The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016

PART 5 The Schedule 15 General Directions

1.—(1) The sign may only be placed—

(a) on or near a motorway or an all-purpose dual carriageway road; and

(b) so it faces the stream of traffic to which it is intended to convey the information, warning, requirement, restriction, prohibitions or speed limit in question.

(2) A container enclosing the sign must be coloured black or grey and may have a white border not less than 45 mm nor more than 55 mm wide.

(3) A sign may—

(a) be mounted on a backing board, which must be coloured black and may have a white border not less than 45 mm nor more than 55 mm wide;

(b) show an identification number on the front of the backing board below the signal or on the post on which the signal is mounted

(4) Where the sign is mounted on a post specially provided for the purpose, that part of the post which extends above ground level must be—

(a) coloured grey, black, brown, dark green or dark blue, or

(b) of a non-reflective metallic finish,

and, in either case, the post may be marked with a yellow or white band not less than 140 mm nor more than 160 mm deep, the lower edge of the band being not less than 1500 mm nor more than 1700 mm above ground level.

2.  The sign must only be displayed over an actively managed hard shoulder whilst variable message signs displaying the maximum speed limit sign are displayed above so much (if any) of the adjacent carriageway as is open to traffic.