Signage

[chunder27]

I am sure most of you who spend time on any roads in England in particular have noticed this year an ever growing problem of signs being unreadable at the roadside.

Mainly due to branches, grass etc not being cut.

Is there a legal precedent for this? It seems highly ridiculous and also rather dangerous that a sign anywhere is literally unreadable until you are on top of it?

Obviously sat navs play a large part, in that I guess councils have just cost-savingly presumed people don't look at signs anymore!

[wazztie16]

chunder27 said:

I am sure most of you who spend time on any roads in England in particular have noticed this year an ever growing problem of signs being unreadable at the roadside.

Mainly due to branches, grass etc not being cut.

Is there a legal precedent for this? It seems highly ridiculous and also rather dangerous that a sign anywhere is literally unreadable until you are on top of it?

Obviously sat navs play a large part, in that I guess councils have just cost-savingly presumed people don't look at signs anymore!

You've just reminded me of a no entry sign that is near enough fully obscured by branches outside my work, seen a few cars head down the road the wrong way and have to turn around, it leads onto a 40mph busy dual carriageway where vehicles don't always tend to hold back on speed when they're coming off.

Must get onto the relevant people about it, accident waiting to happen.

[Cliftonite]

wazztie16 said:

You've just reminded me of a no entry sign that is near enough fully obscured by branches outside my work, seen a few cars head down the road the wrong way and have to turn around, it leads onto a 40mph busy dual carriageway where vehicles don't always tend to hold back on speed when they're coming off.

Must get onto the relevant people about it, accident waiting to happen.

You do not even need to identify the correct authority:

https://www.fixmystreet.com/

[wazztie16]

Cliftonite said:

wazztie16 said:

You've just reminded me of a no entry sign that is near enough fully obscured by branches outside my work, seen a few cars head down the road the wrong way and have to turn around, it leads onto a 40mph busy dual carriageway where vehicles don't always tend to hold back on speed when they're coming off.

Must get onto the relevant people about it, accident waiting to happen.

You do not even need to identify the correct authority:

https://www.fixmystreet.com/

Done, thanks.

[anonymous-user]

chunder27 said:

I am sure most of you who spend time on any roads in England in particular have noticed this year an ever growing problem of signs being unreadable at the roadside.

Mainly due to branches, grass etc not being cut.

Is there a legal precedent for this? It seems highly ridiculous and also rather dangerous that a sign anywhere is literally unreadable until you are on top of it?

Google Traffic signs manual chapter 3 ???
Page 6. See below but it doesn't copy and paste across in a good format
"SITING
1.15 It is essential that drivers have an unobstructed view of traffic signs. The distance which should be kept clear of obstructions to the sight line, whether caused by vegetation, other signs or street furniture, is known as the clear visibility distance. The higher the prevailing traffic speeds, the greater this distance needs to be.
Table 1-1 Minimum clear visibility distances
Minimum clear
visibility distance
(metres)
Up to 20 45
21 to 30 60
31 to 40 60
41 to 50 75
51 to 60 90
Over 60 105 (120)"
1.16 Table 1-1 specifies minimum clear visibility distances. These should normally be measured from the centre of the most disadvantaged driving lane. It is important that the full recommended sight line to the whole of the sign face is preserved. Cutting back
of vegetation only in the immediate vicinity of the sign might not be sufficient; sign visibility should always be checked from the appropriate viewing distance.
1.17 The bracketed visibility distance of 120 m in table 1-1 is generally for dual carriageway roads and motorways with a 70 mph speed limit, where the bracketed larger size of sign in Appendix A is used.
1.18 Table 1-1 does not apply to speed limit
and speed camera signs (see section 14), signs
to diagrams 958 and 958.1 (see paras 15.9 and
17.5 respectively), or to time plates that are parallel to the kerb
Ring the council and remind them of their obligations? As half the time they do not know them.

[bangerturner]

I was narrowly missed by someone driving straight through a crossroads in my village a couple of weeks ago, I was really annoyed at their idiocy, until the next time I drove that way and realised that the Stop sign was totally obscured by branches and the solid white line and painted Stop had almost totally worn away.....reading this thread has reminded me to complain to the highways agency

[bangerturner]

Cliftonite said:

wazztie16 said:

You've just reminded me of a no entry sign that is near enough fully obscured by branches outside my work, seen a few cars head down the road the wrong way and have to turn around, it leads onto a 40mph busy dual carriageway where vehicles don't always tend to hold back on speed when they're coming off.

Must get onto the relevant people about it, accident waiting to happen.

You do not even need to identify the correct authority:

https://www.fixmystreet.com/

Not if you live in Central Bedfordshire

[anonymous-user]

bangerturner said:

I was narrowly missed by someone driving straight through a crossroads in my village a couple of weeks ago, I was really annoyed at their idiocy, until the next time I drove that way and realised that the Stop sign was totally obscured by branches and the solid white line and painted Stop had almost totally worn away.....reading this thread has reminded me to complain to the highways agency

Don't try reporting it to a Gov dept that shut down 3 years ago that manages Motorways and trunk roads (and historical railway estate now)
Try http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/transport/re...

[R Mutt]

Couldn't find the thread about assuming a 30/40 limit based on street lights where there are no signs or that have not been repeated when turning on to a new road, but I wondered how the 20 limits in London impact this. They seem quite prolific but I only ever notice the signs half way down the same road.

[kev1974]

There's usually massive "20" signs painted on the road surface in such areas. And little signs on the streetlights.

[grumpyscot]

We can report things like that on our council web site. Usually the council act within a week. They're particularly good at ensuring speed and warning signs are cleared but (rightly) ignore the proliferation of signs pointing to housing developments etc. Faulty street lights are also fixed within a week. Potholes take a little (????) longer.

[R Mutt]

kev1974 said:

There's usually massive "20" signs painted on the road surface in such areas. And little signs on the streetlights.

I'm thinking more about where these should be placed and what should be assumed turning on to a new road e.g. coming from a 20 to a main road. The 20 is painted on the tarmac at the junction but for the benefit of those coming from the opposite direction i.e. from the main road. There are no speed limit signs, but then a speed camera. Other than that I can't see any 20 signs on the side road so I only know what the limit is from having initially turned on to that road.