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Road markings and signage
All lines on the highway must be authorised by the Highway Authority. Special lines are allowed with prior approval of the Department of Transport, or if they are experimental or under trial.
Yellow and white lines
Yellow lines
These are provided where there is a need to restrict parking to help maintain traffic flow, prevent obstructions on the highway and for safety reasons.
There are two types of yellow lines used to control parking:
- Double yellow lines mark lengths of road where there is no waiting at any time. However, there are exceptions to this and extra plates fixed to lighting columns or posts will tell you what the actual restriction is.
- Single yellow lines indicate a shorter period of restriction such as daytime. Again extra plates will show the actual times.
Yellow zigzag road markings are normally provided at school entrances. They are to discourage drivers from parking and obstructing the view of pupils entering and leaving the school.
Similar markings without the word ‘School’ may be put outside fire and ambulance stations. These markings are to deter drivers from parking across the station exits and stopping fire engines and ambulances attending emergency calls.
White lines
White lines on the road are provided to help road users by giving different types of information. Road markings are as important as signs.
White lines that run down the length of the road are markings to inform and warn road users of approaching situations which will require them to take some form of action i.e. solid white line - do not cross, or lane line – turn right. Other markings give information such as lane use and direction.
Lines which are placed crosswise on a road also give instruction e.g. stop or give way. The Highway Code gives examples of the lines in normal use and their associated rules.
To report faded or missing white or yellow lines and road markings contact Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058 or email call.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk
Signs
The Highway Authority provides signs in order to give information to the road user.
The Highway Code gives examples of the most common signs in normal use. Details of current road signs can be found at on Directgov's Highway Code pages
Signs fall into certain groups
- Regulatory signs – signs with red circles.
- Warning signs – mostly triangular.
- Direction signs – mostly rectangular. Stack and map types.
- Information signs – mostly rectangular
- Road works signs
All signs on the highway must be authorised by the Highway Authority. Special signs are allowed with prior approval of the Department for Transport, or if they are experimental or under trial.
The Highway Authority provides direction signs to certain places. These are as follows:
- cities, towns and villages
- major airports
- hospitals
- stations
- cemeteries
- toilets
- car parks
- leisure centres.
But not to:
- hotels, pubs, restaurants, garages or shops.
Fingerpost Signing
Fingerpost signs are traditional signposts used primarily for giving direction to pedestrians. As the posts and wording are small to drivers, they are only used for vehicles when speeds and volume are low.
On major, busy and fast roads where directions need to be large and clear, fingerpost signs are not used as the main direction signing.
Tourism Signing
Tourism signing provides an important opportunity for tourism, businesses and local economies, and will be implemented positively and constructively. There is an advertising element as it helps to generate more impromptu visits.
These signs are also there to safely guide safely those wishing to visit tourist destinations along the most appropriate route and to indicate facilities that a tourist would not expect to find in that location.
Last Updated on Saturday, 19 June 2010 09:33
