Another DSA alert says that the biggest review of road signs in 40 years will reduce clutter and red tape in Whitehall.
The review will mean that the infinite spiral which in turn means that a sign has to be put up to warn of another sign, etc. will be removed. Well, in theory, that is. I doubt that most of us will see any change – unless it be still more clutter.
Anyone who drives regularly will know that more time and effort is spent installing and signing 10 metres of cycle path than is used keeping trees and shrubs from obscuring existing signs for motorists (and that’s just one example of the bias). Well, this new “framework” mentions:
- measures to improve cycle journeys by allowing journey times as well as distances to be added to signs on cycle routes and making it easier for councils to use Trixi mirrors to improve visibility of cyclists at junctions and ‘ no entry except cycles’ signs to allow contra-flow cycling
- a new sign warning lorry drivers that a road is unsuitable for their vehicles. This will help to prevent situations where lorries following sat nav systems use inappropriate roads, sometimes causing disruption to the local road network and delays to their journey
- allowing councils to use innovative new measures such as pedestrian countdown timers and diagonal crossings without government approval
If someone can tell me how all that points to fewer signs instead of more, I’d like to hear from them.
It looks to me that it is simply one form of bureaucracy (with the usual stifling green overtones) taking over from another.