Policy paper

Signing the way: traffic signs policy review

How our traffic system can meet the future needs of road users, while building upon the existing and established traffic sign system.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 13 October 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

This publication was withdrawn on 12 April 2018

This page is out of date. For the latest traffic signs policy, please see The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

Documents

Traffic signs policy paper: signing the way

PDF, 1.95 MB

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Sample authorisation

PDF, 31.3 KB, 4 pages

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Transport Research Laboratory: reducing traffic sign clutter

PDF, 1.21 MB, 86 pages

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AECOM: Research into the awareness of the meaning of traffic signs

PDF, 4.63 MB, 148 pages

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Details

This document sets out a policy framework to ensure our traffic system meets the future needs of all road users, while building upon the existing and established traffic sign system.

It sets out recommendations, including how to:

• reduce regulation and provide more flexibility for local authorities
• reduce traffic signing on the road network
• deliver effective enforcement
• improve signs and traffic signals for pedestrians and cyclists
• allow more innovative measures to be used on the roads
• provide road users with better information
• develop local solutions built on local knowledge

The department will implement these recommendations in stages.

Related documents

• the traffic signs authorisation database provides the public and local authorities with information on the range of signs that have been authorised by the department since 1 January 2011
• traffic signs review written statement
• local transport policies
• local transport notes
• roads circulars
• road network and traffic policies
• traffic advisory leaflets

Published 13 October 2011