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This leaflet details the qualifications that are required by law to carry out, or supervise, works in the street. It explains how to gain these qualifications, how they should be registered and re-registered.

Why know your traffic signs? Traffic signs play a vital role in directing, informing and controllingroad users' behaviour in an effort to make the roads as safe aspossible for everyone. This makes a knowledge of traffic signsessential. Not just for new drivers or riders needing to pass theirtheory test, but for all road users, including experiencedprofessional drivers. Keeping up to date We live in times of change. Society, technology and the economy allplay their part in changing the way we travel. New road signsconveying new messages and in new formats are introduced fromtime to time, so drivers or riders who passed their driving test a fewyears ago need to keep up to date or run the risk of failing tounderstand or comply with recently introduced signs. A few examples of events that called for new signs include: • Britain's first motorway • Pelican crossings • Reintroduction of trams • Advanced stop lines • Vehicle-activated signs • Active Traffic Management. Responsibility for traffic signsResponsibility for the road network in the UK is split among:• the Highways Agency in England• the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales• the Scottish Executive in Scotland• and local or regional highway authorities. The central administrations above are responsible for the UK’sstrategic road network. Strategic roads are the highways that linkcities, areas of population, ports and airports. Most motorways andsome “A” roads are strategic roads. Local or regional highway authorities are responsible for localroads, and this includes a few motorways, all other “A” roads andall other public roads. While responsibility for placing, erecting andmaintaining traffic signs is split among these bodies, it is importantthat signs are consistent both in appearance and in the way theyare used.To ensure that the UK has a uniform traffic signing system, signsmust conform to the designs prescribed in the Traffic SignsRegulations and General Directions (although some signs mayhave been specially authorised by the Secretary of State). The Traffic Signs Manual, published by TSO, provides detailedguidance for those responsible for designing and installing traffic signs.

Well-Maintained Highways, the code of practice for highway maintenance management was published in July 2005. It provides local authorities with guidance on highways management in an ever changing environment, creating a strong foundation for a positive and lasting maintenance policy. Adoption of the recommendations in this code will help the delivery of Best Value services.

1.1 This chapter of the Traffic Signs Manual describes how sign faces are designed. It does not include the various methods by which signs are constructed and mounted. It supersedes Local Transport Note 2 / 94: Directional Informatory Signs Interim Design Notes, which was withdrawn in 1997. 1.2 Reference should be made to the appropriate chapter for the use, size and siting of signs (e.g. Chapter 4 for warning signs). The basic sign face layout, including the choice of destinations, for directional signs will be included in the new Chapter 2 when this is published. During the interim period reference should be made to Local Transport Note 1 / 94: The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs, published by the Stationery Office. 1.3 Any reference to “the Regulations” or “the Directions” is a reference to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 and applicable to England, Scotland and Wales. Reference to a “diagram number” is a reference to a diagram in those Regulations. In Northern Ireland the appropriate legislation is the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland). 1.4 The Traffic Signs Manual is applicable in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. References to “the Secretary of State” should therefore be interpreted as referring to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Department for Regional Development (Northern Ireland), the Scottish Executive or the Welsh Assembly Government as appropriate. 1.5 The design rules contained in this chapter apply to new and replacement signs rected on all types of public highway. Where signs are to be provided in accordance with the current Traffic Signs (Welsh and English Language Provisions) Regulations and General Directions, further guidance on the design of the sign faces should be sought from the Welsh Assembly Government. WORKING DRAWINGS 1.6 Appendix A lists those signs prescribed by the Regulations for which working drawings are available either from the Stationery Office or on the Department's website. The drawings cover signs which are generally of a fixed design such as triangular warning signs. Certain other signs which have special design rules are also included in the series of working drawings. Before designing a sign, reference should therefore be made to Appendix A. 1.7 This chapter deals with those signs which are designed for a specific requirement or location such as the directional informatory signs in Parts I, II and X of Schedule 7 to the Regulations. For most of these signs, working drawings have not been provided as it is not possible to include all the relevant design details associated with the permitted variants. 1.8 Section 2 of this chapter sets out the basic design rules applicable to all rectangular signs. Sections 3 to 11 deal with directional informatory signs, section 12 certain regulatory signs (mainly time plates), section 13 temporary signs for road works, and section 14 other sign design matters. 1.9 Appendix B lists those symbols which may be used on the various types of sign included in this chapter. These include both general symbols (e.g. bus, bicycle and aircraft) and those indicating specific tourist and leisure attractions. The designs for these symbols are detailed on working drawings. Further design guidance on the use of symbols is given in section 14. 1.10 Occasionally a sign that is not prescribed by the Regulations may be authorised on behalf of the Secretary of State for placing on a public highway. Where the Department produces a drawing of such a sign for authorisation purposes, the number will be prefixed “NP” (“Non-Prescribed”). Before proceeding with any new design, it should be ascertained whether a drawing is already in existence. Where a sign does not have a working drawing, the designer should follow as closely as possible the design principles set out on the working drawings and in this chapter. Some older non-prescribed drawings prefixed WBM (“Worboys series B - Metric”) will continue to be used for special authorisation purposes until replaced by new drawings. Working drawings for non-prescribed general symbols and tourist attraction symbols are prefixed “NS” and “NT” respectively. All non-prescribed signs must be submitted for special authorisation. 1.11 The Regulations refer to approved tourist attraction symbols. These are shown on drawings prefixed “AT” and may be used without the need for special authorisation (see Appendix B).