The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016

Regulation 3, Schedule 1

SCHEDULE 16 Variable message signs

PART 1 Preliminary

1.—(1) A variable message sign must be of a size appropriate to display a sign or legend having regard to the normal speed of traffic on the road on or near which the sign is placed.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), when a variable message sign displays—

(a) a sign provided for in Part 2 of Schedule 15; or

(b) a legend of the type provided for in this Schedule,

the colour of any symbol or legend must accord with the requirements of sub-paragraph (3).

(3) The symbol or legend must be displayed in—

(a) white; or

(b) yellow,

on a dark background.

(4) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to any red aspects of a sign.

(5) A discontinuous variable message sign must—

(a) in relation to each aspect of performance specified in column 2 of tables 1 and 2 in Part 7 of this Schedule, comply with the requirement or test specification of British Standard BS EN 12966:2014(1) (“the Standard”) specified in columns 3 to 7 of table 1 or column 3 of table 2 for that item, as the case may be;

(b) in relation to each visual performance parameter specified in column 2 of table 3 in Part 7, comply with the class designation level of the Standard specified in columns 3 and 4 of the table for that item;

(c) subject to paragraph (d), in relation to the visual performance parameter at a speed specified in column 2 of table 4 in Part 7, comply with the class designation level of the Standard specified in column 3 of the table for that item; and

(d) where the sign conveys a warning, restriction or prohibition, comply with class designation level 1 of the Standard specified in column 3 of table 3 in Part 7.

(6) If the construction or method of operation of a variable message sign prevents a sign from being displayed in the colours shown for it in the appropriate diagram in Schedules 2 to 13, a black legend or symbol on a white or yellow background may be displayed as a white or yellow legend or symbol on a dark background, provided that any red triangle or red circle forming part of the sign is included.

(7) The size of any symbol or legend, including any red triangle or circle, displayed on a variable message sign, which is displayed by means of light-emitting characters or symbols, may be varied so that the size of the symbol or legend appears to road users to be the same as it appears to them to be when it is not so displayed.

(8) When a variable message sign displays a sign or legend the variable message sign must display the whole of that message at the same time.

(9) In this paragraph, “discontinuous variable message sign” means a variable message sign which uses discontinuous individual elements, and is capable of being in one or more states, to create variable messages on the face of the sign.

2.—(1) In a legend provided for in this Schedule the number of a junction must be shown in the form of the letter “J” followed by the number.

(2) Where this Schedule provides for a route number to be displayed on a sign, 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.

(3) Where any part of a legend provided for in this Schedule is shown in square brackets, the brackets must not be displayed on a sign.

(4) Different legends or different parts of the same legend displayed on a sign in accordance with this Schedule may be separated by a dash.

PART 2 Signs automatically activated by vehicular traffic

3.  One of the following legends may be displayed on a variable message sign which is activated by a particular type of vehicle approaching the equipment which controls the sign—

(a) “OVERHEIGHT VEHICLE DIVERT” with—

(i) an arrow;

(ii) “USE” and a route number; or

(iii) “FOLLOW” and a symbol provided for at item 13 of the table in Part 11 of Schedule 12;

(b) “OVERHEIGHT VEHICLE TURN BACK”;

(c) “HIGH VEHICLE USE MIDDLE OF ROAD”; or

(d) “ONCOMING VEHICLE IN MIDDLE OF ROAD”.

PART 3 Legends giving warnings of adverse weather or other temporary hazards or incidents

4.—(1) A legend provided for in sub-paragraph (2) may be displayed on a variable message sign in conjunction with—

(a) a legend provided for in Part 4;

(b) a legend provided for in Part 5; or

(c) a combination of a legend provided for in Part 4 and a legend provided for in Part 5.

(2) The legends are—

(a) “ACCIDENT”;

(b) “ANIMALS”;

(c) a route number, a junction number or “EXIT” and “CLOSED”;

(d) “CONGESTION”;

(e) “DEBRIS”;

(f) “DELAYS”;

(g) “DIVERSION”;

(h) “EXIT CLOSED”;

(i) “FLOODS”;

(j) “FOG”;

(k) “FOG PATCHES”;

(l) “INCIDENT”;

(m) “LANE CLOSURE”;

(n) “LANE[S]” followed by a number or numbers and “CLOSED”;

(o) “LARGE LOAD”;

(p) “LONG DELAYS”;

(q) “MOBILE WORKS”;

(r) “MOTORWAY CLOSED”;

(s) “NO PHONES”;

(t) “OBSTRUCTION”;

(u) “PEDESTRIANS”;

(v) “QUEUE”;

(w) “ROAD CLOSED”;

(x) “ROAD WORKS”;

(y) “SKID RISK”;

(z) “SLIP ROAD CLOSED”;

(aa) “SMOKE”;

(bb) “SNOW”;

(cc) “SNOW PLOUGH”;

(dd) “SPRAY”;

(ee) “STRANDED VEHICLE”;

(ff) “[STRONG] WINDS”;

(gg) “[The name of a tunnel] TUNNEL CLOSED”;

(hh) “WEIGHT CHECK”;

(ii) “WORKFORCE”.

(3) The following legends may be displayed on their own or in conjunction with another legend as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) “[The name of a bridge] BRIDGE CLOSED”;

(b) “BUS LANE CLOSED”;

(c) “GRITTING IN PROGRESS”;

(d) “NEXT SERVICE AREA CLOSED”;

(e) “ONCOMING VEHICLE”;

(f) “SETTING OUT ROAD WORKS”;

(g) “SLOW MOVING LARGE LOAD”.

(4) In sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) square brackets are used to indicate the part of a legend which may be omitted.

PART 4 Legends indicating location of temporary hazard or incident

5.  One of the following legends may be used on a variable message sign in conjunction (either on its own or in combination with a legend provided for in Part 5) with a legend provided for in Part 3—

(a) a route number;

(b) “ON [name of bridge] BRIDGE” or “ON BRIDGE”;

(c) “AT” together with—

(i) a place name,

(ii) the name of a bridge or tunnel,

(iii) a junction name or number or a junction number and “EXIT”, or

(iv) “NEXT JCT” or “TOLL”;

(d) “AFTER” together with—

(i) a place name,

(ii) the name of a bridge or tunnel,

(iii) “BRIDGE” or “TUNNEL”,

(iv) a junction name or number, or

(v) “NEXT JCT”;

(e) a number and “MILES”;

(f) “AHEAD” preceded by a legend specified in paragraph 3(2)(v) or (w) only;

(g) “FOR” together with a number and “MILES”;

(h) “IN ROAD”;

(i) a junction number;

(j) a junction number “TO” and another junction number;

(k) “ON SLIP ROAD”;

(l) “TO” and a route number.

PART 5 Additional information

6.—(1) A legend provided for in sub-paragraph (2) may be used on a variable message sign in conjunction with a legend provided for in Part 3 or a combination of a legend provided for in Part 3 and a legend provided for in Part 4.

(2) The legends are—

(a) a number and “HR DELAYS”;

(b) [“ALL TRAFFIC”] [“CARS”] [“CARAVANS”] [“HGV’S”] [“HIGH SIDED VEHS”] [“AND”] [“M’CYCLES”] “USE” and a route number or “BUS LANE” or “HARD SHOULDER”;

(c) [“ALL TRAFFIC”] [“CARS”] [“CARAVANS”] [“HGV’S”] [“HIGH SIDED VEHS”] [“AND”] [“M’CYCLES”] “FOLLOW” and a symbol provided for in item 13 in the Part 11 sign table of Schedule 12 or a place name;

(d) [“ALL TRAFFIC”] [“CARS”] [“CARAVANS”] [“HGV’S”] [“HIGH SIDED VEHS”] [“AND”] [“M’CYCLES”] and “LEAVE AT NEXT JCT”, “LEAVE AT” and a junction name or number;

(e) “[ALTERNATIVE ROUTE] FOLLOW” and a symbol provided for at item 13 in the sign table in Part 11 of Schedule 12 or a place name;

(f) “[ALTERNATIVE ROUTE] USE” and a route number;

(g) “AT” and a place name, the name of a bridge or tunnel, “BRIDGE” or “TUNNEL”, or a junction name or number, or “NEXT JCT”;

(h) “AVOID LANE CHANGES”;

(i) “DO NOT USE HARD SHOULDER”;

(j) “FOR” and a place name “USE” and a route number;

(k) “FOR” and a place name “FOLLOW” and a symbol shown in column 3 of the sign table in Part 11 of Schedule 12 at item 13 in that table or another place name;

(l) “HGV’S LEAVE MOTORWAY”;

(m) “LEAVE AT NEXT JCT”;

(n) “LEAVE AT” and a junction name or number;

(o) “REJOIN MAIN CARRIAGEWAY”;

(p) “SLOW”;

(q) “SLOW DOWN”.

(3) In the legends provided for in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of sub-paragraph (2), one or more of the words in square brackets may be included as appropriate.

(4) In the legends provided for in paragraphs (e) and (f) of sub-paragraph (2) anything in square brackets may be omitted.

(5) In the legends provided for in paragraphs (b) and (i) of sub-paragraph (2) “HARDSHOULDER” may be substituted for “HARD SHOULDER”.

PART 6 Other legends

7.—(1) The following legends may be displayed on a variable message sign—

(a) “SIGNAL[S] UNDER TEST”;

(b) “SIGNAL TESTS FOR” and a number of “MILES”;

(c) “SIGNAL TESTS ON SLIP ROAD”;

(d) “SIGN[S] UNDER TEST”;

(e) “END OF SIGNAL TESTS”;

(f) “END OF SIGN TESTS”.

(2) The legends provided for in paragraphs (a) to (d) of sub-paragraph (1) may be displayed with a pattern which has no particular meaning but which is designed to test the functioning of the sign on which it is displayed.

(3) In the legends provided for in paragraphs (a) and (d) of sub-paragraph (1), the letter shown in square brackets may be omitted.

PART 7 Performance classes

Table 1

(1) Item	(2) Aspect of performance		(3) Requirements or classes for colour	(4) Requirements or classes for colour	(5) Requirements or classes for colour	(6) Requirements or classes for colour	(7) Requirements or classes for colour
1			White	Yellow	Green	Red	Blue
2	Colour Chromaticity Area		Area 10	Area 9 (Yellow C2)	Area 11 (Green C2)	Area 7 (Red C2)	Area 12 (Blue C2)
3	Luminance		L1	L1	L1	L1	L1
			L3	L3	L3	L3	L3
4	Luminance Ratio (On Axis)		R3	R3	R3	R3	R3
			R1	R1	R1	R1	R1
5	Beam Width	Narrow	B1	B1	B1	B1	B1
		Wide	B3	B3	B3	B3	B3

Table 2

(1) Item	(2) Aspect of Performance	(3) Requirement or Class
1	Temperature	T1
2	Pollution	D1
3	Protection	P2

Table 3

(1) Item	(2) Visual performance parameter	(3) Class designation - Level 1	(4) Class designation - Level 2
1.	Colour	C2	C2
2.	Luminance	L3	L1
3.	Luminance ratio	R3	R1
4.	Beam Width	B1 or B3	B1 or B3

Table 4

(1) Item	(2) 85 percentile approach speed (mph)	(3) Class designation
1.	Up to and including 50	1 or 2
2.	Over 50	1

(1)

Publication date: 31st December 2014 (ISBN 9780580813955)