The first traffic signs were implemented in the late 19th century and have continued to evolve to suit their necessary environments and usages. Having clear, legible signage is crucial because drivers and cyclists usually don’t have time or room to slow down to read the sign. Wayfinding helps people arrive or reach your destination, especially if they haven’t prepared the necessary information beforehand.
Every journey has different modes of transportation and it’s important to take all of these into consideration when planning signage. It’s also likely that each of these will require different information along the journey. For example, road users will require traffic and highway signs in order to know which exit to take or where to find petrol stations along their route. Whereas, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users will need different setup signage completely.
Over the years British signage has changed and adapted but can be traced back to signs put up to help ensure the safety of cyclists. Clubs such as ‘Cyclists’ Touring Club’, ‘National Cyclists’ Union’ and the ‘Scottish Cyclists Union’. Whereas now, there are multiple types of signs, for example, signs that give information or orders, warning signs, road work signs and directional signs.
The first system for road signage was designed and developed by Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert. This system has had a major impact on information design and is still used as a template today. You can read more about that here. Having one system used across the country helps provide consistency and uniformity across the whole network. This also reassures drivers that they’ll know how to use the system no matter where they are.
There’s multiple types of signs, for example, signs that give information or orders, warning signs, road work signs and directional signs.
There are many benefits to having well-thought-out and planned signs, but the main importance is that it helps to map all of the routes in your area. It’s crucial that all signs are clear and easy to understand for all users and they become more specific as you approach the destination. For example, specific car park information is useless until you’re almost there. It’s also important to mitigate late deliveries for HGVs or Heavy Good Vehicles. Having great signage also helps road users save time on their journeys. Additionally, it’s important to have the consistency of destination naming conventions.
In order for new traffic signage to be approved, there are guidelines that must be met and adhered to. Every sign manufacturer in the UK has to meet these requirements. For example, on the motorway signs must be blue with a white legend and border. On primary routes, there must be a green background with yellow route numbers and a white legend and border. For non-primary routes (including local routes), the background must be white with a black legend and border.
When it comes to directional signage for cyclists and/or pedestrians, the background must be blue with a white legend and border. Whereas for tourist attractions, brown background is required with a white legend and border. Black background with a white legend and the border is needed for an advisor lorry route. As for the Ministry of Defence establishments, these signs will have a white background with a black legend and red border, arrows and chevrons. Lastly, for car park signage, there must be a white background with a black legend and border. If you’d like to find out more about the Traffic Signage Regulations and General Directions, you can find that here.
When implementing a traffic signage system, it’s crucial that all highway authorities are in contact and on the same page. Here are some of the necessary authorities, Highways England, County Council, Borough Council, Local Council, TFL (London Specific).
It’s also essential to recognise the constant advancements in technology and ensure that all physical signage integrates well into the digital world. For example, Google and Apple Maps must align with the physical signage along each route. You can read our article of the Evolution of Digital Navigation, here. You might also want to take a look at our article about Route Planning and Driverless Cars.
Overall, traffic signage is important not only for drivers but also for pedestrians and cyclists. If you have any questions about what we’ve covered in this article, feel free to give us a call. We’d be happy to have a chat.
Below are some links to additional information: