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Poor signage forcing drivers into reckless manoeuvres, watchdog warns

Road signs
Road signs

Poor road signage is forcing drivers into make reckless manoeuvres, a transport watchdog has warned as it has launched a new online tool to flag damaged or obscured signs.

Transport Focus said its new Sort My Sign database, which has launched today, is the first where drivers will be able to pinpoint problematic signage on motorways and A-roads.

The independent watchdog said the data will then be used to lobby Highways England to fix signs causing the most confusion to motorists.

Currently, drivers have to report any problems with motorway or A-road signage individually to Highways England via phone or email.

The organisation has also previously called on Highways England to change the design of road signs to improve their visibility to drivers.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “Our research suggests the current position of road junction numbers on motorway signage can lead to careless driving which could perhaps be prevented.

“Transport Focus suggests that Highways England reviews the position of junction numbers on road signs to ensure maximum visibility for the safety and convenience of all road users.”

The new tool comes as research previously carried out by Transport Focus found that 17 percent of drivers admitted to making a ‘potentially unsafe manoeuvre’ because a junction number was obscured.

A further 29 percent said that they had missed a junction after failing to notice the number.

The watchdog said that around 40 to 60 percent of road accidents happened at junctions.

The research also found that 74 percent of drivers said the main cause of them missing signs was larger vehicles driving in the inside lane. After that, 47 percent said they had missed signs due to overgrown vegetation, 36 percent due to damaged or worn signs and and 29 percent due to poor signage lighting.

From today, drivers will be able to go to Transport Focus’s Sort My Sign webpage and locate a sign on an online map to flag what the problem is with it.

Transport Focus said it also wanted to hear from drivers about problems with the electronic signs on motorways and A-roads.

Mr Smith added: “We want to hear from road users about signs and information that aren’t up to scratch. We’ll use what you say to press Highways England to make journeys easier and safer.

“There is nothing more frustrating than missing your turnoff because the sign was hidden behind a tree or missing crucial information.

“While we have some of the safest roads there are still too many signs which are broken, confusing or out of date. If it’s not clear, it’s not safe.”