The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016

PART 1 General provisions applying to Parts 2 to 20

1.  Information of a description in column 2 of a sign table in Parts 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 20 of this Schedule, or a combination of any such descriptions, must be conveyed by a sign (a “directional sign”) consisting of the legend or symbol, or a combination, provided for in respect of that description or descriptions in accordance with the provisions of this Part and Parts 2 to 20 on an appropriate background.

2.  Subject to paragraph 4, an appropriate background for a sign of a description specified in column 2 of an item in the Part 2 sign table is one of the colour and type shown in either diagram A or B of the item.

3.  A legend on a directional sign must be of a height provided for in column 4 of the Part 2 sign table (unless in relation to a particular legend it is provided elsewhere that the legend is to be a different height) and the sign must be of a size appropriate to accommodate its elements (including any legend).

4.  An appropriate background may differ from diagram A or B in that—

(a) a diagram A sign background may be divided into separate panels;

(b) a diagram B sign background may be reversed to point to the left; and

(c) the background at item 8 or 9 of the sign table in Part 2 (signs for cyclists and pedestrians respectively) may be varied in accordance with column 4 at that item.

5.  Where a sign indicates a road or route and that road or route is temporarily closed, a board coloured red and displaying in white lettering the words “Road temporarily closed” or “Route temporarily closed” may be fixed to the sign, or to that part of the sign where that road or route is indicated, in order to cancel temporarily the indication.

6.—(1) A sign with a background provided for at item 5, 8 or 9 of the Part 2 sign table need not be illuminated.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a sign with an item 5 background when placed on a motorway or if the sign—

(a) gives directions to a leisure facility of a description at item 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 or 12 of the Part 14 sign table; or

(b) includes the legend “Tourist hostel”.

7.  A directional sign which only conveys directions to a telephone or public toilets (or both) need not be illuminated.

8.  Where a diagram A sign with a background provided for at item 1 in the Part 2 sign table is mounted above the carriageway of a motorway within 50 metres of any lamp which forms part of a system of street-lighting, the illumination requirements for the sign are—

(a) where that system of street-lighting is illuminated throughout the hours of darkness, the sign must be illuminated by internal or external lighting for so long as that system is illuminated and may also be reflectorised; or

(b) where that system of street-lighting is not illuminated throughout the hours of darkness—

(i) the sign must be illuminated by internal or external lighting for so long as that system is illuminated or and must also be reflectorised, or

(ii) the sign must be illuminated throughout the hours of darkness by internal or external lighting and may also be reflectorised.