Sort my sign, watchdog tells Highways England

24/02/2020 | CHRIS AMES

A new nationwide campaign aims to put pressure on Highways England to improve the quality of its signage and road safety.

Road user watchdog Transport Focus has launched said its Sort My Sign campaign, which aims to get road users to report poor signs on the 4,300 miles of the strategic road network (SRN).

It has launched a dedicated website where road users can give the position of inadequate signs, including uploading photos. Users are advised not to do so while driving.

Transport Focus said it will use these examples to build up a map of issues across England and press for improvements.

It said the campaign aims to increase the usefulness and effectiveness of information on roads, including messages on electronic signs and that this will allow more road users to make informed decisions in plenty of time, improving safety and reducing stress.

Chief executive Anthony Smith said: ‘We want to hear from road users about signs and information that aren’t up to scratch. We’ll use what you say to press Highways England to make journeys easier and safer.

‘There is nothing more frustrating than missing your turnoff because the sign was hidden behind a tree or missing crucial information.

‘While we have some of the safest roads there are still too many signs which are broken, confusing or out of date. If it’s not clear, it’s not safe.’

Transport Focus is calling for Highways England to:

  • sort broken or inaccurate signs reported by road users
  • provide better information during delays and unexpected disruption
  • review the existing standards for signs on the SRN

Highways England’s customer service director, Mel Clarke, said the campaign had 'the potential to help us improve the work we already do to keep our signs clear, accurate and timely’.

The government-owned company said it has maintenance contracts and network inspectors, and uses feedback from its Customer Contact Centre to recognise where signs or messages, including electronic ones need to be fixed or made more visible, or if new messages are needed.

It added that it has 27 new messages for electronic signs, it will be introducing from April to provide improved information. These messages include updates for people in trapped traffic, and other information that drivers have told us is useful, such as ‘TRAFFIC BEING RELEASED and ‘RECOVERY IN PROGRESS’.

It has also changed its messages regarding potential (unconfirmed) incidents, debris or pedestrians to ‘REPORT OF [reported issue]’.

Last year the watchdog recommended that junction numbers on motorway signs should be moved to cut crashes at junctions, having carried out a survey to test the hypothesis that some unsafe driving is related to the position of the junction number on the signage.

Drivers said the top left of the sign was their preferred position for the junction number, because it is less likely to be obscured by either large vehicles or vegetation.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Senior Civil Engineering Technician

Grade 7 £29,093 to £32,654 per annum
We are looking for a flexible individual who has the ability to meet targets and analyse and resolve complex technical problems and formulate a design Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW