Strange Road Signs

[Mike_P]

If a road (ignoring motorways) is neither 30 in a built up area or 60 / 70 (dual carriageway) outside of a built up area it should have small repeater speed signs. Presumably their isn't any set requirement for their spacing.

 

[mjr]

If a road (ignoring motorways) is neither 30 in a built up area or 60 / 70 (dual carriageway) outside of a built up area it should have small repeater speed signs. Presumably their isn't any set requirement for their spacing.

There is no requirement for repeater signs at all, nor a required spacing. The Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 3 section 8.3 recommends 200m spacing for 20mph, 250 for 30 (unlit), 300 for 40, 450 for 50, 500 for 60 and 600 for lit national speed limit dual carriageway. In practice, you'll find many highways departments treat that as if it was required, including putting up posts that they often refuse to install for cycle route direction signs!

 

[scragend]

If a road (ignoring motorways) is neither 30 in a built up area or 60 / 70 (dual carriageway) outside of a built up area it should have small repeater speed signs. Presumably their isn't any set requirement for their spacing.

I read that and thought "there must be, there are regulations for everything". Whether they are stuck to or not, is another matter...

Turns out there are recommended, but not mandatory, maximum distances for the spacing of repeater signs:

https://assets.publishing.service.g...ebfec719b/traffic-signs-manual-chapter-03.pdf

8.3 Repeater signs indicating maximum and national speed limits
8.3.1.  Whilst there is no specific requirement to provide repeater signs, it is for the traffic authority to determine how many are required and where they are placed. However, to ensure that drivers are fully aware of the speed limit in force it is recommended that repeater signs are provided at the intervals shown in Table 8-4 (see 8.3.4). Schedule 10 General Direction 2 prohibits the use of 30 mph repeater signs where a road has a system of carriageway lighting. Section 82 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 defines a lit road as being a “restricted road” (see 8.1.2). Section 81 specifies that the speed limit along such a road is 30 mph unless an order has been made to impose another limit and remove the restricted road status. The presence of carriageway lighting therefore means that a road automatically has a speed limit of 30 mph with the lamps taking the place of repeater signs. It is therefore important that, when lit roads have a speed limit other than 30 mph, repeater signs are provided at adequate intervals along the road as recommended in Table 8-4. Failure to do so could undermine confidence in the signing of all speed limits, as drivers have only the repeaters to tell them that the limit is not 30 mph. Where a speed limit, other than 30 mph, applies before and after the point where the carriageway lighting begins, a repeater sign should be placed in line with the first lamp; in most cases the sign would be mounted on the lighting column.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The French have a sign saying "rappel" on their repeater signs. There must be zillions of them all over France. I just can't see the point. I drive past a sign saying, say, "50 Rappel" the "50" bit tells me that the road ahead has a 50 limit, fair enough, and the "rappel" bit tells me that the road behind me, that I'm not longer driving on, also had a 50 limit. Why should I care? If I had been speeding on that bit, it's a bit late for me to do anything about it now.

There's a massive great big usine somewhere in France churning out these pointless rappel signs by the truckload.

 

[Alex321]

The French have a sign saying "rappel" on their repeater signs. There must be zillions of them all over France. I just can't see the point. I drive past a sign saying, say, "50 Rappel" the "50" bit tells me that the road ahead has a 50 limit, fair enough, and the "rappel" bit tells me that the road behind me, that I'm not longer driving on, also had a 50 limit. Why should I care? If I had been speeding on that bit, it's a bit late for me to do anything about it now.

There's a massive great big usine somewhere in France churning out these pointless rappel signs by the truckload.

It means "reminder" or "remember", so it is saying "Tis isn't a change, remember the limit is still the same"'

 

[Dogtrousers]

It means "reminder" or "remember", so it is saying "Tis isn't a change, remember the limit is still the same"'

Yes I know.

What I don't know is - what is the point ?

 

[Andy in Germany]

Yes I know.

What I don't know is - what is the point ?

Probably to remove the excuse "I thought the speed limit stopped way back over there..."

That said, we don't have this: once you pass a limit sign you're expected to stick to that limit until you either pass the hazard or get told otherwise. That first one always confused me, to be honest.

Also, a yellow sign like this is the edge of a village, but it also marks the limit of the 50km/h (30mph) limit. This is the exit to the village of Hirrlingen and drivers are being told they have 2 km before the next 50km/h limit on the edge of Bietenhausen.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Probably to remove the excuse "I thought the speed limit stopped way back over there..."

All you need is a repeater sign. You don't need an extra "rappel" sign saying "this is a repeater". All you need is a sign telling you what the limit ahead is. No one cares what the limit was. That info is as much use as a sign saying "you've just gone over a hump-back bridge". Unless maybe you have a friend driving behind you and a walkie-talkie.

I'll stop ranting about this now. I didn't realise quite how angry they made me. Normally when I'm driving I'm too busy concentrating to get annoyed by pointless signs, so I note it for future reference. I've just unleashed years of suppressed irritation.

Those village cancellation signs are pretty common in France (and Finland too) and they are useful. They are telling you about a change of limit. I don't recall ever seeing a "how far to the next village" as in your German example, but that could be useful too.

 

[classic33]

Set your alarm...

 

[classic33]

 

[Andy in Germany]

View attachment 809072
Set your alarm...

Was the second sign a correction?

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

View attachment 809073

But what if I am driving a Honda - does it still flood??

 

[classic33]

 

[classic33]