Providing and
maintaining traffic signs on roads across Suffolk.
Trunk roads are not managed by Suffolk County
Council
Traffic signs on public roads must be as prescribed in the
Traffic
Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 or specifically
authorised by the
Department for Transport.
Signs which are not on public roads may be subject to planning
permission. Contact your
district or borough council for further advice.
The following are examples of traffic signs which may be funded
or provided by local authorities or other
organisations/individuals. More information can be found in
the Highway
Code.
Provided and funded by Suffolk County Council,
where considered necessary and meeting the objectives of the
Local Transport Plan:
- advisory signs - eg reduce speed now, village name plates (with
safety message), unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles;
- direction signs - to guide and direct traffic;
- information signs - eg weight limit ahead, diversion
signs;
- regulatory signs - eg speed limit, waiting restrictions;
-
rights
of way signs - eg footpath, bridleway, byway; and
- warning signs - eg bend, junction, road narrows, ice.
Information on maintenance of existing highway signs can be
found under road sign maintenance.
Provided and funded by
district and borough councils:
- car park signs (for car parks owned and managed by district
councils);
- pedestrian finger post signs (in certain locations);
and
- street name plates
Approved by Suffolk County Council and funded by
others:
- housing development signs - funded by developer;
- neighbourhood watch - usually funded by applicant;
- temporary signs advertising local events;
- tourist signs - usually funded by applicant; and
- village signs - usually funded by parish/town
Council.
All signs erected on public roads must be approved by Suffolk
County Council.
Illumination of signs
Certain signs must be illuminated if erected within 50 metres of
a street light. Unlit signs are normally reflective,
with the exception of waiting restriction signs.
Please contact the
Customer Service
Centre for more information or to report a problem on any
of the following:
-
damaged unlit sign;
-
illuminated sign; and
-
street name plate
Frequently asked
question:
Can I have a mirror on the road to help me get out of my
drive?
We will not place mirrors on the highway because they are
regarded as traffic signs. As they do not appear within the
Traffic
Signs and General Directions 2002, they would require special
authorisation from the
Department of Transport. This is a lengthy process
and permission is unlikely to be given except in exceptional
circumstances and only as a temporary measure pending a visibility
improvement scheme. In addition they can cause a safetey
problem because:
- they can affect drivers' visibility because they reflect
headlamps/sunshine;
- they can affect drivers' ability to judge the distance of
approaching vehicles because convex mirrors are used to achieve a
wide angle for visibility;
- weather conditions could cause visibility problems which could
be dangerous to users.
The erection of a mirror on private property is a matter for
agreement with the land owner and planning permission may be
necessary (please contact your local District Council planning
department). Mirrors erected on the public highway which
have not been authorised by the Department for Transport will
be treated as an unauthorised sign and may be
removed. The Highway Authority also has the power to remove
mirrors that are erected on private land if they are considered to
be a safety hazard to highway
users.