- Sir Alan Duncan to lead taskforce tackling the overuse of road signs
- Proposals for ‘remove by’ dates on works signs
- New measures will prevent roads from being ‘cluttered’
The Department for Transport has announced a new taskforce to tackle the overuse of traffic signs.
Alongside the taskforce, overseen by Sir Alan Duncan MP, a consultation proposes a range of new measures including:
- ensuring road signs that are used far longer than needed have a ‘remove by’ date
- making sure traffic signs are visible on unlit roads
- stopping temporary message signs from being cluttered with adverts and distracting logos
The taskforce forms part of the government’s ongoing work to make roads safer and navigation easier for motorists, scrap unnecessary red tape, and declutter roads.
Transport Secretary Patrick Mcloughlin said: “Useless traffic signs blight our landscape, waste taxpayers’ cash and can be a dangerous distraction to drivers.
“We are restoring common sense to Britain’s roads while ensuring drivers have the information they need to get about safely. We have already made much progress but Sir Alan Duncan’s new taskforce is an important step towards striking the right balance.”
Research carried out by the Department in 2013 showed that the number of traffic signs had doubled in the last 20 years. Sir Alan Duncan MP’s taskforce will make practical suggestions for removing clutter and ask whether some signs can be removed altogether. It will also look at what can be done to change the culture within local authorities to reduce signing and consider the factors that lead to sign clutter.
Sir Alan Duncan said: “I have been campaigning on this issue for twenty years. I am delighted to lead this initiative. The UK has erected thousands of road signs which are completely unnecessary, such as traffic light warning signs when you can see the lights themselves. We are going to look at how we might get rid of whole categories of unnecessary signs and improve the look of our roads and streets.”
