More signage suggestions and why the UK should properly implement the Vienna Convention

In my previous articles, I have given my thoughts and ideas on possible signage improvements, the aim being to remove clutter and make the signs clearer, more symbolic, and language independent, as well as what British metric signage might (and in my opinion should) look like. This is because metrication and the conversion to 24 hour time would be an ideal time to rationalise road signs, not to do so would be a missed opportunity. But I also believe strongly that the UK should implement properly the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals that the UK already signed up to.

In this article, I give more signage suggestions that (hopefully) are compliant to the Vienna Convention, and that respects the standards including SI, and using 24 hour time format.

More signage examples

Here are yet more examples of removing superfluous plates / superfluous text, or replacing with a supplementary plate showing the symbolic equivalent. Metrication is also shown.

No vehicles sign.
Before removal of supplementary plate (left);
After removal of supplementary plate (right)

No vehicles sign.
Before conversion to 24h time and removal of superfluous text (left);
After conversion to 24h time and removal of superfluous text (right)

Ice warning sign:
Before removal of "Ice" supplementary plate (left);
After removal of "Ice" supplementary plate (right)

The warning of ice ahead sign already has the graphic for ice, so the "Ice" supplementary plate appears redundant, although I think there is a case for retaining the "Snowdrift" supplementary plate.

It is worth considering using symbolic supplementary plates. If supplementary information can be expressed graphically it should be, as it avoids the need to translate anything, and usually the symbolic or almost completely symbolic signs are smaller. Examples are shown below:

Slippery road due to ice. The warning sign is for slippery road,
the supplementary place meaning ice says ice is the reason.

Slippery road due to ice, for 6 km. The warning sign is for slippery road,
the supplementary place meaning ice says ice is the reason. Note that
"↑ 6km ↑" should always be used to mean "For 6 km", there is no need to use words.

An example of a wholly graphical supplementary plate, in this example is for an overhanging tree. This does not exist in the UK (but does in Germany), but could be used if there were ever overhanging trees, as an alternative to stating in words "Overhanging tree":

General warning sign (which already exists) with a symbolic supplementary plate
meaning overhanging tree (which does not currently exist in the UK).

The above proposal is just a draft. The supplementary plate above could be made smaller (or perhaps be used in the red triangle instead), but that is an aside. The main point of the example above to illustrate that one can use graphical supplementary plates even for general warning, where possible. There are some cases where this might not be easy, for example "Hidden dip".

Adverse camber supplementary plate with superfluous text (left);
Adverse camber supplementary plate, superfluous text removed (centre);

Dead end / cul-de-sac except for cycles (left);
Alternative design for "Cul-de-sac except for cycles" (right)

Farm traffic sign before removal of supplementary plate (left);
Farm traffic sign after removal of supplementary plate (right);

Symbolic replacements for "IN", "OUT", "NO ENTRY", "NO EXIT", and
"BUSES ONLY", using existing signs. I wonder why the symbolic equivalents
are not currently used.

Symbolic replacement for exceptions signs. In this case it is possible to replace buses and cycles with a symbolic equivalent, taxis replaced with the word taxi. Note how the
symbolic sign is smaller.

Recommendations for lane restriction signage

You will have noticed that in my designs for signs with lane restrictions or lanes where vehicles are permitted, I have made sure the arrow "goes through" the graphic - usually a restriction but can also be graphics of vehicles allowed (e.g. cycle lane, crawler lane). I believe this makes it clear that the lane has restrictions or is recommended/mandatory for certain vehicles.

Lane with restriction:
Not recommended (left);
Recommended (right)

Regarding the example above, although they technically both mean the same thing and are both graphical, the image on the left could also mean "we are going towards a restriction". I believe the image on the right is much clearer and unambiguously means lane restriction - plus done in a certain way space can be saved too. It is better to be clear and unambiguous hence the recommendation.

Below are some examples of such modifications, all of which already appear in previous articles:

Metrication and improvements for the road works get in lane sign.

Metrication and improvements for the road works stay in lane sign.

LGV restriction on a lane for 3000m, note that the format "↑ 3000m ↑" should
always be used, as prescribed by the Vienna Convention.

Lane shift with a contraflow and a 2m width restriction.

Suggested wholly symbolic crawler lane sign, based on existing designs.

Simplify worded signs if words are still needed

In general I strongly discourage text, in particular where the text is redundant or can be replaced by the equivalent symbol. However there might be some cases where using simplified text can be used - but only where the text is really necessary and cannot be avoided.

For example there is "REDUCE SPEED NOW" which is self-explanatory. Of course in Wales the signs would be twice as big to include the Welsh translation. I would suggest either replacing with a distance (or if possible removing "REDUCE SPEED NOW" if safe to do so), or simplifying the text by saying something in one word instead, like "SLOW" or "DANGER", which minimises the translation required where applicable.

And of course there are some cases where it is necessary to retain text: "Red Routes" and "part-time signals" are two such cases. Best is to try to keep the text as simple as possible and minimise the words needed where text is required. Of course it is always better to use symbolic equivalents instead where possible.

Why the UK should fully implement the Vienna Convention

The reasons why the UK should fully implement the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals that it has signed up to, is because it would standardise signage, make them language independent, clearer, and help deal with the problem of clutter. This standardisation is not for the sake of standardisation (nor should it be, and nor were the designs in this blog intended to be), indeed if signs are the same (or are similar enough) and have the same meaning everywhere that can prevent misunderstandings and therefore anger and accidents thus benefitting safety, and potentially saving money as a result. The smaller and less cluttered signs are safer to handle and cheaper to manufacture and maintain.

I think it would be a good thing if every country signed and ratified, and was therefore a contracting party to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and signals as this is good for international travel. As already mentioned, the UK has already signed and ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, as have 62 other countries worldwide, but height restriction signs in the UK are not compliant.

Indeed, Vienna Convention only prescribes metres for height, width, length restriction signs.  Too many bridge strikes have resulted from drivers not understanding height or width restrictions in feet and inches only, taking a chance, and the bridge gets damaged and peoples' safety and even lives potentially at risk. 

In order for UK height, width, and length restriction signs to comply with the Vienna Convention, signs must as an absolute bare minimum be dual unit (which is currently allowed and recommended for routes used by foreign drivers and on main roads), better would be to permit (with view to later requiring) metric-only restriction signs which are simpler and easier to read at a glance.  This is for safety reasons for all motorists, not just foreign drivers alone.  I have already given my suggestions for metric only restriction signage in this previous article.