SIGNS AND LINES
FEATURE
from the good ideas often introduced in isolation through the signs authorisation process. It has helped others benefit from some of the innovative approaches being adopted by local highway authorities like Westminster City Council.’ Low continues: ‘This initiative takes best practice and good ideas that may only have been applied in isolation, and helps the practitioner out there who might not have gone through the process.’ Thorndyke from Suffolk County Council also believes the additional flexibility is welcome, but a clear system for the road user is paramount. ‘You can remove the sign clutter in parking zone areas, but you have to balance that against clarity for the motorists. Again, we have to take a pragmatic approach, but the priority is for it to be very clear to the road-using public. There is a risk of inconsistencies, but obviously, we will use the new signs carefully and be very clear to road users.
www.britishparking.co.uk
We have to take a pragmatic approach, but the priority is for it to be very clear to the road- using public
Uncertainty However, there may be potential issues arising from the system proposed by the Traffic Signs Review. Ensuring that national consistency of signage can be maintained at the same time as giving local authorities more freedom is one identified by Simon Morgan of Buchanan Computing, chair of the Institute of Highways Engineers Traffic Signs Committee. He believes that allowing local authorities to adapt wording and signs to local needs could be problematic – creating the potential for legal challenges to enforcement penalties, particularly when it comes to inconsistency in parking signs. Morgan say: ‘There are many positives from the review. But there are difficulties – if each council has the freedom, they can come up with different signs, and this could cause confusion with the motorist traveling from one area to another.’ He continues: ‘For example, already under new regulations, only one terminal sign rather than two is now needed at the entrance to parking zones, but there’s no guidance as to when one or two are needed. This creates uncertainty for the council. In terms of clutter, it sounds great – fewer signs are needed, and this also means lower costs. But councils may subsequently find they are getting fines overturned on appeal. It could be a mixed blessing.’
ABOUT the AUTHOR: Phil Lattimore is a freelance journalist, specialising in technical and industrial issues
MARCH 2013 29
ANDREY BURMAKIN / SHUTTERSTOCK
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