Road signs confuse the Scots

Survey finds a third are baffled by T-junctions

By PH Staff / Monday, 11 July 2005 / Loading comments

National speed limit

Road signs prove problematic for the Scots, apparently -- apart from the speed camera sign, that is. That's the disturbing result from a recent survey by Tesco Insurance.

According to the Scottish Sunday Mail, 36 per cent of Scots could not figure out what 12 road signs meant, while the UK average was 31 per cent. The T-junction sign caused most problems and was correctly identified by one in five. Many got confused over the 'no motor vehicles' sign -- nearly 40 per cent thought it meant the opposite, while 10 per cent said the sign for 'national speed limit applies' means a limit of 70mph even though the NSL on single carriage roads is 60mph.

Older people were worst. Those who passed their test over 30 years ago were less likely to be able to identify traffic signs than those with less driving experience. The driving theory test which was introduced nine years ago seems to have had little impact too. Male drivers were better at identifying road signs than female drivers, found the survey.