Following reports of confusion among motorists, especially those visiting our area, we received a request from residents in High Hesleden for priority signs to be erected on the chicanes in the village.
We asked officers in the highways section at county hall to consider
this request and offer their advice. Last month we received the
following response:
The
chicanes were introduced following consultation with residents on traffic calming proposals. I am advised that at the
time it was agreed that they would be introduced without the additional signage
to enable the scheme to fit within your available budget. However it was
considered that the existing chicane had performed adequately without the said
signing and we had not received any complaints previously regarding the absence
of the signs. The signs are not a mandatory requirement so they could be
omitted from the scheme although the Give Way markings are provided and are
clear. An additional consideration for this is that the majority of
traffic using the route is local traffic and these should be motorists who will
be fully aware of the features and how they operate – strangers to an area tend
to drive a lot more cautiously.
I have
in the past inspected the locations both during daylight and also at night to
check the conspicuity of the features. When I am passing I will check to
make sure that the markings are still in a functional state and have them
reinstated if necessary.
The
presence of signs does not remove the issue of the impatient drivers from
trying to beat the opposing vehicle through the chicane whether there is
priority for them or not. This situation occurs at all chicanes and
priority narrowings from time to time and is typical of some of the motorists
using the highway. Additionally there are no recorded personal injury
accidents attributable to the chicanes or lack of understanding of the road
layout. We therefore do not have justification to consider it necessary
to commit funding to the provision of the signs which require illumination.
If you
are minded to fund a scheme for the provision of the signs, I would suggest
that it will not be a cheap due to the means of obtaining the electrical
supply. Two of the supplies will have to be obtained from an NEDL
overhead supply and all will involve underground ducting. Whilst I have
not been able to get this costed, I would expect that it would run into several
thousand pounds.
On receipt of the response above we queried the necessity for illuminated
signage which clearly had the effect of making any modifications
unrealistically costly. We received the following advice yesterday:
In the
issue of who has priority at the chicanes, the road markings indicate which
lane has to ‘Give Way’ to the opposing lane. At each feature a ‘Give Way’
marking is provided across one traffic lane which motorists must comply with,
this is covered by Rule 172 of the Highway Code which all motorists should be
aware of. The ‘Give Way’ marking is classed as a regulatory sign with
regard to the legislation.
The
upright signs available for a priority feature such as a pinch point or chicane
are provided to support the road markings but not replace
them.
With
regard to the provision of signs on the public highway we have to follow
legislation issued by the Government. There are specific signs which are
permitted to be provided at locations where there is a priority arrangement
(one is a blue backed sign and the other is a regulatory circular sign with a
red ring – both have arrows indicating the order of priority). Whilst it
is not a
requirement
to have to provide these signs, if it is considered necessary, they are
provided at each side of the priority.
In the
Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (the main legislation covering
the provision of signs), it is mandatory for the regulatory (circular)
sign to be illuminated. Notwithstanding this, it is standard practice to
provide all road signs in a reflective material however this does not override
the necessity to light a regulatory sign.
We are also instructed by the
Department for Transport to minimise the use of road signs and consider
removing them where possible. This is an attempt to de-clutter the
highway and public realm.
