The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016

4.—(1) This paragraph applies to a legend provided for in this Part in the following circumstances—

(a) the legend is the name of a place that is a city, town, village or tourist destination; and

(b) the directional sign on which the legend appears—

(i) has a background provided for at item 2, 3 or 5 of the sign table in Part 2; and

(ii) is placed on a road in Scotland (except when placed on a motorway).

(2) The name of the place may be written in Scottish Gaelic, in addition to English, provided the Scottish Gaelic version is shown above the English.

(3) Where the name is the same in English and Scottish Gaelic, it may be written only once on the sign in a manner which complies with the requirements of these Regulations applicable to a name written in—

(a) English; or

(b) Scottish Gaelic.

Sign table — Schedule 12, Part 3

(1) Item	(2) Description	(3) Legends, restrictions and connected provisions
1	Destination, direction or type of route	A legend provided for at entry 3 of this item must only be used on a sign with a background provided for at item 9 of the sign table in Part 2. 1.  The name of— (a) a place, which may be followed by: “city centre”, “town centre”, “village” or “village centre”; (b) a geographical area; (c) the name of a road; (d) an airport, heliport, railway station, port, tunnel, bridge, crossing or other transport facility; (e) a local destination not covered by (a) to (d), which may include a generic description of a facility 2.  ”City centre”, “Town centre”, “Village centre”, “Village only”, “Other routes”, “Other traffic”, “Local traffic only”, “Through traffic”, “Ring road” or “Non-motorway traffic” 3.  ”Public Footpath”, “Footpath”, “Bridleway”, “Byway”, “Restricted Byway”, “Concessionary Path”, “Permissive Path” (or other appropriate description for conveying the direction of a public right of way, concessionary path or permissive path). That word or phrase may be followed by— (a) a place, area or destination mentioned at entry 1; or (b) “city centre”, “town centre”, “village” or “village centre”, whether or not immediately preceded by “to” 4.  The additional identifiers of a destination, or a combination of identifiers, mentioned at entry 5 may be added in brackets after— (a) a place, area or destination mentioned at entry 1 (including where used in an entry 3 legend); (b) a phrase mentioned at entry 2; or (c) “city centre”, “town centre”, “village” or “village centre” as referred to in an entry 3 legend 5.  The additional identifiers are— (a) a compass point (“North”, “South”, “East” or “West”); (b) an abbreviated compass point (“N”, “S”, “E”, “W”, “NW”, “NE”, “SW” or “SE”); (c) “Central” or “C” (meaning “Central”); (d) “City”; (e) the name of an area that forms part of the destination to which the additional identifier relates and, where more than one identifier is used, they must be separated by a comma except that, where only two are used or to separate the final two identifiers, “&” must be used instead 6.  ”only” may be added after— (a) a place, area or destination mentioned at entry 1(a) to (e) (including when used in an entry 3 legend); (b) a phrase mentioned at entry 2 (except “Village only” or “Local traffic only”); or (c) “city centre”, “town centre”, “village” or “village centre” as referred to in entry 3, and where any additional identifiers are used, “only” must come after them (and the bracket) 7.  An indication that— (a) a footpath or other route mentioned in entry 3 is closed; (b) the direction of an alternative route where the footpath or other route is closed
2	Indication of alternative routes	A legend provided for at this item must only be used together with a legend provided for at item 1 or 3 of this table 1.  “via toll road”, “via toll”, “via tunnel”, “via ferry” or “via” and the name of a destination or a route number 2.  “unsuitable for” and one, or any appropriate combination, of the following— (a) “heavy goods vehicles”, (b) “HGVs”, (c) “long vehicles”, (d) “wide vehicles”, (e) “buses”, (f) “caravans”, (g) “trailers”, (h) “articulated vehicles” or (i) “light vehicles only”, with “and” inserted before the last legend where more than one is used 3.  “alternative route” 4.  “alternative route for” and one or any appropriate combination of the following— (a) “goods vehicles”, (b) “light vehicles only”, (c) “heavy vehicles”, (d) “HGVs”, (e) “high vehicles”, (f) “long vehicles”, (g) “wide vehicles”, (h) “buses”, (i) “caravans”, (j) “trailers”, (k) “articulated vehicles”, or (l) “prohibited vehicles”, with “and” inserted before the last where more than one is used 5.  ”avoiding” and a place name or other destination, or one or any appropriate combination of the following— (a) “steep hill”; (b) “swing bridge”; (c) “lifting bridge”; (d) “low bridge”; (e) “weak bridge”; (f) “ford”; (g) “gated road”; (h) “toll road”; (i) “tunnel”; (j) “town centre”; (k) “level crossing”. The word “and” must be inserted before the last where more than one is used 6.  “route for goods vehicles” or “route for non-motorway traffic” 7.  “light vehicles only” The x-height of any legend provided for at entries 1 to 7 must be 80% of the height used for the item 1 or 3 legend to which it relates.
3	Additional legends for signs showing only tourist destinations and leisure facilities	A legend provided for at this item may be used on its own or together with a legend provided for at item 1, 2, 5, 6 or 9 of this table but only on a background provided for at item 5, 8 or 9 of the Part 2 sign table 1.  The name or generic description of an attraction or facility 2.  The expression “Hotel”, “Hotels”, “B & B” or “Hotel and B & B” used as a generic description for overnight accommodation 3.  “Youth Hostel” (but only when the hostel in question is controlled or approved by YHA (England and Wales)(1) or the Scottish Youth Hostels Association(2)) or “Tourist hostel” 4.  The name of a city, town or village and, on a separate line, “historic market town” or other descriptive phrase provided that the x-height of the descriptive phrase is 80% of that used for the name of the city, town or village 5.  “Country Tour”, or “Tour”, preceded by a place name or an appropriate description 6.  “Tourist route to”, “Tourist trail to”, “Scenic route to”, “Scenic trail to”, “Coastal route to” or “Coastal trail to” and a destination 7.  “Tourist route” or a route title
4	Route identification	A legend provided for in this item may be used on its own (except entries 7 and 8) or together with a legend provided for at item 1 of this table. A legend provided for at entries 1 to 7 may be placed on a background provided for at item 1, 2, 3 or 7 of the Part 2 sign table 1.  Identification numbers of routes may be included on a directional sign; route numbers must be white on a blue or black background, yellow on a dark green background and black on a white background 2.  A compass point (“North”, “South”, “East” or “West”) or an abbreviated compass point (“N”, “S”, “E”, “W”, “NW”, “NE”, “SW” or “SE”) may be added to the route number, shown in brackets in the same colour as the route number 3.  Identification numbers of routes to which a particular route, with a different identification number, leads must be shown in brackets; a compass point (“North”, “South”, “East” or “West”) or an abbreviated compass point (“N”, “S”, “E”, “W”, “NW”, “NE”, “SW” or “SE”) may be added alongside the number within the same pair of brackets; where a route leads indirectly to a primary route and the route number of the primary route is the same as the route number of the non-primary route to be followed from the junction ahead, the number must be shown without any brackets 4.  Superseded route numbers may be retained provided they are cancelled with a diagonal red bar 5.  Where a route leads indirectly to a motorway, the motorway route number, with or without a compass point (“North”, “South”, “East” or “West”) or an abbreviated compass point (“N”, “S”, “E”, “W”, “NW”, “NE”, “SW” or “SE”), must be shown in brackets in white on a blue patch and the blue patch must have a white border when placed on a dark green or black background 6.  Where a directional sign with a background provided for at item 3 of the Part 2 sign table (or a panel provided for at item 3 of the sign table in Part 9 – see that panel and Part 8) includes the number of a primary route to which a non-primary route leads— (a) the identification number of the primary route and any compass point must be shown in brackets in yellow on a dark green patch where the primary route has a different identification number to that of the non-primary route; or (b) the identification number of the primary route without any brackets together with any compass point in brackets must be shown in yellow on a dark green patch where the primary route has the same identification number as the non-primary route 7.  On a directional sign with a background provided for at item 7 of the Part 2 sign table (or the panel at item 5 of the sign table in Part 9 - see that panel and Part 8)— (a) other than when the sign is placed on a motorway, the route number of a primary route, together with any brackets and compass point, must be shown in yellow on a dark green patch with a white border; (b) when the sign is placed on a motorway, the requirements of entry 5 need not be complied with 8.  The name or description of a cycle route may be shown (in capital letters), with a letter height that is 80% of the item 1 legend height, at the top of a directional sign with a background provided for at item 8 of the Part 2 sign table and may include a symbol of any appropriate design and colour with a height not exceeding that of the pedal cycle symbol shown at item 3 of the sign table in Part 11 9.  The name or description of a route for pedestrians or horse riders and an identifying symbol of a route in any combination may be used on a background provided for at item 9 of the Part 2 sign table
5	Distances	A legend provided for at this item may only be used on a sign that includes a legend provided for at item 1 or 3 of this table except that where the distance to a junction forms part of an overhead sign assembly it may be shown as a separate sign 1.  A distance
6	Journey times	A legend provided for at this item may only be used together with a legend provided for at item 1 or 3 of this table but only on a background provided for at item 8 or 9 of the Part 2 sign table 1.  The journey times to destinations, where shown, which must be expressed in hours denoted by “hour”, “hours”, “hr” or “hrs”, and minutes denoted by “mins” as appropriate
7	Junction identification	A legend provided for at this item may only be used on a sign that includes a legend provided for at item 1 of this table 1.  The name of the junction or, where the sign is situated at or near the boundary of a town, village or suburb, the place name of that town, village or suburb may be added (in capital letters) in a separate panel at the top of a diagram A sign provided for at item 2 or 3 of the Part 2 sign table. The letters must be white on a dark green background on a primary route and black on a white background on a non-primary route 2.  The junction number may be shown in white characters on a black patch on a directional sign with a background provided for at items 1, 2 and 3 of the Part 2 sign table provided the x-height of the junction number is 80% of the legend provided for at item 1. The patch must have a white border when placed on a blue or dark green background 3.  Where the name of the junction, place name or junction number forms part of an overhead sign assembly it may be shown as a separate sign 4.  Where the junction number and the distance to the junction form part of an overhead sign assembly they may be combined into a separate sign
8	Route to be followed	1.  “For” and one or two destinations, one or two route numbers or a route number and a destination, separated, where applicable, by “and” or “&”, and— “follow” and a destination, route number or an appropriate symbol shown in Parts 11 to 18; “follow” and a description of a route; “leave at next junction”; “leave at” and the name of a junction; “leave at Junction” and the number of the junction; “leave at J” and the number of the junction; “use” and a route number and “at next junction”; “use” and a route number and “at” the name of a junction; “use” and a route number and “at Junction” and the number of the junction; “use” and a route number and “at J” and the number of the junction; or “use” and the Park & Ride symbol shown at item 24 of the sign table in Part 11. 2.  In entry 1— (a) “destination” refers to a legend provided for— (i) in entries 1 and 2 at item 1 (whether or not adapted in accordance with other entries at that item); or (ii) at item 3, of this table except that it also includes “Park and Ride” and “Park & Ride” whether or not, in either case, the phrase is preceded by the name of a place; and (b) “route number” refers to a legend provided for at item 4. 3.  For the purposes of this item— (a) entry 1 of item 4 is be read as requiring route numbers to be white when placed on a brown background; and (b) identification numbers of routes to which a particular route, with a different identification number, leads need not be shown in brackets and consequently that part of entry 3 at item 4 that imposes such a requirement does not apply to a legend provided for at this item
9	Type of road	The legend provided for at this item may only be used together with a legend provided for at item 1 or 3 of this table The legend “Single track road” may be placed on a directional sign

(1)

Registered company number (England and Wales) 282555 and registered charity number (England and Wales) 306122.

(2)

Registered company number (Scotland) SC310841 and registered charity number (Scotland) SC013138.