The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016

PART 5 Permitted variants of the signs in Parts 2 and 4

1.  A distance may be added or varied, but, in relation to the signs provided for at items 11 and 16 in the Part 2 sign table, the distance must not exceed two miles.

2.  The distance may be omitted and, if shown in a separate panel on the sign with no other legend, the panel must be omitted.

3.  The distance may be replaced by an arrow pointing horizontally to the left or to the right.

4.  The symbol, or all symbols together, may be reversed in a mirror image.

5.—(1) An arrow pointing horizontally to the left or to the right may be added or reversed.

(2) The arrow may be omitted.

6.  Symbols and arrows indicating the road layout may be varied.

7.  The blue panel need not extend to the edge of the nameplate and the black border may be omitted.

8.  The name of the tunnel and the indication of the length may be varied.

9.  The legend “Except buses” may be omitted or varied to “Bus lane”, “Except cycles” or “Except buses & cycles”; the number of lanes may be varied and any arrow may indicate two directions and point horizontally to the left and ahead, horizontally to the right and ahead or horizontally to the left and to the right.

10.  The time period may be varied in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 18, or omitted and where the times are shown in a separate panel on the sign, the panel must be omitted when the times are so omitted.

11.  The local bus symbol may be varied to the bus symbol shown at item 40 of the sign table in Part 2 of this Schedule.

12.  The permitted variants are—

(a) the arrow and cycle symbol may be reversed (if both are reversed);

(b) “lane” may be varied to “track” in which case the arrow may be omitted and the symbol reversed;

(c) “lane” may be varied to “lanes” or “tracks” in which case the arrow must be omitted and the cycle symbol reversed.

13.  “Authorised vehicles” and symbols, other than the bus symbol, may be omitted as appropriate.

14.  The continuous line and the broken line may be varied to accord with the layout of the road markings—

(a) at item 10 of the sign table in Part 4 of this Schedule and item 11 of the sign table in Part 6 of Schedule 9 when placed to indicate the extent of a bus lane; or

(b) at item 8 of the sign table in Part 4 of this Schedule and item 7 of the sign table in Part 6 of Schedule 9 when placed to indicate the extent of a cycle lane.

15.  The words “LANE” and “LANES” may be varied to “TRACK”.

16.  The number of taxis may be varied as appropriate and information relating to the taxi services from that rank may be shown in the white space in lettering of any colour with letter height not exceeding 25 mm, or the white space may be omitted.

17.  The time period may be omitted or varied in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 18 and the face of the sign may be curved.

18.—(1) The white area is to be filled with maps or a legend in any colour with lettering of any colour.

(2) The x-height of a legend referred to in sub-paragraph (1) must not exceed 25 mm.

(3) The “i” symbol may be omitted.

(4) The sign may have more than one panel or side if each is of the design prescribed in the diagram.

19.  The logo of a local tourist organisation may be added at the top of the sign.

20.  The legend “No.1” may be varied to another number, a letter or a compass point.

21.—(1) The legend may be omitted or varied to “Speed cameras”, “Average speed check”, “Traffic signal and speed cameras”, “Traffic enforcement cameras”, “Police cameras”, “Police enforcement cameras” or “Bus lane cameras”.

(2) The legend may include, or a legend may be added for, the name, and logo, of the enforcement authority.

22.  “not 24 hrs” may be omitted.

23.  The name or location of the crossing in the top panel may be varied as appropriate and may be displayed on any number of lines; “TO CONTACT RAILWAY” may be on one line; “RAILWAY” may be varied to “TRAM Co.” and the telephone number may be varied as appropriate.

24.  Place names, street names or the name of a geographical area may be omitted or varied as appropriate and may be displayed on any number of lines.

25.—(1) Identification numbers of routes—

(a) may be varied and may include capital letters; and

(b) where indicating a route to which a particular route leads, may be shown in brackets.

(2) When a route (other than a national or regional cycle route) is indicated, the route number and background of the route number patch may be in any contrasting colours but, if the route number patch has a light background, the white edge must be omitted.

26.  When placed on a primary route the sign must be varied so that—

(a) the background colour is dark green;

(b) the border, any legend and any symbol (other than a red bar) is white; and

(c) any red bar has a white edge.

27.  When placed on a non-primary route the sign must be varied so that—

(a) the background colour is white; and

(b) the border, any legend and any symbol is black.

28.  When placed on a motorway the sign must be varied so that—

(a) the background colour is blue;

(b) the border, any legend and any symbol (other than a red bar) is white; and

(c) any red bar has a white edge.

29.  The reference or identification number and any route number may be varied as appropriate.

30.  Letters, numerals and other characters incorporated into the sign need not comply with the requirements of Schedule 17.

31.—(1) The bus symbol may be omitted.

(2) “Request” may be inserted before “Bus Stop”.

(3) “Stop” may be varied to “Stand”.

(4) “Bus Stop” may be varied to “Request Stop” when the bus symbol is shown.

(5) The legend may be in capital letters.

(6) The background, symbol and lettering may be in any contrasting colours.

(7) The face of the sign may be curved.

32.  ”BUS STOP” may be varied to “BUS STAND” and the face of either sign may be curved.

33.  ”Tram” may be varied to “Request” and the face of the sign may be curved.

34.  Supplementary plates may be added to the sign to give additional information such as bus routes numbers, the name of the stopping place or boarding point and a reference to a telephone enquiry line.

35.—(1) The place name may be varied.

(2) Arms or a logo may be added, together with one of the following—

(a) a message of welcome;

(b) a phrase denoting the ceremonial or historic nature of the area; or

(c) a phrase denoting an item of local geographical or historical interest,

where the phrase provided for at (a), (b) or (c) does not exceed three words.

(3) The place name may be varied to the name of a river, inland waterway or bridge.

36.—(1) The place name may be varied.

(2) The arms or logo may be omitted or varied.

(3) “Welcome to” may be omitted or varied to a similar phrase.

(4) The place name may be preceded by—

(a) “County of”;

(b) “Ceremonial County of”;

(c) “Historic County of”;

(d) a phrase provided for at paragraphs (a) to (c) preceded by “Welcome to the” or similar phrase (and for the purposes of this paragraph “ceremonial” and “historic” may be used instead of “Ceremonial” and “Historic”).

and a reference to “County” may be replaced by a reference to the appropriate administrative or ceremonial area.

(5) The place name may be followed by—

(a) “County Council”; or

(b) “County Council welcomes you” or a similar phrase,

and a reference to “County Council” may be replaced by a reference to the appropriate authority for the administrative area.

(6) A phrase denoting an item of local, geographical or historical interest may be added.

(7) A reference to not more than two places outside the United Kingdom with which the place is twinned may be added.

(8) In Scotland, the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of—

(a) the place name;

(b) “Welcome to”, or a similar phrase as provided for in sub-paragraph (3); and

(c) a phrase provided for at sub-paragraph (4),

may be used either in addition to, or instead of, the English version.

(9) The number of words in addition to the place name should not exceed eight.

(10) The legend, border and background may be in any contrasting colours except red.

(11) The border may be omitted.

(12) The shape and layout of the sign may be varied and the relative sizes of lettering on different parts of the sign may be varied provided the place name remains the most prominent feature.

37.—(1) The place name may be varied.

(2) “Welcome to” may be omitted or varied to a similar phrase.

(3) “City of” or “Welcome to the City of” may precede the place name.

(4) “Please drive carefully” may be omitted or varied to “Thank you for driving carefully” or another road safety message of not more than five words.

(5) In Scotland, the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of—

(a) the place name;

(b) “Welcome to” or a similar phrase; and

(c) “City of” or “Welcome to the City of”,

may be used either in addition to, or instead of, the English version.

(6) When “Welcome to” is omitted, a phrase denoting an item of local geographical or historical interest, including “Market town of” or similar, may be added above the place name provided the phrase does not exceed five words.

(7) The relative sizes of lettering on different parts of the sign may be varied provided the place name remains the most prominent feature.

38.—(1) The place name may be varied as appropriate.

(2) The arms may be omitted, varied as appropriate, or varied to a logo or symbol indicating a local landmark or historical feature.

(3) The district council name may be omitted or varied to a name of an appropriate authority.

(4) “Welcome to” may be omitted or varied to a similar phrase.

(5) The legend “City of” or “Welcome to the City of” may precede the place name.

(6) The place name may be varied to the name of—

(a) a river, inland waterway or bridge;

(b) a National Park;

(c) in England and Wales, an area of outstanding natural beauty designated as such under section 82 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000(1); or

(d) in Scotland, a National Scenic Area designated as such under section 263A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997(2).

(7) In Scotland, the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of—

(a) the place name;

(b) “Welcome to” or a similar phrase; and

(c) “City of” and “Welcome to the City of”,

may be used either in addition to, or instead of, the English version.

(8) The symbols on the brown panel may be varied to any of those shown in Parts 14 to 18 of Schedule 12, but must not exceed three in number.

(9) The symbols and brown panel may be omitted.

(10) “Please drive carefully” may be omitted or varied to “Thank you for driving carefully” or another road safety message.

(11) A phrase denoting an item of local geographical or historical interest, including “Market town of” or similar, may be added.

(12) “Twinned with” may be varied to “Twin town” or “Twin towns”.

(13) The name of the twin town may be varied.

(14) The names of additional twin towns may be added.

(15) Flags, arms or logos associated with the twin towns may be added.

(16) The reference to twin towns may be omitted.

(17) The legend, border and background other than the brown panel and its symbols, may be in any contrasting colours except red.

(18) The border may be omitted.

(19) The shape and layout of the sign may be varied and the relative sizes of lettering on different parts of the sign may be varied provided the place name remains the most prominent feature.

39.—(1) The place name may be varied as appropriate.

(2) “Welcome to” may be omitted or varied to “City of” or a similar phrase of not more than three words, or five words when “The Flower City” is omitted after the place name.

(3) “The Flower City” may be omitted or varied to a similar phrase of not more than three words, or five words when “Welcome to” is omitted before the place name.

(4) In Scotland, the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of—

(a) the place name;

(b) “Welcome to” and “City of” or similar phrase may be used either in addition to, or instead of, the English version.

(5) The relative sizes of lettering on different parts of the sign may be varied provided the place name remains the most prominent feature.

40.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) the numeral “30” may be varied or may be substituted by other information and the background, border and any symbols and characters may be in any colour.

(2) The variations referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are not permitted to the extent that they would not be in accordance with the exercise of any functions by the Office of Rail and Road.

41.—(1) An audible or tactile warning in the form of a raised rib may be incorporated into the white parts of the marking, in the manner shown at item 12 of the sign table in Part 4 of this Schedule, when the marking is used to delineate the boundary between an emergency refuge area and an actively managed hard shoulder.

(2) Ribs on an individual white mark must be 250 mm apart.

42.  The notch may be omitted from the raised rib and the width of the line must be varied to 150 mm when it is used to delineate the back edge of an actively managed hard shoulder.

43.  The notch may be omitted from the raised rib and the width of the line must be 200 mm when used on roads with hard shoulders.

44.  When used in circumstances other than shown in the diagram the marking must be varied to accord with the direction of approaching traffic.

45.  Route numbers and place names may be varied as appropriate but the words “turn left”, “ahead” or “turn right” must not be included in the marking; arrows may be omitted.

46.  The curvature of the arrow may be varied.

47.  One of the boundary lines must be omitted when—

(a) the marking is placed alongside the marking at item 7 or 11 of the sign table in Part 6 of Schedule 9 denoting a cycle lane or bus lane respectively; or

(b) the marking is placed alongside the marking shown in diagram A at item 23 of the sign table in Part 6 of Schedule 9 indicating to vehicular traffic the requirements in paragraph 9 in Part 7 of that Schedule.

48.  The width of the longitudinal line may be varied to 150 mm when used on an all-purpose road without hard shoulders and the boundary line may be replaced by the marking shown in the diagram at item 12 or 13 of the sign table in Part 4.

49.—(1) The marking may be used on the off side edge of the carriageway with the angle of the hatching reversed.

(2) The boundary line must be omitted when the marking is placed alongside the marking shown in the diagram at item 7 or 11 of the sign table in Part 6 of Schedule 8, denoting a cycle lane or bus lane respectively.

50.  The boundary line and edge of carriageway line may be replaced by the marking shown in the diagram at item 12 or 13 of the sign table in Part 4 of this Schedule varied to 200 mm wide.

51.—(1) The direction of the chevrons must be reversed when the direction of travel is in the opposite direction.

(2) One of the boundary lines must be omitted when the marking is placed alongside the marking provided for at item 7 or 11 of the sign table in Part 6 of Schedule 8, denoting a cycle lane or bus lane respectively.

52.  The distance between each end of each bar to the edge of the carriageway or the edge line may be increased to a maximum of 750 mm.

53.  The colour of the telephone symbol and arrow must be varied so that they are—

(a) black if the road is a non‑primary route; or

(b) dark green if the road is a primary route.

54.  The wheelchair symbol may be omitted and the width of the sign reduced to 300 mm.

55.  The permitted variants are—

(a) the relative position of the number and “SOS” may be reversed;

(b) a flashing white light may be added to the sign.

56.  ”AND USE PHONE” may be varied to “AND USE SOS PHONE” or “& USE SOS PHONE”.

57.  The width of the line may be 50 mm when the marking is placed on a cycle track.

58.  ”The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency” may be varied to—

(a) “DVSA”; or

(b) the name of a successor organisation to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (in respect of its function of approving testing centres) or an acronym for that successor organisation.

(1)

2000 c. 37.

(2)

1997 c. 8. Section 263A was inserted into the 1997 Act by the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 17), section 50.