Is this actually a speed limit sign?

[Johnnytheboy]

This sign (and an opposing one 3 miles down the road) has appeared on a road near where I work.

It's obviously not a real speed limit (no repeaters, no pair of terminal signs) but my understanding is I am meant to obey a red roundel sign.

If I obeyed it I would cause a huge tailback, so what am I meant to do in reaction to this sign?

[XCP]

Drive slowly or go another way I would have thought. At least there seems to be a valid reason for this limit.

[lbc]

It's just an advisory sign of roadworks. No limit with just this sign.

Edited by lbc on Friday 23 May 15:57

[Tonto]

Nope, Mandatory speed limit shown.

[willis1337]

It's to avoid damage claims on the local authority.

[Red Devil]

Not mandatory if there is no TRO. Check that the LA has followed the correct procedure.

As it is not a 20mph zone there ought to be repeater signs
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
Paragraph 14.21 on page 116/paragraph 14.24 & table 14.42 on page 117.

Note that the distances are recommended ones, so don't have to be followed.
However direction 11(2) states that repeaters must exist and be at regular intervals.
So a 3 mile stretch without any does not conform.

[Fort Jefferson]

Do what you like, but if you damage your car, don't try and claim off the tax payer.

[MrBarry123]

That sign says "FIND ALTERNATE ROUTE" to me.

[Johnnytheboy]

The road isn't that bad, like a few rutty bits, it does need repairing.

No one is doing 20, mind.

[Mike_Mac]

As said above - it's probably put up by the council to allow them to chin off any claims for damage as a result of hitting a pothole - 'well we had advised you to go 20mph...'

I await other councils investing in this solution from now on rather than just fixing the road correctly in the first place and not slopping in some temporary 'repair' that lasts about 2 days!!

[CoolHands]

So why can councils just stick up speed limit signs if there is no TRO? Isn't that illegal or wasnot?

[Flibble]

The black border makes it an advisory sign only. Yellow backing on speed limit signs is only allowed if it is plain without borders.

From Red Devil's link:
A backing board must not itself be provided with a border, nor give the impression of being an additional border.

[CoolHands]

I see, thanks

[Cliftonite]

MrBarry123 said:

That sign says "FIND ALTERNATE ROUTE" to me.

Alternative. It's "alternative"

[Roo]

Mike_Mac said:

As said above - it's probably put up by the council to allow them to chin off any claims for damage as a result of hitting a pothole - 'well we had advised you to go 20mph...'

I await other councils investing in this solution from now on rather than just fixing the road correctly in the first place and not slopping in some temporary 'repair' that lasts about 2 days!!

There's a very similar one in Maidstone.

A main road has been closed for months and the laternative is looking the worse for wear and the coincil have put up similar signs that also say the road will be repaired when the closed one re-opens.

[Red Devil]

Flibble said:

The black border makes it an advisory sign only. Yellow backing on speed limit signs is only allowed if it is plain without borders.
omplaince
From Red Devil's link:
A backing board must not itself be provided with a border, nor give the impression of being an additional border.

Paragraph 1.31 on Page 8. I completely failed to notice that aspect of the sign!

Looks to me like the LA is using lack of knowledge by drivers in order to try and achieve compliance by the back door.

[Johnnytheboy]

Very interesting, thanks.

My problem with it is its pointlessness: literally nobody is taking any notice of the 20 "limit".

I also wonder how man hours of meetings it took to agree on the signs and their wording? The council could direct all that effort into repairing the road. Radical, I know...

[Engineer1]

Johnnytheboy said:

Very interesting, thanks.

My problem with it is its pointlessness: literally nobody is taking any notice of the 20 "limit".

I also wonder how man hours of meetings it took to agree on the signs and their wording? The council could direct all that effort into repairing the road. Radical, I know...

Or its the council acknowledging the road needs work, and as said on the sign until it is repaired the surface is crap and new potholes etc could appear following any bad weather.

[T0nup]

Be thankfull they have at least placed a sign to advise... Ignore at your peril, or find another route.

[Johnnytheboy]

Find another route

I'm only going this way because the road I usually use is closed.

It's really not that bad, just needs resurfacing.