Sunday, 15 August 2010
We could do the minimum and convert the signs to 24 hour and metric formats (which is needed anyway), I suggest that we can go further and make all these signs as wholly symbolic as possible at the same time. In addition, if the rules for the streets are simplified, then less or no extra information needs to be included. The same applies if the no parking and no stopping rules are. There are some signs which can be got rid of if they do not add anything. And finally where there are road markings such as double yellow lines (no parking at any time) or double red lines (no stopping at any time), there is no need for repeater signs.
No stopping signs
The no stopping signs are shown below, with before and after conversions if applicable.
No stopping for 4 km
after conversion to metric.
after conversion to metric.
after conversion with redesign (centre), alternative redesign (right).
Unlike normal no stopping restrictions, in urban "Red Routes" some vehicles (taxis and vehicles with a disabled blue badge) are allowed to pick-up and set down passengers but all other vehicles are forbidden from stopping. I believe that "No stopping" is definitely superflous, because the symbol already means no stopping. The words "at any time" are also superflous, because not saying anything means the restriction is always active.
except for loading at the time stated for 20 min max.
No stopping except for taxis, before and after conversion.
Red route clearway, no stopping allowed, before conversion (left);
after conversion to "No stopping including on the hard shoulder, verges, or footpath" (centre);
alternative conversion with rule simplification (right)
after conversion to "No stopping including on the hard shoulder, verges, or footpath" (centre);
alternative conversion with rule simplification (right)
According to the booklet Know your traffic signs, in rural clearways (rural areas where no stopping is allowed, you will see a no stopping sign), waiting or stopping is permitted on verges or footpaths in rural clearways , but in urban red route clearways (as shown above), waiting is not permitted on verges or footpaths. This is reflected in the sign "No stopping including on the hard shoulder, verges or footpath", in which the supplementary plate shows no stopping on hard shoulder (and also by definition, verges or footpath, wholly or partially).
No stopping symbolic sign can replace several wordy "No stopping" signs.
It is also worth considering whether the sign is required or not.
It is also worth considering whether the sign is required or not.
No waiting (also known as no parking) signs
Shown below are no waiting signs, also known as no parking signs, before and after conversion.
Replacement with no waiting (no parking) sign
with a wholly symbolic equivalent.
with a wholly symbolic equivalent.
Replacement of time-limited no waiting (no parking) sign
with a wholly symbolic and 24 hour equivalent.
with a wholly symbolic and 24 hour equivalent.
Replacement of no waiting (no parking) sign operating on certain dates.
Months can be represented with three letters.
Months can be represented with three letters.
General no parking zone is sufficient for most purposes,
and can replace "Controlled". "Controlled" is superfluous.
and can replace "Controlled". "Controlled" is superfluous.
The general end of no parking zone sign can be used for all
end of no parking zones.
end of no parking zones.
Replacement of restricted zone sign (time limited). The restriction is
that no waiting or loading is allowed within the time period specified.
that no waiting or loading is allowed within the time period specified.
In general, loading is permitted when waiting is not permitted. So if loading is not permitted either, then that needs to be made clear in the supplementary plate.
Replacement of repeater for no waiting and no loading.
Another example of how the general end of no parking zone sign is sufficient for all purposes
, instead of having several different end of no parking zone signs.
, instead of having several different end of no parking zone signs.
No parking zone for LGVs 5t or greater.
Note that the correct symbol t must always be used to represent tonnes.
Note that the correct symbol t must always be used to represent tonnes.
Shown above was the no parking zone for LGVs weighing 5t or greater. No parking zones can also exist for buses, and also both buses and lorries.
Replacement of the repeater signs showing that no
waiting is allowed for 5t or heavier lorries.
waiting is allowed for 5t or heavier lorries.
Another demonstration of why the general end of no parking zone is sufficient.
Replacement of no waiting on verge or footpath. Supplementary plate means
forbidden on hard shoulder, and also on verge and footpath.
forbidden on hard shoulder, and also on verge and footpath.
Replacement of urban clearway and end of clearway signs with
much easier to read and wholly symbolic equivalents (in the case of the end sign).
much easier to read and wholly symbolic equivalents (in the case of the end sign).
We have shown in the above examples how the no stopping and no parking signs can be made easier to read at a glance, more consistent, and suggestions have also been made in this article how to reduce clutter on the signs. In several cases the signs are themselves smaller, but in all cases the suggested new signs are clearer which is much more important. In addition, by simplifying the rules and simplifying the parking and/or stopping restrictions on the streets, one can further reduce the information on the signs, and there is no need for repeater signs if double-yellow or double-red lines are present on the side of the roads. Of course, as already stated, the most important thing is that signs in the UK need to be metricated and converted to 24 hour time format.
Where the copyright is stated in the images, the original source of the images is the Know your traffic signs booklet, all other images are the author's own work.
Some great suggestions here, you can really see how much clearer the new signs would be looking specifically at the yellow signs. Much easier to understand and much less cluttered.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting suggestions. I certainly agree with 24hr time - however, you need to be careful of making the different type of restrictions have identical signs as there definite subtle differences - for instance an Urban Clearway is not "no stopping", as you're allowed to set down and pick up passengers for a maximum of 2 minutes. If you use the No Stopping roundel, that means no stopping whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, the Red Routes in London by and large replaced Urban Clearways because of that loophole - it caused serious congestion on the urban road network.
@Bryn - Very good points, indeed I have decided to reinstate "RED ROUTE" and "URBAN CLEARWAY" in my drafts, as these words are probably necessary. Thank you for your feedback. Hopefully all times on UK road signs will be converted to 24h.
ReplyDeleteYour design is very good. I think it conforms to the Vienna Convention, or at least should be accepted. After all it is symbolic, and has 24h time too.
The statement Red Route is not required as the sign already means no stopping. The exception signs can be posted in locations as required.
ReplyDeleteI would also switch the word taxi for a symbol. I found one that should work. A logo somewhat similar to a car but it has a label on the top, more pronounced headlights, and maybe has a bit of a checkerboard pattern in some area.s
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, having the proper road design would be the best thing to do. A general prohibition on stopping and parking on roads with speed limits 50 km/h and up unless otherwise signed is good. Clearly marked parking pays can indicate otherwise. Access roads, 30 km/h in the urban area and 40 in the countryside, can have built in parking areas, in areas where there are curbs, extensions of the curbs to cover the area where parking would be prohibited by law, IE too close to an intersection or by a fire hydrant or bus stop, can be used to show where these restrictions would come into play and make it very clear, and optically narrows the road. Having a drainage gully out of concrete built into the road surface between the carriageway and the parking bays works well to optically narrow the road, as does paving the parking bay in a different pattern, like red brick for the carriageway and grey brick for the parking. Quite brilliant in my opinion. The Dutch get a lot of things done right.
ReplyDelete