforthehazardbeingtheback
ofaqueueratherthanthestopline.Whereasign
isprovided,itshouldbeplacedatthedistancefrom
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
543 Traffic signals ahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram543.1,547.8,
572,573or7030
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
543.1 Part time signals

543,3000,3000.7,3000.8,3000.9or3000.10.
ParttimemaybevariedtoPeakhour.An
indicationofdistanceandanarrowmaybeadded
thestoplineindicatedintherighthandcolumnof
table8-1;adistanceplatetodiagram572should
notthenbenecessary.Wheredistanceplatesare
used,thesemustbeinyardstothenearest10yards
(seeAppendixC).Forspeedsover50mph,signs
shouldbeprovidedregardlessofvisibilitydistances,at
thelocationsindicatedincolumn4ofAppendixA.
Table8-1 Visibilitydistancecriteria
85thpercentile Visibilitydistance
speed ofsignals
(mph) (m)
Upto30 65
31to35 80
36to40 100
41to45 125
46to50 150
Over50 Shouldbeusedatallsites
8.4 Wheremap-typeadvancedirectionsignsare
providedontheapproachtoasignal-controlled
roundabout,diagram543(withtheappropriate
plate)shouldbeinstalled,asdriversmightnot
otherwiseexpectthesignals(seealsopara2.13).
8.5 TheParttimesignalsplate(diagram543.1)
shouldalwaysbeusedwherethesignalsareinuse
foraperiodoflessthan24hours.ThePeakhour
variantmaybeusedwhereappropriate.Theplate
shouldbeusedoneachsignalpost,andin
combinationwithdiagram543ontheapproaches
tothejunction.
8.6 Theplatetodiagram7030Temporarytrafc
controlaheadmaybeusedonlywithtemporary
trafcsignalsforconvoyworkingatroadworks,in
combinationwiththesigntodiagram543.Detailed
guidancecanbefoundinTA63,inVolume8
oftheDesignManualforRoadsandBridges(see
para1.3).
8.7 Diagram7014(seepara1.17forguidanceon
size)indicatingNEWTRAFFICSIGNALSAHEAD
maybeusedinadvanceofanewinstallation.
Direction37restrictsitsusetoaperiodnolonger
than3months.Similarly,variantsindicatingSIGNAL
PRIORITIESCHANGEDorSIGNALTIMINGS
CHANGEDmaybeerectedatalteredinstallationsas
appropriateforupto3months.
41 41
42
TRAFFIC SIGNALS
8.8 Whenmaintenanceworkisbeingcarriedouton
trafcsignals,thesigntodiagram7010.1variedto
TRAFFICSIGNALMAINTENANCEmaybedisplayed.
Ifthetrafcsignalsarenotoperating,signsto
diagram7019maybeerected.Theseareerectedon
thesignalpostandmustbereectorisedifnot
directlylit(seepara1.38).
9 PEDESTRIANS

PEDESTRIANCROSSINGS
9.1 Thesigntodiagram544isforuseonlyatZebra
crossings.Aplatetodiagram7014(seepara1.17)
indicatingNEWZEBRACROSSINGAHEADmay
beusedatanewinstallation;itsuseisrestrictedby
direction37toaperiodnolongerthan3months.
Zebracrossingsshouldnotbeinstalledonroads
wherethe85thpercentilespeedis35mphormore
(seepara4.2.3inLocalTransportNote1/95:The
AssessmentofPedestrianCrossings).Diagram544
mustnotbeusedatPelican,PufnorToucan
crossings,wherediagram543(seesection8)is
appropriate,norwherepedestrianscrosstheroad
butnoformalcrossingexists.Inthelattercase,on
high-speedroads,diagram562maybeusedtogether
withthesupplementaryplatetodiagram563
Pedestrianscrossing(seepara17.4).
9.2 Diagram544maybeusedincombinationwith
adistanceplatetodiagram572whenitisnecessary
tositeitatadistancemuchdifferenttothatspecied
inAppendixA.Whenthecrossingisinanotherroad
leadingfromajunctionahead,aplatetodiagram
573,withorwithoutadistance,maybeused.
9.3 Signstodiagram544shouldbeusedonlywhen
thevisibilityofthecrossingisimpairedbyabendora
humpintheroad.Signsshouldnotbeneededifthe
visibilityofbothbeaconsataZebracrossingisgreater
thanthedistanceshownintable9-1.Ifthesightlines
toaZebracrossingareobscuredbyparkedvehicles,
themakingofawaitingprohibitionordershouldbe
considered.
Table9-1
Speedlimit
(mph)
Visibilitydistanceof
bothbeacons
(m)
30
40
45
90
VULNERABLEPEDESTRIANS
9.4Wherepedestriansfrequentlyusearoadwithout
properfootways,diagram544.1maybeusedto
warndriversofthelikelypresenceofpedestriansin
thecarriageway.Ifafootwaystopsandresumesafter
someinterval,thesupplementaryplatetodiagram
547.3maybeused,withthedistancevariedtoshow
thelengthoftheroadwhichiswithoutafootway.
9.5Thesigntodiagram544.2isusedtowarnof
thelikelypresenceoffrailordisabledpeople.Itsuse
shouldberestrictedtositeswherenumbersofslow-
movingpedestriansarelikelytocrossaroadother
thanataZebraorsignalledcrossing.Thismightbe
nearshelteredhousingornursinghomes,where
driversneedtoberemindedthatapedestrianinthe
roadaheadmightbefrailorblindandneedmore
timetocrossthananable-bodiedpersonwould.
600
(750)
(900)
544 Zebra crossing ahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram547.8,572or573
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
544.1 Pedestrians in road ahead
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
544.2 Frail or disabled pedestrians
likely to cross road ahead
43
PEDESTRIANS
9.6Whereappropriate,thesigntodiagram544.2
maybeaccompaniedbyasupplementaryplateto
diagram547.4indicatingDisabledpeopleorits
permittedvariantBlindpeople.Adistance,an
arrow(pointinghorizontallytotheleftortothe
right)orbothmaybeadded.Detailsaregivenon
theworkingdrawings-seepara1.8.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
545 Children going to school
or playground
547.1,547.2,547.3or547.7.Whenusedwith546,
547.1or547.7mayalsobeusedwithdiagram4004
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
546 School ahead
(62.5)
75
(100)
(125)
(150)
547.1 School crossing
patrol ahead
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
547.2 Children's playground ahead
Theseplatesmaybeusedonlyincombination
withdiagram545.Adistance,anarrowor
bothmaybeadded
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
547.3 No footway for
distance indicated
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram544.1
or545.Thedistancemaybevaried(seeAppendixC)
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
547.4 Disabled pedestrians
likely to cross road ahead
544.2.DisabledmaybevariedtoBlind.
Adistance,anarroworbothmaybeadded
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
547.7 Disabled children likely
to cross road ahead
DisabledmaybevariedtoBlindorDeaf.
44
45
PEDESTRIANS
CHILDREN
9.7Thesigntodiagram545isusedtowarnof
thelikelihoodofencounteringchildrenintheroad
ahead,goingtoaschoolorplayground.Itmustbe
usedincombinationwithoneofthesupplementary
platestodiagram546,547.1,547.2,547.3,or547.7
(direction20(2)).Whenusedincombinationwith
diagram546,547.1or547.7itmayalsobe
combinedwiththelightsignalsshownindiagram
4004.Itshouldbesitedtoensureadequatewarning
isgiven;thismightrequireagreaterdistancethan
speciedinAppendixAforsignswarningofxed
hazards.Adistance,anarrow(pointingtotheleft
ortotheright)orbothmaybeaddedtotheplatein
accordancewiththeworkingdrawings(seepara1.8).
9.8 Whencombinedwith546or547.1,thesign
maybeprovidedwherechildrencrosstheroadon
theirwaytoorfromschool,orfromonepartofa
schooltoanother.Iftheschoolorplaygroundcaters
exclusivelyorpredominantlyfordisabled,blindor
deafchildren,theplatetodiagram547.7(suitably
varied)shouldbeusedwiththesigntodiagram545.
9.9Wherechildrengoingtoschooluseroads
withoutproperfootways,itmaybenecessarytowarn
driversoftheirlikelypresenceintheroad.Asignto
diagram545maybeusedwithasupplementaryplate
todiagram547.3.
9.10WhenusedwiththePatrolplate(diagram
547.1)thesigntodiagram545warnsofacrossing
placewherechildrenaresupervisedbyawarden
appointedbythelocalauthorityandoperatingwith
thesignprescribedbytheSchoolCrossingPatrolSign
Regulations.Patrolsignsshouldnotbeusedat
signalledorZebracrossings,asdriversexpectto
stopatformalcrossingswhetherornotawarden
ispresent.
FLASHINGAMBERLIGHTS
9.11Flashingamberlights(diagram4004)are
usedtogiveemphasistothewarningsignwherethe
85thpercentilespeedexceeds35mph,oronabusy
roadwhereadriversattentionislikelytobefully
occupied.Thelightsmaybeusedonlywhendiagram
545isusedtogetherwithdiagram546,547.1or
547.7andthecrossingpointisinuse(whetherornot
itissupervised).Seeregulation50(40intheNorthern
IrelandRegulations)anddirection55(1).Lightsshould
notbeusednearlevelcrossings,trafcsignals,
Pelican,Pufn,ToucanorZebracrossingsifthismight
causeconfusionordistraction.Theyshouldnever
beusedtowarnofchildrencrossingatsignalled
orZebracrossings.Guidanceonthepossibleneed
tosignsuchcrossingscanbefoundinsection8
(signalledcrossings)andpara9.3(Zebracrossings).
9.12Whereconditionsatapatrolsitejustifyashing
lightsandthereisanotherpatrolsitesituatedwithin
500metresthatdoesnot,considerationshouldbe
giventotheprovisionoflightsatbothorneithersite.
195 max 210 max
135 min
155 max
405 min 660
465 max max
4004 Flashing amber lights
(Alternative types)
togetherwithdiagram546,547.1or547.7
HUMPEDCROSSINGS
9.13PelicanandZebracrossingsmaybeinstalledon
roadhumps.Diagram547.8maybeusedtogether
withasigntodiagram543or544asappropriate.
Furtherguidanceonsigningroadhumpscanbe
foundinsection13.
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
547.8 Zebra crossing or signal-controlled
crossing on road hump ahead
or544.Adistance,anarroworbothmaybeadded
10 ANIMALSANDFARMTRAFFIC
GENERAL
10.1Thesignsinthissectionareusedtogive
warningofwildanimals,farmanimals,horsesbeing
takenorriddenalongoracrossaroad,orofstraying
animalsfromneighbouringunfencedland.Theonus
isnormallyonthoseinchargeoffarmanimalsor
horsestoensurethattheirmovementiscarriedout
safely;neverthelessthesignsmaybeusedatplaces
whereanimalsregularlycrossormovealongaroad,
butwherevisibilityispoor.
10.2Whereasignisprovided,butthedangeris
notlikelytobepresentthroughouttheyear(e.g.in
wintermonthswhenanimalsarenotnormallydriven
acrossaparticularroad)trafcauthoritiesshould
arrangeforthesigntobecoveredduringthattime,
inordertopreserveitscredibility.
10.3Ifanimalswillbeencounteredonlyovera
known,determinatelengthofroad,theadditionof
adistanceplate,e.g.For500yds(diagram570)
willbeappropriate,butthesignsmayneedtobe
repeatedifthedangerexistsoveraconsiderable
distance.Itwilloftenbefoundthatanimalswander
ontothehighwaynotatcompletelyrandompoints,
butinparticularareasandwarningsignsshouldbe
erectedaccordingly.Seesection18forfurther
guidanceontheuseofdistanceplates.
CATTLECROSSINGS
10.4Thecattlesigntodiagram548willgenerally
providesufcientwarningofcattlecrossings.
However,atsiteswithrestrictedvisibilityorwhere
heavytrafcowsmakeitdifculttoherdcattle
acrosstheroad,thesigntodiagram4005(which
comprisesthesigntodiagram548andashing
amberlights)maybeused.
10.5Awarningsigntodiagram548withaplateto
548.1mustbeusedinadvanceofacattlecrossing
whereashinglampsareused(direction55(2)).
10.6 Suchsigningisnotintendedasasolutionfor
anticipatedproblemsonplannednewroads,major
improvements,orwhereatothersitesthemovement
ofcattlewouldfrequentlyobstructtrafcforaperiod
ofmorethanthreeminutes.Norisasurfacecrossing
appropriatewherethetrafcowexceeds30,000
vehiclesperday.Insuchcasesothermeasuressuch
asasegregatingfacilityshouldbeconsidered.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
548 Cattle
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
548.1 Signalled cattle crossing ahead
placedinadvanceofdiagram4005.Thedistance
maybevaried(seeAppendixC).Anarrowmaybe
addedpointingtotheleftortotheright
550 min
615 max
4005 Signalled cattle crossing
305 min
360 max
600
610 min
720 max
2400 min
4000 max
200
Maybeusedonlyinconjunctionwithdiagrams548
and548.1placedinadvanceofthissign
46
ANIMALS AND FARM TRAFFIC
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
549 Sheep
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
550 Wild horses
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
550.1 Accompanied horses
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
550.2 Horse-drawn vehicles
Theabovesignsmaybeusedwithdiagram570.
Diagram550.1mayalsobeusedwithdiagram572
or573
10.7Criteriafortheprovisionofashingamber
lightsaresetoutintable10-1.Thesearebased
ontheminimumdesirablestoppingsightdistance
speciedinTD9,inVolume6oftheDesignManual
forRoadsandBridges(seepara1.3).Lightsarenot
recommendedunlessthedriverseldofclear
visibilityislessthanthedistanceshown,orthetrafc
owexceeds10,000vehiclesperdayonroadswhere
the85thpercentilespeedexceeds30mph.
Table10-1Cattlecrossingplaces
85thpercentilespeed Visibilitydistance
(mph) (m)
Upto30 70
31to40 110
41to50 150
51to60 200
Over60 Notsuitable
10.8Whereconditionsatacattlecrossingsite
meetthesecriteriaand,onthesameroadwithin
approximatelyhalfamilethereisanothersitewhich
doesnotmeetthem,considerationshouldbegiven
totheprovisionofashinglampsatbothsites.
10.9Theashinglampunitsshouldbeerectedon
bothapproachesascloseaspracticabletothestart
andnishpointsofthecattlejourney.Themidpoint
betweentheashinglampsmustbebetween2.4m
and4mabovetheadjacentcarriageway.Thisallows
aminimumheadroomof2.1mtobemaintained
whentheassemblyismountedoverafootway.
OTHERANIMALSIGNS
10.10 Signstodiagram549(sheep),550(wild
horses)and551(wildanimals)maybeusedwherever
suchanimalsarelikelytobefoundintheroad(see
alsopara10.3).
10.11Diagram550.1warnsofaccompaniedor
riddenhorsesorponies(asopposedtothewildor
strayvarietyindicatedbythesigntodiagram550)
wherenumbersofhorsesarefrequentlywalked
orriddenalongorcrossedovertheroad.Warning
ofhorsescrossingtheroadahead,e.g.wherea
bridlewaycrossestheroad,canbegivenbyadding
thediagram572distanceplate(or573ifthecrossing
isinanotherroad).Diagram550.2isusedtowarnof
horse-drawnvehiclesintheroadahead.
47
Table10-2Horsecrossingplaces
85thpercentilespeed Visibilitydistance
(mph) (m)
Upto40 80
41to50 110
51to60 150
Over60 200
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
551 Wild animals
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
551.1 Migratory toad crossing
(750)
(900)
(1200)
551.2 Wild fowl
600
MaybedisplayedonlybetweenJanuaryandMay.
48
10.12 Useofdiagram550.1toindicateaninformal
crossingplaceshouldnormallybeconsideredonly
wherethevisibilitydistanceislessthanspeciedin
table10-2.Thesedistancesarebasedononestep
belowtheminimumdesirablestoppingsightdistance
(seepara10.7).
10.13 Thesigntodiagram551.1maybeusedonly
atasitewhichisapprovedasamigratorytoad
crossingbyoronbehalfoftheSecretaryofState(see
para1.2)asamigratorytoadcrossing.Alistof
currentlyapprovedsitesisavailablefromtheFroglife
Trust(e-mailinfo@froglife.org).Thesignmaybe
accompaniedbythedistanceplateshownindiagram
570.Itmaybedisplayedonlyduringthemonthsof
JanuarytoMay(direction28).Signsmustberemoved
orcoveredatothertimesoftheyear;itis
recommendedthatap-typesignsbeusedto
facilitatethis.Trafcauthoritiesthatneglecttheir
statutoryresponsibilitiesinthisregardunderminethe
effectivenessofthesign.
10.14 Thesigntodiagram551.2maybeused
wherewildfowlarehabituallyfoundintheroad,
suchassitesnearpondsandwatercourses.Itmaybe
combinedwithdiagram570,displayingadistance,
e.g.For150yds,inaccordancewithAppendixC.
CATTLEGRIDS
10.15Acattlegridonapublicroadshouldalwaysbe
precededbythecattlegridwarningsigntodiagram
552,asitmightotherwisecatchdriversunawares.
Gridsareespeciallyhazardousfortwo-wheeled
trafc.Signsshouldnormallybesitedatthestandard
distancessetoutinAppendixA.Theplatetodiagram
553indicatingthedirectionoftheby-passfor
horse-drawnvehiclesoraccompaniedanimalscan
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
552 Cattle grid

accompanythesigniftheentrancetotheby-passis
reasonablyclosetothegrid.Otherwiseaduplicate
signtodiagram552platedwith553shouldbe
placedattheentrance,withaplatetodiagram572
mounteddirectlybelowthetriangularsignindicating
thedistancetothegrid.Ifthegridisinanotherroad,
theadvancewarningsignshouldbeaccompaniedby
theplatetodiagram573.
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
553 By-pass of cattle grid
Thedirectionofthearrowmaybereversed
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
553.1 Agricultural vehicles
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwiththeplate
todiagram553.2

50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
553.2 Agricultural vehicles
diagram553.1.Farmtrafcmaybevaried
toWidevehiclesorTractorsturning.
Thewordforandadistancemaybeadded
FARMTRAFFIC
10.16 Thesigntodiagram553.1maybeused
whereverfarmtractorsorotheragriculturalvehicles
frequentlytravelintheroadatlowspeed,turn
intooroutofanentranceorcrossaroad.Itmaybe
particularlyappropriatewherevisibilityofanaccess
orofturningvehiclesisinadequate,orsuchvehicles
turnunexpectedlyacrosshigh-speedroads.Thesign
mustalwaysbeusedwithaplatetodiagram553.2,
whichmayreadFarmtrafc,Widevehiclesor
Tractorsturning.Wheretherearetwoentrances
betweenwhichvehiclesregularlytravel,anindication
ofthedistanceoverwhichthehazardextendsmaybe
addedtotheplate,e.g.for250yds,inaccordance
withAppendixC.
GATES
10.17 Thesigntodiagram554(seesection11)may
bevariedtoGateorGatesasappropriatewhen
usedinaroadwhichhasgatesinstalled,usuallyfor
thecontroloffarmanimals.Asdriversarelikelyto
havetostopinordertoopenthegate,thesigns
shouldnormallybesupplementedbyadistanceplate
todiagram572or573.Aplatetodiagram570,e.g.
For2milesmaybeusedwiththevariantGates.
49
11 WATER

FORDSANDFLOODS
11.1TheFordsign,diagram554,shouldbeused
atallfords,eventhosewhichdryupinsummer.The
signshouldalsobeplacedattheentrytotheroad
leadingtotheford,accompaniedbyadistanceplate
todiagram572or573asappropriate(seesection
18).Wherearoadissubjectedtofrequentooding,
theFordsignmaybeusedwiththediagram563
plateRoadliabletoooding.
11.2 Whendiagram554isvariedtoFloodor(in
thecaseofareorexplosionhazard)Nosmoking,
itmaybedisplayedonlyforaslongasthehazard
continuestoexistorisexpectedtorecurinthenear
future.TheFloodvariantmaybeaccompaniedby
adistanceplatetodiagram572or573andshould
befollowed,beyondtheoodedlengthofroad,by
aTryyourbrakessign(diagram554.1).Ifthewater
depthmakestheroadimpassable,ROADAHEAD
CLOSED(diagram7010.1),placedateachendof
theclosureatjunctionswheretrafccanbediverted,
wouldbemoreappropriate.
11.3 TheTryyourbrakessignshouldalsobe
installedontheexitsideofaford.Giventhelikely
minorstatusoftheroad,itwillusuallyensure
adequatewarningifthesesignsaremountedon
thereverseoftheFordsigns.
11.4 Thissignmayalsobeusedwithsigns
associatedwithsteephillsandescapelanes(see
section6).Thelargestsize(1500mm)isforusewith
thesesigns,notatfords.
11.5 Depthgauges,diagrams826and826.1,should
beprovidedatfordsorlocationswhereoodingis
knowntobeapersistentproblem.Thezerolevelis
thelowestpartofthecarriageway.Gaugesshouldbe
sitedsothatthedepthofwatercanbeseenbyroad
usersonbothapproaches.
11.6 Theimperial(diagram826)orimperial /metric
(diagram826.1)versionofthedepthgaugemaybe
used,butmetricunitsmustnotbeusedalone.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
554 Ford
Maybeusedwithdiagram563(whenvariedto
Roadliabletoooding),570(when554isvaried
toGates),572or573.Fordmaybevariedto
Flood,Gate,GatesorNosmoking
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
554.1 Try your brakes
Maybeusedwithhillsignstodiagram526or817.2
50
2150
225
615
826 826.1
Depth gauges
2175
WATER
ICEANDSNOW
11.7 TheIcesigns,diagrams554.2and554.3,
ortheSnowdriftsvariant,areintendedforuseas
temporarysignswhenarouteisunusuallydangerous
asaresultofextensiveicingorheavysnowfalls.The
signsmustberemovedwhenconditionsreturnto
normal(direction39(3)).WhenindicatingIce,one
sizelargerx-heightshouldbeusedtocompensate
fortheshortword,whichwouldotherwiseresultin
averysmallplate.ThevariantSnowdriftsshouldbe
atthenormalx-heightfortheroad(seeAppendixB).
11.8 TheIce(orSnowdrifts)platemustnever
beusedalone.Itmustbeusedwithoneofthe
followingsigns:554.2,622.1A(goodsvehicleweight
limit),622.4(Noarticulatedvehicles),629(width
limit,imperialunits),629A(widthlimit,metricand
imperialunits),629.1(lengthlimit)or632(no
overtaking).Theregulatorysignsareusedwhensnow
oriceconditionsmakeitunsafefortheprohibited
typeofvehicletousetheroad,orwhere,inthecase
ofdiagram632,overtakingwouldbehazardous.
554.2 Risk of ice or packed snow
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
(62.5)
75
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
554.3 Ice ahead
554.2,622.1A,622.4,629,629A,629.1or632.
IcemaybevariedtoSnowdrifts.foranda
distancemaybeadded
QUAYSIDESANDWATERCOURSES
11.9 Thequaysideorriverbanksign,diagram555,
shouldbeusedwhereverapublicroadapproaches
anunbarrieredquaysideorriverbank.Inorderto
breakupthestraightaheadviewatsuchlocations
andtogivegreateremphasis,hazardmarkersto
diagrams560or561,chevronstodiagram515,or
appropriatedirectionsignsmaybemountedtoface
trafcthatmightbeatrisk.
11.10 Thewatercoursesign,diagram555.1,is
intendedforlocationswherearoadrunsalongside
awatercourseofsufcientdepthtobeadanger
ifavehicleleavesthecarriageway.Thismaybe
importantifthewatersurfacecannoteasilybeseen,
e.g.becauseofobscurationbyvegetation,orifthe
roadisliabletooodingandthereisdifcultyin
distinguishingbetweencarriagewayandwater
course.Asignisnotnecessaryiftheroadedgeis
kerbedorifasafetyfenceisprovided.Wheretherisk
istovehiclesparkingalongsideawatercourse,e.g.
ataquayside,diagram555willbemoreappropriate.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
555 Quayside or river bank
51
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
555.1 Water course alongside road
Maybeusedwithdiagram570.
Thesymbolmaybereversed
12ROADSURFACE
UNEVENROAD
12.1Theunevenroadsign,diagram556,isusedto
warnofdangerarisingfromlongitudinalortransverse
irregularitiesintheroadsurfacewhichatthenormal
speedoftrafcmightseriouslyimpaircontrolof
avehicle.Theuseofthissignshouldgenerallybe
regardedastemporary,pendingremedialworktothe
carriageway.Itshouldberemovedwhenthedefect
hasbeenremedied.Aplatetodiagram511REDUCE
SPEEDNOWandalsothedistanceplatetodiagram
570(seesection18)maybeusedwithit.Theuneven
roadsignshouldnotbeusedatlevelcrossingswhere
theraillevelsmaketheroaduneven;para21.13
describestheuseofdiagram782forthispurpose.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
556 Uneven road
SOFTVERGES
12.2 Thesoftvergessigns,diagrams556.1and
556.2,shouldneverbeusedsimplytodiscourage
parking.Theyareintendedtodealwithproblems
wheredrivingonthevergecandamagedrainsor
mightresultinvehiclesbecomingstuckordamaging
theverge.Forlengthsgreaterthantwomiles,the
signshouldberepeatedatintervalsofapproximately
onemile.
SLIPPERYROAD
12.3Theslipperyroadsign,diagram557,is
intendedforusewherethedangerofvehicles
skiddingisgreaterthannormal.Thedistanceplate
todiagram570maybeusedwiththissign(see
section18).Thedegreeofdangercannotbe
preciselydenedasthisdependsuponskid
resistancevalue,speedoftrafcandthedegreeof
superelevationonbends.Itisforthetrafcauthority
tojudgewhetheroverallconditionsaresufciently
sub-standardthatspecialwarningisnecessary.
DetailedguidancecanbefoundinHD28
SkiddingResistanceinVolume7oftheDesign
ManualforRoadsandBridges(seepara1.3).
Caremustbetakennottoover-usethesign,orits
credibilitywillbeundermined.Remedialworksto
improvetheskiddingresistanceoftheroadsurface
ortoimprovedrainageshouldbeundertakenassoon
aspracticableandthesignsremovedoncompletion
oftheworks.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
556.1 Soft verges
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
556.2 Softvergesfor (150)
distanceindicated
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram556.1.
Thedistancemaybevariedoromitted(seeAppendixC)
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
557 Slippery road
52
ROAD SURFACE
LOOSECHIPPINGS
12.4 Loosechippingsarisingfromsurfacedressing
operationscanposeahazardeitherduetobeing
thrownupintothepathofoncomingvehiclesorby
causingvehiclestoskidontheloosesurface.While
worksaretakingplace,thesigntodiagram7009
shouldbeusedtogetherwiththesupplementary
platetodiagram513.2,variedtoindicatea
recommendedspeedof10mph.Oncompletionof
theworks,thesignmayberetainedforsolongas
thetrafcauthorityconsidersitnecessarytowarn
drivers(direction36)inwhichcasethesupplementary
plateshouldbereplacedbytheplatescomprising
signdiagram7009.1.Itisnotpermittedtovarythe
recommendedspeedonthissign.Furtheradviceon
signingduringsurfacedressingoperationscanbe
foundonthewebsiteoftheRoadSurfaceTreatments
Associationatwww.rsta-uk.org/publications.htm.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
7009 Loosechippingsonroadahead
Maybeusedwithdiagram513.2,
570,572,573or7009.1
200
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
(250)
(300)
(400)
(500)
513.2 Maximumspeedadvised
(or512.1,512.2,513;seesection3).Thespeedmay
bevaried
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
200
(250)
(300)
50
(400)
(62.5)
(500)
(75)
(100)
(125)
7009.1 Loosechippingsonroadahead
diagram7009.Thespeedmustnotbevaried
53
13ROADHUMPS
13.1 Diagram557.1isusedtowarnofthepresence
ofaroadhumporaseriesofhumps.Itmustbe
accompaniedbyoneoftheplatesshown.Theplates
mustnotbeusedalone.However,nosignsare
requiredtowarnofhumpsina20mphzonesigned
withtrafcsignstodiagram674(Highways(Road
Humps)Regulations1999).Roadhumpsignswill
usuallybenetfromtherelaxationfromthedirect
lightingrequirementdescribedinpara1.37.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
557.1 Road hump or series
of road humps
557.2,557.3or557.4,andwiththemarking
todiagram1062
13.2 Figure13-1illustratestherangeofsigningthat
mightbeusedwhereroadhumpsareinstalledon
adjacentroadswithinanarea.Signsareneededat
eachentrancetothearea,otherthanatshortculs-
de-sacwithnohumpsandfewerthanabout100
dwellings.Ifthehumpsarespacedmorethan
150metresapart,eachindividualhumpshouldbe
signed.Similarsigningshouldbeusedwherehumps
areinstalledononeroadonly.
13.3 Individualcircumstanceswilldeterminewhether
signsforroadhumpsshouldbeprovidedonboth
sidesoftheroad.Whereagatewayistobeusedas
aspeed-reducingfeatureinadvanceofhumps,itis
recommendedthatsignsshouldbeerectedonboth
sidesofthecarriagewayandincorporatedintothe
gateway.Furtheradviceonsitingcanbefoundin
AppendixA.
13.4 Whereseveraladjoiningroadshavehumps,
thedistanceonthesignplatesshouldrelatetothe
humpsontheroadonwhichthesigniserected.
Separatesigningforadjoiningroadsshouldnotbe
necessary,providedthersthumpintheadjoining
road,whetheritisthemajorortheminorone,is
within40metresofthejunctionofthetworoads.
13.5 Ashumpsmaybeinstalledonlyonroadswith
speedcontrolfeatures,a50mmx-heightissufcient
forthesupplementaryplate,557.2.Diagrams557.3
and557.4whenincorporatinganarrowindicate
thepresenceofhumpsonsideroads,andmay
themselvesbeusedonroadswherespeedsare
higher.Awiderrangeofx-heightsistherefore
prescribedforthesesigns(seeAnnexBfordetails).
13.6 SigningofahumpedZebraorsignalled
crossinginaseriesofroadhumpswillgenerallybe
necessaryonlyifthespacingbetweenitandadjacent
humpsisgreaterthan100metres(seealsopara9.13
fordetailsofsignplates).
50
557.2 Road humps for the
distance indicated
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
557.3 Roadhumpsinthedirection
andforthedistanceindicated
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
557.4 Road hump in the direction
and at the distance indicated
Theseplatesmaybeusedonlyincombinationwith
diagram557.1.Thedistancemaybevaried(see
AppendixC)andondiagrams557.3and557.4may
beomitted.Thelegendondiagram557.4maybeon
twolines.Ondiagrams557.3and557.4thearrow
maybereversed,orasecondarrowpointinginthe
oppositedirectionmaybeadded.Thearrowon
diagram557.4maybeomitted;theappropriate
x-heightwillthenbe50mm
54 54
ROAD HUMPS

Sharp bend
see para 13.6
see para 13.6
Not to scale
see para 13.3
Figure13-1
55
14LOW-FLYINGAIRCRAFT
14.1 Thelow-yingaircraftsign,diagram558,is
foruseonroadsskirtingorinthevicinityofairelds
whereroadusersarelikelytobestartledbylow-ying
aircraftorbysuddennoisefromaircraft.Aplateto
diagram558.2indicatingGlidersshouldbeadded
whereappropriate.Aplatetodiagram773(see
para21.3)shouldbemountedbelowthesignifwig-
wagsignalsareinstalledtocontrolthemovementof
trafcduringthetake-offorlandingofaircraft.
14.2 Thestandardsitingdistancesrecommended
inAppendixAarenotlikelytobeappropriate
foraircraftwarningsigns;anaeroplanemightbe
virtuallyoverheadbeforeadriverseesthesign.It
willthereforeusuallybemoreeffectiveforthissign
tobesitedfurtherinadvanceoftheightpath,
accompaniedbyadistanceplatetodiagram570
(seesection18).However,inthecaseofwig-wag
signals,signstodiagrams558and773shouldbe
sitedatthestandarddistancefromthestopline
inadditiontoanygeneralaircraftwarningsigns
todiagram558usedinadvance.Adistancemaybe
addedtodiagram558.2wherethisisused;details
canbefoundontheworkingdrawing(seepara1.8).
14.3 Wherehelicoptersarelikelytobeencountered,
thesigntodiagram558.1maybeused.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
558 Low-flying aircraft
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
558.1 Low-flying helicopters
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
558.2 Gliders
Thelegendforandadistancemaybeadded
56 56
15FALLINGORFALLENROCKS
15.1 Thefallingorfallenrockssign,diagram559,
shouldbeusedwherethereisadangerofrocks
fallingontoaroad.Asigntodiagram570indicating
thelengthofroadlikelytobeaffectedmaybeused
withthesign.Thesymbolmaybereversedwhen
appropriate,butwhererocksmightfallfromeither
side(e.g.inagorge)thesignshouldbeusedas
illustrated.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
559 Risk of falling or fallen rocks
Maybeusedwithdiagram570.Thesymbolisreversed
whenthehazardisontherighthandsideoftheroad
57 57
16HAZARDMARKERS
16.1 Hazardmarkers(diagrams560and561)may
becircularorrectangularinshape,tothedimensions
shown.Theyareprescribedinthreecolours.As
viewedbythedriversofapproachingvehiclesthese
are:
(i) redonthelefthandedgeofthecarriageway
(ii) whiteontherighthandedgeofasingle
carriagewayroad
(iii) amberontherighthandedgeofadual
carriagewayroadadjacenttothecentral
reservation,oraroadcarryingtrafcinone
directiononly.
16.2 Thetopofthesignmustbenotlessthan
550mmnormorethan1000mmabovethesurface
oftheadjacentcarriageway(direction44).When
mountedonapostspeciallyprovidedforthe
purpose,thatpartofthepostwhichextendsabove
groundlevelshouldbenotlessthan100mmwide
andmaybe:
(i) ofanysinglecolour,or
(ii) colouredblackandwhiteinalternate
horizontalbands,eachbandbeingnotless
than225mmnormorethan350mmdeep.
16.3 Theblackandwhitebandedpostenhances
theconspicuityofthehazardmarker.Inruralareas
orinareaswherespeedsarehigh,thistypeofpost
willgenerallybemostsuitable.Inurbanareas,or
trafc-calmedzones,single-colouredpostsmaybe
appropriate.
16.4 Themarkersmaybeusedtoindicatetheedge
ofthecarriagewayonembankments,mountainroads
andotherpointswherespecialdangerexists.They
mayalsobeused,supplementedwhereappropriate
withsignstodiagrams516or517(seeparas4.1
to4.4)toindicateaplacewherethecarriageway
suddenlynarrowsortoindicateobstructionssuch
asabridgeparapet,abutmentorbuildingunusually
nearthecarriagewayedge.Inthesecasesthemarkers
maybexeddirectlytothestructureinsteadoftoa
separatepost,butseealsodiagram528.1(para7.2).
16.5 Thesignsmustnotbeilluminatedbymeans
ofinternalorexternallighting.Theymustbe
reectorisedbyoneofthemeansspeciedin
regulation21(regulation19intheTrafcSigns
Regulations(NorthernIreland)1997).
75 min
150 max
560 Hazard at edge of
carriageway
35 min
45 square cm
minimum
240 max
180 square cm
maximum
561 Alternative shape
for 560
Thesignsmaybecolouredred,whiteoramber
andthesurfaceofthesigntodiagram561
maybecurved
16.6 Careshouldbetakentoensurethathazard
markersdonotappearconfusingatnight.Thismay
occurforexampleifheadlights(withraisedordipped
beams)arereectedfrommarkersdelineatingmore
thanonebend.Itisrecommendedthat,following
installation,theyarecheckedatnightfromamoving
vehicle.
16.7 Theuseofhazardmarkersonsafetyfences
orbarriersisnotrecommendedonhigh-speedroads.
Safetyfencesdonotconsistentlyfollowtheline
oftheroadedge;mountingreectorsonthemis
likelytomisleaddriversastothetruepositionofthe
verge.Therecommendedmethodofdelineatingthe
roadedgeistouseedgeofcarriagewaymarkings
(incorporatingraisedribsifappropriate)togetherwith
roadstuds.Itmaysometimesbeappropriatetouse
markersonsafetyfencesonsinuousmountainroads
overshortlengths,oratsharpbends,whereseparate
postsmaybeinconvenient.Whenusedinthisway,
themarkersmuststillconformtotheRegulations
andtotherequirementsspeciedindirection44with
respecttocolour,size,shapeandmountingheight.
Considerationshouldalsobegiventothepotential
consequencesofthefencebeingstruckbyavehicle.
Ifthemarkersareofheavyconstruction,theycould
themselvesbehazardous.
58 58
17OTHERDANGER
17.1 Althoughprescribedmainlyfortemporaryuse
towarnoftransientoroccasionalhazardssuchas
DustcloudorCensus,diagram562isalsoused
forcertainpermanentfeaturesnoteasilyrepresented
symbolically,e.g.Hiddendip.
17.2 Thesignconveysnospecicmessageonits
own;itmustalwaysbeaccompaniedbyoneofthe
supplementaryplatesprescribedasdiagram563,
563.1,or7022whenusedattemporarytrafcsignal
installations(seeChapter8).Referenceshouldalways
bemadetotheworkingdrawings(seepara1.8)to
determinethecorrectlayoutofthedifferentlegends.
17.3 Whenthelegendonthesigntodiagram563
indicatesthetemporaryhazardsAccident,
Census,Dustcloud,Fallentree,Frost
damage,Overheadcablerepairs,Runnersin
road,SmokeorWalkersinroad,thesignmay
(1500)
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
562 Other danger ahead
563,563.1or7022JOININGTRAFFICNOT
SIGNALCONTROLLED
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
563 Nature of other danger
orwhenvariedtoRoadliabletooodingwith
diagram554.Accidentmaybevariedto
Ambulancestation,Blasting,Blindsummit,
Census,Dustcloud,Fallentree,Firestation,
Frostdamage,Hiddendip,
Overheadcablerepairs,Pedestrianscrossing,
Runnersinroad,SmokeorWalkersinroad.
beretainedonlyforsolongasthehazardindicated
continuestoexistorisexpectedtorecurinthenear
future(direction39(3)).
17.4 Whendiagram563isvariedtoPedestrians
crossing,itmaybeusedwherepedestrians
frequentlycrosshigh-speedroads,althoughno
formalprovisionismadeforthem,andsitedata
distanceappropriatetothe85thpercentilespeed
(seeAppendixA).Suchlocationsmaybewherenew
by-passesintersectestablishedpedestrianroutes.
Asthecrossingpointisunlikelytobeapparent
todrivers,adistanceshouldnormallybeadded,in
accordancewiththeworkingdrawing(seepara1.8).
Thesignmustnotbeusedwhereaformalcrossing,
suchasaZebraorPelicancrossing,isprovided.
WIG-WAG SIGNALS
17.5 Thesigntodiagram563.1,incombinationwith
diagram562,maybeusedonlywherewig-wag
signalstodiagram3014areinstalledinthevicinityof
premisesusedregularlybyre,policeorambulance
servicevehicles.
59 59
675 (810) (1080)
400
(480)
(640)
75
(90)
(120)
62.5
(75)
50
(60)
(80)
(100)
563.1 Stop when lights show
FIREmaybevariedtoAMBULANCE,POLICE,
FIREANDAMBULANCE,FIREANDPOLICE,
POLICEANDAMBULANCEorFIRE,POLICE
ANDAMBULANCE.Adistance,anarrow
orbothmaybeadded
18DISTANCEPLATES
18.1 Theseplatesareprescribedforusewith
manyofthewarningsignsdescribedinthischapter
(seedirection21,items35to37).However,many
supplementaryplatesmayincorporatedistances,
obviatingtheneedforseparatedistanceplates.
Thesearediagrams518,519,530.1,543.1,546,
547.1,547.2,547.4,547.7,547.8,563,563.1,773
and950.1.Diagrams518and519mayalsoinclude
thewordforbeforethedistance,andforanda
distancemaybeaddedtodiagrams553.2,554.3and
558.2.Theworkingdrawings(seepara1.8)showthe
correctlayouts.
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
570 Distance over which
hazard extends
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
572 Distance to hazard
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
573 Distance and direction
to hazard
Theindicationofdistanceonthesesignsmaybe
varied(seeAppendixC).Ondiagram573,the
distancemaybeomitted.Thedirectionofthe
arrowmaybereversed
18.2 Diagram570isusedtoindicatethedistance
overwhichahazardextends.Generally,ifthisisfor
morethantwomiles,thewarningsignshouldbe
repeatedatsuitableintervalswiththeplateindicating
theremainingdistancetotheendofthehazard.
However,accountshouldbetakenofvisual
obstructionsen-routee.g.arockoutcropmighthide
sheepwanderingontotheroad,necessitatingasign
atthatpoint.
18.3 Onmotorwaysorotherroadswithgrade
separatedjunctionswherethehazardmightextend
overalongdistance,(e.g.wildanimals)thewarning
signwithaplatetodiagram570shouldberepeated
aftereveryaccesssliproad,or,ifthisdistancewould
beexcessive,atintervalsofapproximatelyvemiles.
Eachplateshouldshowthedistanceremainingtothe
endofthehazard.
18.4 Diagram572indicatesthedistanceaheadtoa
hazard.Thecaptionbeloweachdiagramillustratedin
thischapterspeciesifadistanceplatemaybeused
(butseepara18.1).Wheresuchasignissitedata
distancefromthehazardsignicantlydifferenttothat
recommendedinAppendixA,itshouldnormallybe
supplementedwithadistanceplate(seealsopara
1.20).
18.5 Diagram573isplacedinadvanceofajunction,
indicatingthedistancealongtheroadfromthat
junctiontothehazard.Thedistanceismeasuredfrom
thejunctionandnotfromthesign.Thesignmaybe
sitedonaminorroadapproachingajunctionifthe
hazardisonthemajorroad.Thedirectionofthe
arrowmaybereversed.
18.6 Thedistanceshownonallthreeplatesmaybe
variedwith
(i) distancesover3milesbeingexpressedin
milestothenearestmile;
(ii) distancesofmileormorebutlessthan
3milesbeingexpressedtothemile;and
(iii) distancesoflessthanmilebeingexpressed
inyardstothenearest10yards.
Innocircumstancesmaymetricdistancesbeused.
60 60
19MISCELLANEOUSHAZARDS
ANIMALDISEASE
19.1 Thesigntodiagram574(seepara1.19for
sizes)isforuseinconnectionwithanoutbreakofan
animaldisease.Theappropriatenameofthedisease
shouldbeshownonthesign.Itshouldbeerectedon
roadsattheboundariesofinfectedareasdesignated
undertheAnimalHealthAct1981.Duringthe2001
footandmouthoutbreak,manyareaswerebadly
signed.Toassistinpropercontrolofthedisease,
trafcauthoritiesshouldensurethattheprescribed
warningsignsareused.Thesignsmustberemoved
whentheareahasbeenclearedofthedisease.
19.2 Diagram574hasbeendesignedtoallowspace
forthevariantsfordifferentdiseasestobeapplied
byslidingappropriateplatesintorunnersxedtothe
sign(refertotheworkingdrawing,seepara1.8).This
shouldfacilitatethemakingupofappropriatesigns
whenanoutbreakofdiseaseoccurs.Onlyoneortwo
basicsignplatesneedtobestocked,togetherwitha
plateforeachdiseaselikelytooccur.
574 Area infected by
animal disease
40 min
200 max
RABIESmaybeomittedorvariedtoany
appropriateanimaldisease.AHEADmaybe
omittedorvariedtoENDSortoahorizontal
arrowpointingtotheleftortotheright
ONCOMINGVEHICLES
19.3 Diagram575isusedwheresomephysical
restrictionrequireslargevehiclestobedriveninthe
middleoftheroadoverashortdistance.Itisnot
intendedtobeusedwherethegeneralwidthofa
roadissuchthatalargevehiclewouldbeforcedto
straddlethecentrelineoveralongdistance.Itmay
beusedincombinationwiththebendsignsto
diagrams512,512.1,512.2and513(seeparas3.1
to3.8)andtheroadnarrowssignstodiagrams
516and517(seeparas4.1to4.3).Itmightalso
sometimesbeappropriatetouseitwiththehump
bridgesign(diagram528)orthetunnelsign
(diagram529.1).Diagram531.2shouldbeusedat
archbridges(seeparas7.21to7.24).Wheredouble
whitelines(diagram1013.1)areused,theyshouldbe
interruptedsothatnovehicleisforcedtocrossthem.
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
575 Large vehicles in middle of road
512,512.1,512.2,513,516,517,528or529.1
SIDEWINDS
19.4 Thesidewindssigntodiagram581isused
wherevehiclesaresuddenlyexposedtoriskfrom
strongwinds.Suchlocationsmayincludeexposed
bridgesorplaceswherevehiclesemergefrom
cuttingsinareaswhichareparticularlyproneto
highwinds.Driversmustanticipatesomeadverse
effectscausedbywindandinordertomaintainthe
effectivenessofthissign,itshouldnotbeover-used.
19.5 Thesignmaybeusedwithadistanceplateto
diagram570whereanunusualhazardexistsovera
longerlength,e.g.onaviaductorhighembankment.
However,itshouldnotnormallybeusedontheopen
road,wheredriversmustexpectgustsofwind.
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
581 Side winds
600
61 61
20 SLOW-MOVINGVEHICLES
MILITARYVEHICLES
20.1 Thesigntodiagram582maybeusedat
locationswheremilitaryvehiclesareexpectedeither
tocrosstheroadaheadortobemovingatlowspeed
alongtheroad.Ifthevehicleshaveregularentryand
exitpointsalongtheroad,distanceplatesmaybe
appropriate(seesection18).
20.2 Thesignisnotrestrictedtowarningoftanks;it
maybeusedforanymilitaryvehicleswhichareeither
largerthanmightnormallybeexpectedalongthat
typeofroad,ortravelatreducedspeed.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
582 Slow-moving military vehicles
SLOWLORRIES
20.3 Theslow-movingvehiclessigns,diagrams583
and583.1,areintendedforuseonroadswherethe
gradientissuchastohaveanadverseeffectonthe
speedofheavycommercialvehicles,therebycausing
apotentialhazardtoothervehiclesinthesamelane.
Thisisnotsimplyaquestionofcongestion.The
problemcanoccurevenwhenthereismorethan
onelane.Attimesoflighttrafcow,avehiclebeing
driveninthelefthandlaneat70mphmightclose
unexpectedlyrapidlyonaslow-movinglorry,oron
aqueueofvehicleswaitingtopassit.
20.4 Thecriteriaforusingthesesignswilldifferfrom
thecriteriafornormalsteephillsignsbecausethey
areaimedatdriversfollowingtheslowvehicleand
notatthedriveroftheslowvehicleitself.Inaddition
tothegradientofthehill,considerationshouldbe
giventothelengthofthehillandthedifferential
speedofheavyandothertrafc.Theyaremostlikely
tobeofuseonmotorwaysandhigh-speeddual
carriagewayroadswithsubstandardgradients.The
signshouldbeusedforuphilltrafconly;thesteep
hillsignsinsection6shouldbeusedinthedownhill
direction.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
583 Slow-moving vehicles on incline
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
583.1 Distance over which
slow-moving vehicles hazard extends
Thedistancemaybevaried(seeAppendixC)
62 62
SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES
QUEUESLIKELY
20.5 Driversshouldexpecttomeetqueuesonthe
approachestoroundaboutsortrafcsignals,where
adequateadvancewarningcanusuallybegivenusing
signstodiagram510(seeparas2.13to2.18)or543
(seesection8)asappropriate.TheQueueslikely
signs,diagrams584and584.1,areintendedfor
usewheredriversmightunexpectedlycomeacross
aqueue,e.g.aroundabendoroverthebrowofa
hill.Thesesignsshouldbeusedonlywherethereis
apersistentproblem,causingasignicanthazard,
despitethepresenceofthestandardwarningsigns
andarenotappropriateasageneralwarningof
congestion.Theyshouldbesitedsufcientlyfarin
advanceoftheobstructiontothesightlinetoenable
driverstostopintime.Distanceplatesmustnotbe
used.
20.6Wherethequeueislikelytobeinaroadthat
leadsfromajunctionahead,theQueueslikely
platemayincorporateanarrowpointingtotheleft
ortotherightasappropriate.Detailsareshownon
theworkingdrawing(seepara1.8).
20.7 Thesignmayalsobeusedonmotorwaysor
otherhigh-speeddualcarriagewayroadswithgrade
separatedjunctionswherequeuesonanexitsliproad
regularlyextendbackontothemaincarriageway.
Wherequeuesonthesliproadeffectivelyshorten
thedecelerationlengthavailable,butdonotusually
extendontothemainthroughcarriageway,the
variantQueueslikelyonsliproadshouldbeused.
Careshouldbetakentoensurethattheassembly
doesnotobstructthedriver'sviewofexistingsigns.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
584 Traffic queues likely
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
(150)
(200)
584.1 Queues likely on
road ahead
Anarrowmaybeaddedtothesign.Queueslikely
maybevariedtoQueueslikelyonsliproad
63
21LEVELCROSSINGS
21.1 Thissectiongivesabriefdescriptionofthe
prescribedtrafcsignsusedatlevelcrossingsand
tramwaycrossings.Forfurtherguidance,reference
shouldbemadetotheOfceofRailRegulations
(ORR)publicationRailwaySafetyPublication7,Level
Crossings:Aguideformanagers,designersand
operatorspublishedontheORRwebsite.Seealso
section3inChapter3.
21.2 Diagram770isusedontheapproachtoa
railwaylevelcrossingwhichisequippedwithgatesor
barriers.Thissignisalsousedatatramwaycrossing
ifbarriersareprovided.Diagram771isusedin
advanceofopenrailwaylevelcrossingswhichhave
neithergatesnorbarriers.Diagram772isusedin
advanceofopentramwaycrossingswhichhave
neithergatesnorbarriers.Thesesignsshould
normallybesitedatadistancefromthecrossing
relatedtothe85thpercentilespeedofapproaching
vehicles,inaccordancewithAppendixA.Seealso
paras21.17and21.18forguidanceontheuseof
countdownmarkersandsigningforqueuingtrafc.
21.3 Diagram773shouldbeusedinadvanceof
wig-wagsignalstodiagram3014atbothrailway
andtramwaylevelcrossings.Anarrowmaybeadded
tothesignpointingeithertotheleftortotheright.
Anindicationofdistancemaybeadded.Thesign
maybeusedonlyincombinationwithoneofthe
warningsignsdescribedabove,orwithdiagram529,
529.1or558wherewig-wagsignalsareusedatan
openingbridge,atunneloranaireld(seeparas7.3,
7.4,14.1and14.2).
21.4 Diagram774isusedtoindicatethelocation
ofalevelcrossingwhichhasnogateorbarrier.The
samesignisusedregardlessofthenumberoftracks
andattramwayaswellasrailwaycrossings.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
770 Level crossing with gate or barrier
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
771 Railway level crossing
without gate or barrier
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
772 Tramcar crossing without barriers
675 (810) (1080) (1350)
400
(480)
(640)
(800)
75
(90)
(120)
(150)
(75)
(100)
(125)
773 Stop at level crossing or tramcar
crossing when lights show
62.5
diagram529,529.1,558,770,771or772.
64 64
LEVEL CROSSINGS
21.5 Diagram775isusedatallautomaticandopen
crossings.Itshouldnotbeusedatcrossingswith
manuallycontrolledbarriers,noratthosewhichare
useroperated,unlessspecicallyauthorisedinthe
LevelCrossingOrder.Atautomaticcrossings,it
shouldbeplacedoneachprimaryandduplicate
primarysignalpost.Atopencrossings,itshouldbe
mountedonbothsidesoftheroad,onornearthe
postcarryingthesigntodiagram774.
21.6Diagram776isusedatlocally-monitored
automaticopencrossingsondouble-tracklines,
wheretwotrainscanarriveinquicksuccession.The
signshouldbesitedonthelefthandsideoftheroad.
21.7Diagram777isusedatallautomaticcrossings
ondouble-tracklines.Thesignshouldbeplacedon
orneareachduplicateprimaryroadtrafcsignal.
21.8Diagrams778and778.1areusedwiththe
GIVEWAYsigntodiagram602andnotwithsignals
to3014.Specialauthorisation(seepara1.5)is
requiredtousediagram778.1withtheSTOPsign
todiagram601.1.
900 (1200)
300
(400)
1
5
0
(2
0
0
)
774 Location of railway or tramway crossing
without gate or barrier
Maybeusedwithdiagram602whenusedwith
778or778.1,orwithsignalstodiagram3014
25 min
50 max
775 Area to be kept clear at
railway or tramway level crossing
Maybeusedwithsignalstodiagram3014
210
776 Warning of another train or
tramcar approaching the crossing
Maybeusedwithsignalstodiagram3014.
TRAINmaybevariedtoTRAM
(50)
62.5
(75)
777 Another train or tram passing
Maybeusedwithsignalstodiagram3014.
TRAINmaybevariedtoTRAM
65
420
(525)
(630)
440 (550) (660)
778 Open railway level crossing
without light signals
480 (600) (720)
300
(375)
(450)
778.1 Open tramway crossing
without light signals
LEVEL CROSSINGS

POWERCABLES
21.9Diagram779warnsofaplacewherearoad
passesunderanelectriedoverheadpowercable.
Itmustalwaysbeaccompaniedbyaplateindicating
thesafemaximumheightvehiclethatcanpassbelow
thecable.Thesesignsarenormallyassociatedwith
overheadelectricrailwayortramwaycablesand
shouldbeusedatallsuchcrossings.Becauseofthe
highvoltageofcertaincables,itisveryimportantto
ensurethatadequatewarningisgivenevenwhere
cableheightsaregreaterthan16'-6"(5.03m).
21.10 Supplementaryplates780A,780.1Aand
780.2Aindicatethismaximumsafeheight.The
dimensionmaybevariedandshouldshowaheight
whichisatleast2-0(600mm)belowtheheightof
theoverheadconductorfor25kVsystemsand1-6
(460mm)forsystemsonlowervoltages.Atacrossing
wherethesafeheightisbelow16-6(5.03m),the
heightshownonthesignsshouldbeatleast1-9
(530mm)or1-3(380mm)respectivelybelowthe
conductorandaloadgaugetodiagram781erected
atthesafeheight.Incalculatingthesafeheight,
allowanceshouldbemadefortheeffectofthe
verticalproleofthecarriagewayonaroadvehicle
anditsload.WhiletheRegulationspermitthe
omissionoftheheightindicationinmetricunits,this
isinadvisable.Table21-1indicatestheheightstobe
shownonthesignsfordifferentcableheights.
LOADGAUGE
21.11 Theloadgaugeshownindiagram781gives
anaudiblewarningwhenthesafeheightbeneathan
overheadpowercableisexceeded.Itshouldalways
beusedwherethesafeheightislessthan16'-6"
(5.03m);seealsopara21.12.Asafeheightless
than16'-6"islikelytobeencounteredonlyat
privatecrossings.Atsuchlocationsthegaugeshould
beeffectiveasspeedsarelowandusersfamiliarwith
thelayout.Thegaugeisintendedforusewithpower
cablesandnotatlowbridgesoverpublichighways,
wherespeedsarelikelytobehigheranddriversless
abletorespondtothesoundofthebellsintime,or
eventohearthematallfrominsideclosedcabs.
21.12 Theloadgaugemustbemountedontwo
postscolouredblackandwhiteinalternatehorizontal
bands,eachbandbeingnotlessthan250mmnor
morethan335mmdeep(direction43).Diagram779
withsupplementaryplate780.2Ashouldbeused
whenaloadgaugeisinstalled.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
779 Electrified overhead cable
Maybeusedonlyincombinationwithdiagram780A,
780.1Aor780.2A
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
780A Safe height beneath cable

(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
780.1A Safe height beneath cable in
direction and at distance indicated
(50)
62.5
(75)
(100)
(125)
780.2A Loadgaugeandsafeheight
beneathcable
Theseplatesmaybeusedonlyincombinationwith
diagram779.Theheightmaybevaried.Theheight
inmetricunitsmaybeomitted.Indiagram780.1A
thearrowmaybereversedoromitted,andthe
distancemaybevariedoromitted
66
67
LEVEL CROSSINGS
450 min
BELLS
600 600
max
781 Load gauge giving audible warning below electrified overhead cables
Thenumberandcolourofthebellsmaybevaried
Table21-1
Lowesthotweather
heightofcontactwires
aboveroad
Heightofgauge(diagram781)andheighttobeshown
onsupplementaryplate(diagrams780A,780.1Aand
780.2A)fordifferentoverheadlinevoltages
Signstobe
used
25000volts Lessthan25000volts
Imperial Metric Imperial Metric Imperial Metric
18'-9" 5.71m 16'-9" 5.1m 17'-3" 5.2m Diagram779
18'-6" 5.64m 16'-6" 5.0m 17'-0" 5.1m with780Aor
18'-3" 5.56m - - 16'-9" 5.1m 780.1A
18'-0" 5.49m - - 16'-6" 5.0m
18'-3" 5.56m 16'-6" 5.0m - - Loadgauge
18'-0" 5.49m 16'-3" 4.9m - - (diagram781)
17'-9" 5.41m 16'-0" 4.8m 16'-6" 5.0m anddiagram
17'-6" 5.33m 15'-9" 4.8m 16'-3" 4.9m 779with
17'-3" 5.26m 15'-6" 4.7m 16'-0" 4.8m 780.2A
17'-0" 5.18m 15'-3" 4.6m 15'-9" 4.8m
16'-9" 5.10m 15'-0" 4.5m 15'-6" 4.7m
16'-6" 5.03m 14'-9" 4.5m 15'-3" 4.6m
LEVEL CROSSINGS
LONGVEHICLES
21.13Diagram782isusedatcrossingswhere
thereisariskoflongorlowvehiclesgroundingand
causinganobstructionwhichmightnotbecleared
beforethenexttrainarrivesatthecrossing.Itis
necessarytoconsiderboththeapproachproleand
therelativelevelsoftherunningrails.Forguidanceon
theuseofthissignwithhumpbridgesseepara7.1.
21.14 Diagrams783,784.1and785.1instruct
driversoflong,low,largeorslowvehiclestophone
toobtainpermissionbeforecrossingtherailway.The
smallestsizeofthesigntodiagram785.1(25mm
x-height)isintendedtobereadonlybyadriver
havingalighted.Alargersizewillberequiredifit
isnecessaryforthesigntobereadfromamoving
vehicle.Asnon-compliancewiththesigntodiagram
784.1couldresultinanaccidentorexposeadriver
toprosecution,itisessentialthatthisgroupofsigns
isappropriatelysizedandproperlymaintained.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
782 Risk of grounding
Maybeusedwithdiagram528,572,573,783,
785.1or786
50 min
100 max
783 Driversoflonglowvehicles
totelephonebeforecrossing
LONGLOWmaybevariedtoLARGEORSLOW.
Maybeusedwithdiagram601.1,782,785.1,786,
787or788
784.1 Drivers of large or slow vehicles
to telephone before crossing
45 min
75 max
30 min
50 max
Maybeusedwithdiagram786,787or788.
mustphonemaybevariedtomustuse
SOSphone
785.1 Name of level crosssing
and telephone number of
railway or tramway
(25)
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
(125)
Maybeusedwithdiagram782or783.
ThetelephonenumbermaybevariedandRAILWAY
maybevariedtoTRAMCo.
68
LEVEL CROSSINGS
21.15 Diagram786indicatesthepositionsatwhich
avehicleshouldwaitwhilethedrivertelephones
beforeoraftercrossingtheline.Amarkingto
diagram1028.3(withnoaccompanyinglegend)
maybeusedwiththesign(direction25(1)).
21.16Diagrams787and788areusedtoindicate
thelocationofthetelephone.Diagram788isused
onlywherethisisnotreadilyapparent.
COUNTDOWNMARKERS
21.17 Countdownmarkerstodiagrams789,789.1
and789.2maybeusedtoemphasisetheapproach
toacrossing.Theyareintendedtodivideintoequal
lengthsthedistancebetweentherstmarker,with
threebars,andthecrossing.Therstmarkershould
beco-locatedwiththewarningsigntodiagram770,
771or772(seepara21.2).Unlikethecountdown
markersontheapproachtoajunction,thebarsdo
notrepresentintervalsof100yards,asthewarning
signwillusuallybelessthan300yardsfromthe
crossing.Ifthesignsareduplicatedontheoffsideof
theroad,forgreateremphasisortoimprovevisibility,
theslopeofthebarsisreversed.
21.18Wherequeuessometimesextendupstream
ofthecrossingwarningsigns,especiallyiftheend
ofthequeuemightbehiddenbyabend,queue
warningsignsmightbenecessary(seepara20.5).
900
300
789 789.1 789.2
Countdown markers to level crossing
Thesymbolsarereversedwhenthesigns
aremountedontheoffside
37.5
(50)
786 Parking place for
driver to telephone
Maybeusedwithdiagram782,783,784.1,787,
788or1028.3.ATCROSSINGmaybeomitted.
ANDUSEPHONEmaybevariedtoANDUSESOS
PHONEor&USESOSPHONE.Thelattershould
beusedonlywhenplatinganexistingsign
(seeworkingdrawingP786)
260
150
128
325
787 Siteoftelephone
(Alternativetypes)
30
320(400)(480)
320(400)(480)
640
(800)
(960)
50
520
(650)
(780)
(62.5)
(75)
788 Directiontotelephone
(Alternativetypes)
Thedirectionofthearrowmaybereversed
69
LEVEL CROSSINGS
NEWCROSSINGS
21.19 Diagram790isusedfollowingalterationof
themethodofcontrolofalevelcrossing.Inthecase
ofanewinstallation,CONTROLshouldbeomitted.
Thesignmustberemovedwithinthreemonthsof
thedateofcompletionoftheworks(direction37(1)).
SIZESOFLEVELCROSSINGSIGNS
21.20Guidanceontheappropriatesizesfor
triangularwarningsignsandsupplementaryplates
canbefoundinAppendicesAandBrespectively.
Diagrams774,775,777,783to786and788
areprescribedinseveralsizes,thesmallestbeing
appropriatewhereapproachspeedsdonotexceed
30mph,andthelargestwherethenationalspeed
limitapplies.Forintermediateapproachspeeds,
sizesshouldbeproportionedaccordingly,using
thenearestprescribedsize.
70
750
1050
790 New method of control
at level crossing
22 CYCLING
22.1Diagram950maybeusedtowarntrafcof
aplacewhereacycleroutecrossesorjoinsaroad
andisnotcontrolledbytrafcsignals.Wherecyclists
emergeonlyfromtheleft,thesymbolshouldbe
reversed.Ifcyclescrosstheroad,aplatetodiagram
950.1,variedtoCyclescrossingmaybeused;a
distanceandifappropriateanarrowmaybeadded
(i.e.ifthecyclecrossingisinasideroadoranother
road).Detailscanbefoundontheworkingdrawing
(seepara1.8).Wherecyclesjointheroadbutdonot
crossit,adistanceplatetodiagram572(or573ifthe
cyclerouteisinasideroad)maybeused.Wherethe
junctioniscontrolledbytrafcsignals,nowarning
signisnormallyneeded.Ifvisibilityofthesignalsis
restricted,theappropriatesignisdiagram543(see
section8).
22.2 Diagram950.1maybedisplayedwhena
childrenscycletestingortrainingsessionisin
progress.Itmustbeusedwithdiagram950and
beremovedwhenthesessioniscompleted.When
acyclerallyorsimilareventisinprogress,thevariant
Cycleeventmaybeused.Anindicationofthe
distancetothehazardmaybeincluded,andan
arrowpointingtotheleftortotherightifthe
hazardisinanotherroad.
600
(750)
(900)
(1200)
(1500)
950 Cycle route
Maybeusedwithdiagram572,573or950.1.
Thesymbolmaybereversed
50
(62.5)
(75)
(100)
950.1 Training or testing
of child cyclists
testsmaybevariedtotraining.Childcycletests
maybevariedtoCyclescrossingortoCycleevent.
71
72
23 REFUGE BEACON
23.1 Thepurposeofthebeaconistoindicatethe
presenceofarefugewhichmightbeobscuredby
othertrafc,thebrowofahillorabend.Itisnot
normallynecessaryonrefugeswhichcarrylighting
columnsortrafclightsignals.
23.2 Thebeaconconsistsofanilluminatedspherical
globeconformingtothefollowingrequirements
prescribedinregulation57(regulation46inthe
NorthernIrelandRegulations,wherethedimensions
areslightlydifferent):
(i) theglobeshallbewhite;
(ii) itshallhaveadiameterofnotlessthan
275normorethan335mm;
(iii) theheightofthecentreoftheglobe
abovethesurfaceofthecarriagewayin
theimmediatevicinityshallbenotless
than3800mmnormorethan5000mm.
23.3 Thebeaconpostshould,exceptasprovided
inpara23.4,becolouredgreyorblack,unlessit
isofaluminium,concr eteorgalvanisedmetal
construction,inwhichcaseitmayretainitsnatural
colour(seedirection45).Twowhitebandsmustbe
added,eachbandbeingbetween275and335mm
indepth,separatedbyagapofthesamedimensions.
Thetopwhitebandshouldbebetween275and
335mmbelowthewhiteglobe.Thetwowhitebands
maybeinternallyilluminated.Signstodiagram610
toindicatewhichsidedriversshouldpassmaybe
addedatahigherlevelthanthosemountedinthe
bollards.
23.4 Whenabeaconisplacedonastreetrefuge
orcentralreservationataZebracrossingandyellow
globesarealsoattachedtothesamepost,thepost
fromgroundleveluptothepointwheretheyellow
globesareattachedmustbecolouredinalternate
blackandwhitehorizontalbands.Thelowestband
mustbeblackandbebetween275and1000mm
deep,withtheotherbandsbeingnotlessthan275
normorethan335mmdeep.Abovethepointwhere
theyellowglobesareattached,thepostshouldbe
colouredinaccordancewithpara23.3.
Centre
diameter
of
275-335
globe
275-335
275-335
275-335
275-335
x
Carriageway
Figure 23-1
Refuge beacon
3800min
5000ma
73
A APPENDIX

SIZES OF WARNING SIGNS AND SITING DETAILS

1 2 3 4
85th percentile speed Height of triangular Minimum clear Distance of sign
of private cars warning signs
3
visibility distance
4
from hazard
5
(mph) (mm) (m) (m)
Upto20 600 45 45
21to30 600 60 45
31to40 750(600)
1
60 45-110
41to50 900(750)
1
75 110-180
51to60 1200(900)
1
90 180-245
Over60 1200(1500)
2
105(120)
2
245-305
2
NOTES
1. Thesmallerbracketedsizesshownincolumn2shouldbeusedonlywherespecialamenityconsiderations
orphysicalconstraintsapply(seepara1.14).Theminimumclearvisibilitydistancespeciedincolumn3should
notbereduced.
2. The1500mmsizeshownincolumn2,andthelargestvisibilityandsitingdistancesincolumns3and4,
shouldnormallybeusedwherethespeedlimitis70mphondualthree-laneorfour-lanemotorwaysor
all-purposeroadswithhardshoulders.Inothercircumstancesthe1200mmsizeshouldnormallybeused,with
the105mminimumclearvisibilitydistance(seeparas1.22and1.23)shownincolumn3andthesitingdistance
(seeparas1.20and1.21)shownincolumn4(adjustedinaccordancewithNote5below).However,roadsafety
considerationsmayrequirealargersize.TheRegulationsprescribea1500mmsizeformostwarningsigns,
whichmaybeusedonroadsotherthanthosedescribedabove.
3. Thetablebelowshows,inmillimetres,theappropriateheightsofthetriangularwarningsignsandthe
diametersofregulatorysignsthatindicatetheheadroomofabridgeorotherstructure.Forsignsonthe
approach,theminimumclearvisibilitydistanceandthedistancefromthehazardshallbeinaccordancewith
theabovetableforallwarningsigns.Thesignstodiagram530and530Awhenplacedontheapproachtoa
hazardaremorelikelytoindicateanoverhangingbuildingorstructurewherethemaximumsizeis900mmand
1200mmrespectively(seeAppendixB)ratherthantoindicatealowbridge(seesection7).
74
APPENDIX A

Diagram number
and sign location
85th percentile speed of private cars (mph)
Up to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 Over 50
530mountedonstructure 750 900 1200 1500
530onapproach 600 750 900 1200
530Amountedonstructure 900 1200 1500 1800
530Aonapproach 750 900 1200 1500
531.1onapproach 750 900 1200 1500
532.2 750 900 1200 1500
532.2A 900 1200 1500 1800
532.3(centreofarch) 750 900 1200 1500
532.3(sideofarch) 600 750 900 1200
532.3A(centreofarch) 900 1200 1500 1800
532.3A(sideofarch) 750 900 1200 1500
629.2mountedonstructure 600 750 900 1200
629.2onapproach 600 750 900 1200
629.2Amountedonstructure 750 900 1200 1500
629.2Aonapproach 750 900 1200 1500
4. Forfurtherguidanceonclearvisibilitydistance,seeparas1.22and1.23.Sitingalsoneedstotakeaccount
ofthelocationofothersigns(e.g.advancedirectionsigns)toensurethatonesigndoesnotobstructthesight
linetoanother.Provisionofanewsignmightsometimesrequiretherelocationofanexistingone.
5. Forfurtherguidanceonsignsiting,seeparas1.20and1.21.Wherearangeisquotedforsitingdistancein
column4,progressivelylargerguresshouldbeusedfor85thpercentilespeedstowardsthehigherendofthe
speedrange,tocompensateforthegreaterbrakingdistance.Brakingdistancewillalsobeaffectedby
gradients,andsitingdistancesmayneedtobeincreasedonsteephills,e.g.anincreaseof50%mightbemade
fora10%descent.Specialconsiderationsapplytothesignslistedbelow:
(i) Whenusedonsinglecarriagewayroads:
Diagram517Roadnarrowsattheendofaclimbinglane-seepara4.3
Diagram563,whenindicatingBlindsummitorHiddendip,mightneedtobeplacedfurther
fromthehazardthanshownincolumn4ofthersttabletoallowforahiddenvehicle
approachingatspeed
(ii) Whenusedonhigh-speeddualcarriagewayroads:
Diagram510Roundaboutahead-seepara2.14
Diagram520Dualcarriagewayendsahead-seeparas5.1to5.8
Diagram521Two-waytrafc-seeparas5.1to5.8
(iii) Whenusedonanyroad:
Diagram522Two-waytrafconroutecrossingahead-seepara5.4
Diagram558Low-yingaircraft-seepara14.2.
75
APPENDIX A

6. Thecombinedmetric/imperialheightrestrictionwarningtriangle(diagram530A)incorporatedintoa
directionalsignorthesigntodiagram818.5(seegure7-3inthischapterandAppendixDinChapter7)is
30strokewidthsinheight.Thecombinedmetric/imperialheightrestrictionroundel(diagram629.2A)
incorporatedintoadirectionalsignorasigntodiagram818.3or818.4(seegure7-2inthischapterand
AppendixDinChapter7)is30strokewidthsindiameter.Thetablebelowsetsoutrecommendedx-heightsand
correspondingtriangleheightsandroundeldiametersforthesignstodiagrams818.3,818.4and818.5,
appropriatetovarious85thpercentilespeeds.Thedimensionsinbracketsapplywheremotorwaysand
all-purposedualcarriagewayroadshavethreeormorelanespercarriageway.Forappropriatex-heightsfor
directionalsigns,seeAppendixAinLocalTransportNote1/94,availablefromTSOorwww.gov.uk/government/
publications/local-transport-notes.
85th percentile speed x-height Triangle height /
of private cars roundel diameter
(mph) (mm) (mm)
Upto20 60 450
21to30 80 600
31to40 100 750
41to50 120 900
51to60 160 1200
61to70 200 1500
70mphspeedlimit 240(300) 1800(2250)
7. 85thpercentilespeedmeasurementisdealtwithinTA22Vehiclespeedmeasurementonall-purpose
roadsinVolume5oftheDesignManualforRoadsandBridges(seepara1.3).Thedryweatherspotspeed
shouldbeused.
BAPPENDIX

SIZES OF SUPPLEMENTARY PLATES
Diagram
No.
Description x-height or plate size (mm) appropriate to
the triangle heights shown (see Appendix A)
600
1
(mm)
750
1
(mm)
900
(mm)
1200
2
(mm)
1500
3
(mm)
502 STOP'x'yds 62.5 75 100 125 -
503 GIVEWAY'x'yds 62.5 75 100 125 -
511 REDUCESPEEDNOW 62.5 75 100 125/150 200
513.1 Adversecamber 50/62.5 75 100 125 150
513.2 Maximumspeedadvised 50*/62.5 75 100 125 -
518 Singleletrafc 50/62.5 75 100 125 150
519 Singletrackroad 50/62.5 75 100 - -
525 Lowgearnow 50/62.5 75 100 125 150
526 Keepinlowgear 50/62.5 75 100 125 150
527 Lowgearfor'x'miles 50/62.5 75 100 125 150
530.1 Overhangingbuilding
(whenusedwith
diagram530)
50*/62.5 75 100 - -
530.1 Overhangingbuilding
(whenusedwith
diagram530A)
- 50*/62.5 75 100 -
531.2 ARCHBRIDGEHigh
vehiclesusemiddleofroad
- 75 100 125/150 -
543.1 Parttimesignals 50/62.5 75 100 125 150
546 School 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 -
547.1 Patrol 62.5/75 100 125 150 -
547.2 Playground 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 -
547.3 Nofootwayfor'x'yds 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 -
547.4 Disabledpeople 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 -
547.7 Disabledchildren 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 -
547.8
4
Humpedcrossing 50/62.5 75 100 125 -
548.1 Whenlightsshow'x'yds 50/62.5 75 100 125 150
553 Horse-drawnvehiclesand
animals
50*/62.5 75 100 - -
553.2 Farmtrafc 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 150
554.3 Ice
Snowdrifts
62.5/75
62.5
100
75
125
100
150
125
200
150
556.2 Softvergesfor'x'miles 50*/62.5 75 100 125 150
76 76
77
APPENDIX B

Diagram
No.
600
1
(mm)
750
1
(mm)
900
(mm)
1200
2
(mm)
1500
3
(mm)
557.2 Humpsfor'x'miles 50 - - - -
557.3 Humpsfor'x'yardsinthe
directionindicated
50*/62.5 75 100 125 -
557.4 Hump'x'yardsinthe
directionindicated
50*/62.5 75 100 125 -
558.2 Gliders 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 150
563 Accident 62.5 75 100 125/150 200
563.1 FIRESTATIONSTOPwhen
lightsshow(x-htof
lowercaselegend)
62.5 75 100 100 -
570 For'x'miles 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 200
572
5
'x'yds(whenusedwith
diagram530Aor531.1)
- 50/62.5 75 100 125/150
572
5
'x'yds(whenusedwith
otherwarningsigns)
50/62.5 75 100 125/150 200
573
5
Distanceanddirectionto
hazard(whenusedwith
diagram530Aor531.1)
- 50/62.5 75 100 125/150
573
5
Distanceanddirectionto
hazard(whenusedwith
otherwarningsigns)
50/62.5 75 100 125/150 200
575 Oncomingvehiclesin
middleofroad
50/62.5 75 100 125 150
583.1 Slowlorriesfor'x'miles 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 200
584.1 Queueslikely 50/62.5 75 100 125/150 200
773 STOPwhenlightsshow
(x-heightoflowercase
legend)
62.5 75 100 125 -
778 Trainsymbol(platesize) 440x420 550x525 660x630 660x630 -
778.1 Tramsymbol(platesize) 480x300 600x375 720x450 720x450 -
780A Safeheight 50/62.5 75 100 125 -
780.1A Safeheightatdistance
andindirectionindicated
50/62.5 75 100 125 -
780.2A Safeheightandload
gauge
50/62.5 75 100 125 -
78
APPENDIX B

Diagram
No.
600
1
(mm)
750
1
(mm)
900
(mm)
1200
2
(mm)
1500
3
(mm)
817.2 Escapelaneahead 50*/62.5 75 100 125 125
950.1 Childcycletests 50*/62.5 75 100 - -
7009.1 Skidriskandmaximum
advisedspeedof20mph
50*/62.5 75 100 125 -
NOTES
1.Forthe600mmand750mmsizetriangles,thesmallerx-height,wheremorethanoneisshown,is
appropriateifthe85thpercentilespeedis20mphorless.Wherea50mmx-heightismarkedwithanasterisk,
thisisthestandardsizefor85thpercentilespeedsupto30mph.
2.Forthe1200mmsizetriangle,thelargerx-height,wheremorethanoneisshown,shouldbeusedon
dualcarriagewayroadswherethenationalspeedlimitappliesoronsinglecarriagewayroadswheregreater
emphasisisrequired.
3.Asa1500mmsizesignissometimesusedinplaceofa1200mmsign(seenote2ofAppendixA),x-heights
forsupplementaryplatesusedinthesecircumstancesarequotedeventhoughthatparticularsignmaynot
beusedonmotorwaysorall-purposedualcarriagewayswithgradeseparatedjunctions.Thelargerx-height,
wheremorethanoneisshown,shouldbeusedondualcarriagewayroadswherethenationalspeedlimit
appliesoronsinglecarriagewayroadswheregreateremphasisisrequired.
4.Thelargersignsareintendedforuseonmainroadswhenanarrowhasbeenaddedtotheplateindicatinga
humpedpedestriancrossingintheminorroadleadingfromthejunctionahead.
5.AlthoughpermittedbytheRegulations,diagrams530and530Aareunlikelytobeusedwiththe
supplementaryplatestodiagrams572and573(seesection7).
CAPPENDIX

VARIATION OF NUMERALS AS PRESCRIBED BY SCHEDULE 16 TO THE REGULATIONS

Diagram
No.
Description Item(s) in
Schedule
16
Permitted variant
502 STOP100yds 6
Item1 Numeralsmaybevariedbut
(withtheexceptionofone
decimalplaceofametre
indicatingaheight,widthor
length)nofractionsordecimal
placesshallbeused.
Item5 Numeralsindicatingdistance
maybevariedwithdistances
beingexpressedinmilesexcept
thatfractions,andmay
beusedfordistancesofless
than3miles.
Item6 Numeralsindicatingdistance
maybevariedwith:
(a)distancesover3milesbeing
expressedinmilestothe
nearestmile;
(b)distancesofmileormore
butlessthan3milesbeing
expressedtothenearestmile
withthefractions ,and
beingused;and
(c)distancesoflessthanmile
beingexpressedinyards
tothenearest10yards;
yardsortheabbreviation
ydsmaybeusedinter-
changeably.
Whereasignincludesa
distanceexpressedinmiles,the
wordsmileormilesmay
beusedasappropriate.
Item9 Theindicationofdistancemay
beomittedfromthesign.
503 GIVEWAY50yds 6
513.2 Maximumspeedadvised 1
518 Singleletrafc(whendistanceis
added)
6
519 Singletrackroad(whendistanceis
added)
6
523.1 Steephilldownwards 1
524.1 Steephillupwards 1
527 Lowgearfor1miles 5
530 Maximumheadroom 1
530A Singlesignshowingavailableheadroom
inbothmetricandimperialunits
1
530.1 Overhangingbuilding(whendistance
isadded)
6
531.1 Maximumheadroomatarchbridge 1
532.2 Maximumheadroomatcentreofarch
bridge
1
532.2A Maximumheadroomatcentreofarch
bridgeindicatedbyasigntodiagram
530A
1
532.3 Maximumheadroomatcentreandside
ofarchbridge
1
532.3A Maximumheadroomatsideandin
centreofarchbridgeindicatedbysigns
todiagram530A
1
543.1 Parttimesignals(whendistanceis
added)
6
546 School(whendistanceisadded) 6
547.1 Patrol(whendistanceisadded) 6
547.2 Playground(whendistanceisadded) 6
547.3 Nofootwayfor400yds 6
547.4 Disabledpeople(whendistanceis
added)
6
547.7 Disabledchildren(whendistanceis
added)
6
79
80
APPENDIX C

Diagram
No.
Schedule
16
Permitted variant
547.8 Humpedcrossing(whendistanceis
added)
6
Item10 Theindicationofdistance
maybereplacedbyan
arrowpointinghorizontally
totheleftortotherightas
appropriate.
548.1 Whenlightsshow200yds 6
553.2 Farmtrafc(whendistanceisadded) 6
554.3 Ice(whendistanceisadded) 6
556.2 Softvergesfor2miles 6
557.2 Humpsformile 6
557.3 Humpsfor300yards 6
557.4 Hump20yds 6,9
558.2 Gliders(whendistanceisadded) 6
563 Accident(whendistanceisadded) 6
563.1 FIRESTATIONSTOPwhenlightsshow
(whendistanceisadded)
6
570 For2miles 6
572 400yds 6
573 Distanceanddirectiontohazard 6,9
583.1 Slowlorriesfor2miles 5
629.2 Mandatoryheightrestriction(imperial
units)
1
629.2A
Mandatoryheightrestriction(metricand
imperialunits)
1
773 STOPwhenlightsshow(whendistance
isadded)
6
780A
1
Safeheight16'-6"(5.0m) 1
780.1A
1
Safeheight15'-6"(4.7m)150yds 1,6,9
780.2A
1
Safeheight15'-6"(4.7m)loadgauge 1
817.2 Escapelaneahead(whendistanceis
added)
6
818.1
2
Dualcarriageway2milesahead 6
818.3 Mandatoryheightlimitatlowbridge
ahead
3
1,6,10
818.4 Mandatoryheightlimitatlowbridge
aheadandindicationofalternative
route
4
1,6
818.5 Availableheadroomatlowbridgeahead
andindicationofalternativeroute
5
1,6
81
APPENDIX C
Diagram
No.
Schedule
16
Permitted variant
950.1 Childcycletests(whendistanceis
added)
6
NOTES
1.Themetricdimension(butnottheimperial)maybeomittedfromdiagrams780A,780.1Aand780.2A.
2.Themaximumdistancepermittedondiagram818.1is2miles.
3.Permittedvariant1appliestotheheightrestriction.Whenpermittedvariant10applies,thewordahead
isomitted.
4.Permittedvariant1appliestotheheightrestriction.Permittedvariant6applieswhenadistanceisadded.
5.Permittedvariant1appliestotheavailableheadroom.Permittedvariant6applieswhenadistanceisadded.
DAPPENDIX
SCHEDULE OF DIAGRAM NUMBERS
501 2.1,2.2,5.15
502 2.1,5.15
503 2.1,5.15
504.1 1.12,2.2,2.3,5.14
505.1 1.12,2.2,2.3
506.1 1.12,2.2,2.3,2.5,5.14
507.1 1.12,2.2-2.5
508.1 2.8,2.9
509.1 2.8,2.9
510 1.12,2.13-2.15,5.7,20.5,
AppendixA
511 2.13,2.14,2.17,3.12,4.1,12.1
512 1.12,3.1,3.11,3.18,19.3
512.1 1.12,3.6,3.11,19.3
512.2 1.12,3.6,3.11,19.3
513 1.12,3.7,3.11,19.3
513.1 2.13,3.9
513.2 3.10-3.12,12.4
515 3.8,3.13,3.15,3.22,3.23,11.9
515.1 3.22
515.1A 3.22,3.23
515.2 3.23
516 4.1,4.3,7.2,16.4,19.3
517 4.1,4.3,7.2,16.4,19.3,
AppendixA
518 4.4,18.1
519 4.4,18.1
520 4.1,5.1,5.5,5.7,AppendixA
521 4.1,5.1-5.3,5.5,5.7,AppendixA
522 5.1,5.4,AppendixA
523.1 6.1,6.2,6.6,6.9
524.1 6.1,6.10
525 6.3,6.9,6.11
526 6.3,6.6,6.9,6.11
527 6.3,6.11
528 7.1,19.3
528.1 7.2,16.4
529 7.3,21.3
529.1 7.4,7.5,19.3,21.3
530 7.18,7.19,7.22,7.29,AppendixA,
AppendixB
530A 7.14,7.18,7.19,7.22,7.29,
AppendixA,AppendixB
530.1 7.29,18.1
530.2 7.7,7.20,7.26
531.1 7.22-7.24
531.2 7.22,7.24,19.3
532.2 7.16,7.23,7.24
532.2A 7.16,7.23,7.24
532.3 7.16,7.23,7.24
532.3A 7.16,7.23,7.24
543 8.1,8.3-8.6,9.1,9.13,20.5,22.1
543.1 8.5,18.1
544 9.1-9.3,9.13
544.1 9.4
544.2 9.5,9.6
545 9.7-9.11
546 9.7,9.8,9.11,18.1
547.1 9.7,9.8,9.10,9.11,18.1
547.2 9.7,18.1
547.3 9.4,9.7,9.9
547.4 9.6,18.1
547.7 9.7,9.8,9.11,18.1
547.8 9.13,18.1
548 10.4,10.5
548.1 10.5
549 10.10
550 10.10,10.11
550.1 10.11,10.12
550.2 10.11
551 10.10
5551.1 1.43,10.13
551.2 10.14
552 10.15
553 10.15
553.1 10.16
553.2 10.16,18.1
554 1.43,10.17,11.1,11.2
554.1 6.6,6.9,11.2
554.2 1.43,11.7,11.8
554.3 11.7,18.1
555 11.9,11.10
555.1 11.10
556 1.43,12.1
556.1 12.2
556.2 12.2
557 1.43,12.3
557.1 13.1
557.2 13.5
557.3 13.5
557.4 13.5
558 14.1,14.2,21.3,AppendixA
558.1 14.3
558.2 14.1,14.2,18.1
559 15.1
560 1.21,4.2,11.9,16.1
561 1.21,4.2,11.9,16.1
562 1.43,9.1,17.1
563 1.43,9.1,11.1,17.2-17.4,18.1,
AppendixA
563.1 8.2,17.2,17.5,18.1
82 82
83
APPENDIX D
570 3.8,6.10,10.3,10.13,10.14,
10.17,12.1,12.3,14.2,15.1,18.2,
18.3,19.5
572 1.20,2.5,2.12,2.13,2.15,8.3,
9.2,10.11,10.15,10.17,11.1,
11.2,18.4,22.1,AppendixB
573 8.1,9.2,10.11,10.15,10.17,11.1,
11.2,18.5,22.1,AppendixB
574 1.19,1.43,19.1,19.2
575 4.2,19.3
581 19.4
582 20.1
583 6.12,20.3
583.1 6.12,20.3
584 20.5
584.1 20.5
601.1 2.3,21.8
602 2.3,21.8
606 3.19,3.20,3.23,5.17
608 2.1,5.15,5.17
609 5.17
610 5.12,23.3
611.1 2.16
612 5.14
616 5.13,5.16
622.1A 11.8
622.4 11.8
629 11.8
629A 11.8
629.1 11.8
629.2 7.18
629.2A 7.18,AppendixA
632 11.8
674 13.1
770 21.2,21.17
771 21.2,21.17
772 21.2,21.17
773 7.3,7.4,8.2,14.1,14.2,18.1,21.3
774 21.4,21.5,21.20
775 21.5,21.20
776 21.6
777 21.7,21.20
778 21.8
778.1 21.8
779 21.9,21.12
780A 21.10
780.1A 21.10
780.2A 21.10,21.12
781 21.10,21.11
782 7.1,12.1,21.13
783 21.14,21.20
784.1 21.14,21.20
785.1 21.14,21.20
786 21.15,21.20
787 21.16
788 21.16,21.20
789 21.17
789.1 21.17
789.2 21.17
790 1.11,21.19
817.2 6.9
818 5.9
818.1 5.10
818.1A 5.9
818.3 7.13,7.18,AppendixA
818.4 7.13,7.15,7.18,AppendixA
818.5 7.13,7.16,7.22,AppendixA
821 4.5
822 4.5
823 2.18
824 2.18
825 2.18
826 11.5,11.6
826.1 11.5,11.6
868 2.8
868.1 2.8
872.1 4.6,4.7
873 2.8
874 2.8
875 2.8
876 2.8
950 22.1,22.2
950.1 18.1,22.1,22.2
1010 2.8
1013.1 19.3
1024 2.1
1028.3 21.15
1038 5.2
1046 5.13,5.16
2002 7.14
2003 7.14
2024 2.16
2027 7.14
2107 7.14
2108 7.14
2119 2.16
2120 2.16
2401 7.5
2928 7.5
3014 7.3,8.2,17.5,21.3,21.8
84
APPENDIX D
4004 9.7,9.11
4005 10.4
7009 3.11,12.4
7009.1 12.4
7010.1 1.43,8.8,11.2
7014 1.11,1.17,1.43,2.19,5.14,
8.7,9.1
7014.1 1.18,1.43,7.9
7019 8.8
7022 17.2
7030 8.6
85
INDEX
Adversecamber 3.9,3.10
Advisoryspeed 3.11,12.4
Agriculturalvehicles 10.16
Aircraft 14.1-14.3
Ambulancestation 17.5
Animaldisease 1.19,19.1,19.2
Animals 10.1-10.15,18.2,18.3
Archbridges 7.6,7.7,7.16,7.21-7.24
Backingboards 1.32-1.34,1.42,3.15
Bends 3.1-3.9,3.11- 3.13,19.3
Bridges 7.1-7.3,7.6-7.27
abutments 7.2,16.4
arch 7.6,7.7,7.16,7.21-7.24
composite 7.25-7.27
diversionsigning 7.13-7.16,7.18
hump 7.1,19.3
low 7.6-7.27
non-arch 7.13,7.17-7.20
opening 7.3
parapets 7.2,16.4
reducedheadroom 1.18,1.43,7.9
Cattle 10.1-10.9
grids 10.15
Chevronsigns 3.13-3.23,11.9
backingboards 3.15
exible 3.22
paved 3.23
Children 9.7-9.12
Chordmarking 1.38,7.7,7.23,7.24
Clearvisibilitydistance 1.22,1.23,1.41,2.1,
2.16
Climbinglanes 4.3
Conspicuity 1.15,1.32-1.35,1.39,
1.40,3.15,7.2,7.6,
7.20,16.3
Countdownmarkers 2.18
atlevelcrossings 21.17
Cycling 22.1,22.2
Depthgauges 11.5,11.6
DesignManual
forRoadsandBridges 1.3,1.39,4.3,8.6,10.7,
12.3
Disabledpedestrians 9.5,9.6,9.8
Distanceplates 18.1-18.6
see also individual sections
Dualcarriageways 5.1-5.2,5.5-5.17
ahead 5.9-5.12
bends 3.4
end 5.1,5.2,5.5-5.8
gapclosures 5.14
hazardmarkers 16.1
laneloss 4.6-4.8
lowbridges 7.7
queueslikely 20.7
roundabouts 2.14,2.18,5.7,5.13
sideroads 2.1,5.15-5.17
Endofone-wayroad 5.3,5.4
Escapelanes 6.6,6.9
Fallingrocks 15.1
Farmtrafc 10.16
Firestation 17.5
Flashingamberlamps
cattlecrossing 10.4-10.9
childrencrossing 9.11,9.12
Fluorescentmaterials 1.33,7.2,7.6,7.20,
7.24,7.27
Flood 11.1,11.2,11.5,11.10
Ford 11.1,11.3-11.6
Frailpedestrians 9.5,9.6
Gapclosures 5.14
Gates 10.17
86
GiveWaysigns 1.28,2.1,2.3,5.15
Gliders 14.1,14.2
Hazardmarkers 11.9,16.1-16.7
Headroom
bridges 1.18,1.43,7.6-7.12,
7.16,7.18,7.24,7.26
measurement 7.8-7.12
metricheights 7.8,7.12,7.18,21.10
signs 1.24
Helicopters 14.3
Hills 6.1-6.12,20.3,20.4
Horse-drawnvehicles 10.1-10.3,10.11
Horses
accompanied 10.1-10.3,10.11,10.12
wild 10.1-10.3,10.10
Humps 13.1-13.6
humpedcrossings 9.13,13.6
Ice 11.7,11.8
Illumination 1.31,1.35-1.40
see also Reectorisation
Junctions 2.1-2.19,3.6,3.13,
5.15-5.17
Legibility 1.14,1.16,1.31,1.34,
1.39,1.40,3.15
Levelcrossings 9.11,12.1,21.1-21.20
Lighting 1.31,1.35-1.38
Loadgauge 21.11,21.12
Longvehicles 7.1,7.10,21.13-21.16
Lorries 3.10,20.3,20.4
Loosechippings 12.4
Lowbridges 7.6-7.27
Low-yingaircraft 14.1-14.3
Maintenance 1.22,1.23,1.39-1.42,
3.23,7.2,7.6,21.14
Mandatoryheightlimits 7.14,7.15,7.17-7.19,
7.21
Maximumspeedadvised 3.10,3.11,12.4
Mergesigning 2.8-2.12
Metricdistances 18.6
Metricheights 7.8,7.12,7.18,21.10
Metricunits 7.8,7.12,7.18,11.6,
18.6,21.10
Militaryvehicles 20.1,20.2
Miscellaneoushazards 17.1-17.5,19.1-19.5
Mounting 1.24-1.31
backingboards 1.32-1.34
chevrons 3.15,3.19
hazardmarkers 16.2
height 1.24,1.30,1.31
multiplesigns 1.27-1.31
order 1.28,1.29,6.9,7.1
Newlevelcrossingahead 1.11,21.19
Newroadlayoutahead 1.11,1.17,1.43
Newroundaboutahead 1.11,1.17,2.19
Newtrafcsignalsahead 1.11,1.17,8.7
NewZebracrossingahead 1.11,1.17,9.1
Non-archbridges 7.13,7.17-7.20
Nosmoking 11.2
Obscuration 1.21-1.23,1.32,1.34,
1.41,3.21,8.2,8.3,9.3,
11.10,23.1
Obsoletesigns 1.11,1.43
Olderdrivers 1.27,1.40
Oncomingvehicles 4.2,19.3
Openingbridge 7.3
INDEX
87
INDEX
Overhangingbuildings 7.29
Overheadpowercables 21.9-21.12
Overload 1.27
Parttimesignals 8.5
Passingplace 4.5
Peakhoursignals 8.5
Pedestrians 9.1-9.13,17.4
blind 9.5,9.6,9.8
children 9.7-9.12
frailordisabled 9.5,9.6,9.8
humpedcrossings 9.13,13.6
inroad 9.4,9.7,9.9,17.3,17.4
Pelicancrossings 8.1-8.3,9.1,9.10,9.11,
9.13,13.6,17.4
Pufncrossings 8.1-8.3,9.1,9.10,9.11,
17.4
Toucancrossings 8.1-8.3,9.1,9.10,9.11,
17.4
Zebracrossings 9.1-9.3,9.10,9.11,
9.13,13.6,17.4,23.4
Pelicancrossings 8.1-8.3,9.1,9.10,9.11,
9.13,13.6,17.4
Policestation 17.5
Powercables 21.9-21.12
Priorityjunctions 2.2-2.7,3.6,3.13
dualcarriageways 5.15-5.17
Pufncrossings 8.1-8.3,9.1,9.10,9.11,
17.4
Quaysides 11.9,11.10
Queueslikely 20.5-20.7,21.18
Reducespeednow 2.14,2.17,3.12,4.1,
12.1
Reectorisation 1.31,1.33,1.35-1.40,
3.23,7.2,7.6,7.20,
7.23,7.24,7.27,8.8,
16.5
Referencenumbers 1.42
Refugebeacon 23.1-23.4
Riskofgrounding 7.1,21.13
Riverbanks 11.9,11.10
Roadhumps 13.1-13.6
Roadnarrows 4.1-4.8,7.2,16.4,19.3
Roadsurface 12.1,12.3,12.4
Roundabouts 2.13-2.19,3.10,3.13,
3.19-3.23,5.7,5.13
SecretaryofState 1.2,1.5,5.13,5.16,
10.13
Sheep 10.1-10.3,10.10,18.2
Sideroads 2.1,5.3,5.15-5.17
Sidewinds 19.4,19.5
Signalledroundabouts 8.4,8.5
Signalledcrossings 8.1-8.3,9.1,9.10,9.11,
9.13,13.6,17.4
Singleletrafc 4.4
Singletrackroad 4.4,4.5
Siting 1.20-1.23,AppendixA
Sizesofsigns 1.13-1.18,AppendixA
archbridges 7.22,7.23
chevronsigns 3.16
ice 11.7
levelcrossings 21.14,21.20
lossoflane 4.7
supplementaryplates AppendixB
Tryyourbrakes 11.4
Skidrisk 12.3,12.4
Slipperyroad 12.3
Sliproads 2.8-2.12,4.6,5.13,
20.7
88
INDEX
Slow-movingvehicles 20.1-20.7
atlevelcrossings 21.14
lorries 20.3,20.4
Snow 11.7,11.8
Softverges 12.2
Specialauthorisation 1.5
adversecamber 3.10
mergesigns 2.11
tramcrossing 21.8
tunnellengthsigns 7.5
Steephills 6.1-6.12,20.3,20.4
Stopsigns 1.27,2.1,2.3,5.15,21.8
Supplementaryplates 1.8,1.16,1.20,1.24,
1.25,1.27,1.32,
AppendixB
Tanks 20.1,20.2
T-junctions 2.2,3.13
Temporarysigns 1.5,1.11,1.17,1.18,
1.38,1.43-1.45,
5.14,7.9,8.6-8.8,
10.13,11.7,11.8,12.1,
12.3,12.4,17.1-17.3
Toads 10.13
Toucancrossings 8.1-8.3,9.1,9.10,9.11,
17.4
Tractors 10.16
Trafccalming 13.1-13.6
Trafcsignals 8.1-8.8,9.11
outoforder 8.8
parttime 8.5
Trams 21.1-21.12
Tryyourbrakes 6.6,11.2-11.4
Tunnels 7.4,7.5,19.3
Turningvehicles 10.16
Two-waytrafc 5.1-5.8
Unevenroad 12.1
Variantsofnumerals AppendixC
Vehicle-activatedsigns 1.12
Verges 12.2
Visibility 1.21-1.23,1.40,1.41,
AppendixA
Vulnerablepedestrians 9.4-9.6
Water 11.1-11.10
Watercourses 11.9,11.10
Widevehicles 10.16
Wig-wagsignals 7.3,7.4,8.2,14.1,14.2,
17.5,21.3
Wildanimals 10.1-10.3,10.10,18.3
Wildfowl 10.1-10.3,10.14
Wildhorses 10.1-10.3,10.10
Workingdrawings 1.8,1.16
x-height 1.16-1.19,1.25,5.11,
21.14,AppendixA,
AppendixB
Yellowbackingboards 1.15,1.32-1.34,3.15
Zebracrossings 9.1-9.3,9.10,9.11,
9.13,13.6,17.4,23.4
Warning Signs explains the use of the warning signs prescribed
by the Trafc Signs Regulations. It enables the correct sign to
be used, and advises on the appropriate size and siting to
ensure adequate warning of the hazard.
Published by TSO (The Stationery Office) and available from:
Online
www.tsoshop.co.uk
Mail, Telephone, Fax & E-mail
TSO
PO Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN
Telephone orders/General enquiries: 0870 600 5522
Fax orders: 0870 600 5533
E-mail: customer.services@tso.co.uk
Textphone 0870 240 3701
TSO@Blackwell and other Accredited Agents
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SIZES OF WARNING SIGNS AND SITING DETAILS

VARIATION OF NUMERALS AS PRESCRIBED BY SCHEDULE 16 TO THE REGULATIONS

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