Words such as "GET IN LANE", "STAY IN LANE", "NARROW LANES", "USE HARD SHOULDER" and "REJOIN MAIN CARRIAGEWAY" are all superfluous and can be removed (as can the supplementary plate above with these words). A supplementary plate saying "Now" is also superfluous and can also be removed (if it doesn't have a measurement in a supplementary plate below then the sign already means the restriction applies now), which applies to all signs not just road works signs.
"ANY VEH" is also superfluous. What's a "VEH"? ("veh" has been used to abbreviate "vehicle") There is no need to put "ANY VEH" because if there are no restrictions then it is obvious any vehicle can use the lane.
As well as removing all superfluous words, another improvement is that if a lane has a restriction (for example a width restriction or a weight restriction) then it is much clearer if the arrow "goes through" the restriction.
Examples of these improvements (with a before and after if applicable) are shown below:
Road works 400m ahead.
Lane closed before conversion (left);
Lane closed 400m ahead after conversion (centre);
Lane merge 400m ahead (right) is the clearest sign in this case.
Lane closed 400m ahead after conversion (centre);
Lane merge 400m ahead (right) is the clearest sign in this case.
Lane drop is better if only one lane is closed (left); Lane closed should be avoided where
possible, but can be used if two or more adjacent lanes are closed (right).
possible, but can be used if two or more adjacent lanes are closed (right).
It is recommended to only use a lane closed sign (above) as
a repeater sign after a lane merge has already happened.
a repeater sign after a lane merge has already happened.
Cluttered sign before conversion (left);
Clearer sign after conversion although lane closed should be avoided (centre);
Even clearer sign after recommended conversion (right)
Clearer sign after conversion although lane closed should be avoided (centre);
Even clearer sign after recommended conversion (right)
Cluttered sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Lane shift, two lanes on the right have a 2m width restriction,
and the rightmost lane moves to the other carriageway.
and the rightmost lane moves to the other carriageway.
Sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Sign before conversion (left);
Metric and symbolic sign after conversion (right).
Metric and symbolic sign after conversion (right).
Cluttered sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Sigh with superfluous words before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Sign with superfluous words before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).
Note: Copyrights have been acknowledged in the images themselves, the original source of the copyrighted artwork (all covered by a copyright waiver) is the Know Your Traffic Signs booklet. All other images were created by the author and are licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Interesting. Without getting into the intricacies of the "should the UK metricate it's signing" debate, roadwork signs, due to their short life, would be a good candidate for a first step. Having said that, I wonder how much operational experience you have with roadwork signs. The biggest problem with them, (especially the ones with multiple curved arrows found at more complex sites), is the design rules which result in (theoretically) very large and thus difficult to both handle and locate. We certainly need signs which are simpler and more easily handled. The French and particularly the Germans have excellent designs for these types of sign. It would be useful for our DfT to collect designs from around Europe and see if they could come up with something suitable for the UK.
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