Councils to net new powers over removal of road signs

Councils will have new powers from the end of this week (22 April) to remove unnecessary and out-of-date road signs, the Transport Secretary has said.

Patrick McLoughlin said the reforms would also see:

• road signs needing a ‘remove by’ date so that they are not used longer than needed;
• the requirement for both a sign and a road marking being removed in some cases – “for example, a mandatory cycle lane or ‘permit holders only’ parking bay now only need to be shown with a road marking”;
• only one sign needing to be installed to show the start of a traffic restriction such as no entry, or no left-turn if it is safe;
• the requirement to place repeat speed limit signs being removed – “now councils can make their own decisions on how many speed limit signs are needed so that drivers know what limits apply”;
• councils being allowed to install new eye-level cycle traffic lights to make busy junctions easier and safer for cyclists;
• fewer signs needing to be lit than before;
• smaller sizes being available for signs such as those aimed only at walkers and cyclists.

The Transport Secretary has also appointed Sir Alan Duncan MP to lead a task force that is looking at removing "pointless" signs.

“This crackdown will pave the way for wider changes,” the minister said.

The Department for Transport pointed out that the number of signs on roads had more than doubled from 2.45m in England in 1993 to an estimated 4.57m in 2013.

McLoughlin said: “Road signs should only be installed on our roads when they are essential. Our common-sense reforms will help get rid of pointless signs that are an eyesore and distract drivers.”

The minister claimed that the new rules would also save £30m by 2020, “leaving drivers with just the signs they need to travel safely”.