Metrication and improvement of road works signs

In this article, we look at road works signs. The most important thing is to make the road signs metric, as part of a general road signs metrication programme. As well as this, there are many improvements that can be made to the road works signs, including getting rid of superfluous words and supplementary plates, and in making the signs clearer in general, and examples to illustrate these improvements are shown in this article.

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 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).

It is recommended to only use a lane closed sign (above) as
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)

Cluttered sign before conversion (left);
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.

Sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).

Sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).

Sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).

Sign before conversion (left);
Metric and symbolic sign after conversion (right).

Cluttered sign before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).

Sigh with superfluous words before conversion (left);
Much clearer sign after conversion (right).

Sign with superfluous words before conversion (left);
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.