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3.35
From now, only those signs listed below must be directly illuminated during the hours of darkness when placed within a street lit area.
- warning and regulatory signs at level crossings
- headroom restrictions at low bridges or structures
- warning of requirement to 'Stop' or 'Give Way' ahead (diagram 501)
- speed limit terminal signs on trunk or principal roads
- regulatory terminal signs including give way, no entry, vehicle restrictions (including for low and narrow bridges) and banned manoeuvres
- motorway entry, exit and gantry-mounted signs.
3.36
Those signs no longer needing direct illumination must be reflectorised as a minimum.
3.37
It should be noted that traffic authorities may still apply direct lighting as before, should they wish to. Notwithstanding the obvious financial and environmental benefits of removing direct lighting, it is recommended that robust risk analysis should underpin any decision to do so on a case by case basis. In deciding whether to rely on reflectorisation alone, the following factors could be taken into account:
- turning angles
- junction layouts
- one way traffic conditions
- sign mounting height
- signs mounted on the off side of the carriageway
- proportion of heavy goods vehicles and the relevance of the sign to them
3.38
The default position also applies to any traffic sign placed within a 20 mph limit or a 20 mph zone. These need not be directly illuminated, but must be reflectorised. For clarity, this relaxation does not apply to speed limit terminal signs placed at the boundary between a 20 mph speed limit and another speed limit on trunk or principal roads, which must be lit as stated above.
3.39
Where a sign needs to be directly lit, but street lighting is turned off during part of the hours of darkness, the sign must also be reflectorised unless sign remains directly lit when the street lights are turned off.
Tourist signing
3.40
Previously, a disparity existed between England, and Scotland and Wales around a destination's eligibility for tourist signing, how the system was administered and the responsibilities of the various agencies.
3.41
For Scotland and Wales, Visit Scotland and Visit Wales recognised individual tourist attractions and facilities as qualifying for a brown sign under TSRGD. However, Visit England did not carry out a similar function, thereby exposing English traffic authorities to pressure from private enterprises, such as retail parks, to represent their business as tourist destinations on traffic signs. This inevitably contributed to sign clutter.
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