Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has urged local authorities to reduce the number of unnecessary signs cluttering Britain’s roads.

He has also unveiled a new document called ‘Reducing Sign Clutter’ that provides guidance to local authorities on how to remove unnecessary traffic signs as cost-effectively as possible.

In London alone 8,000 repeater signs and 4,000 poles installed on the capitals’ roads in the early 1990s have been ripped out. Laid out side by side these would stretch almost 2.5 miles. In Hampshire 200 traffic signs have been taken away along a 12 mile stretch of the A32 while Somerset has also done away with a further 1,000 signs.

The Transport Secretary is encouraging other local authorities across the country to follow suit. He said, “There are too many unnecessary signs blotting the landscapes of our towns and cities. That is why I have published new guidance, to help encourage local authorities to make old, confusing and ugly signs a thing of the past.”

The government is also keen to reduce the number of signs on rural roads. “Rather than being hectored [bullied] by health and safety signs alerting of any possible risk, people driving on rural roads should be encouraged to expect to share minor rural roads with a range of other road users,” said McLoughlin.

Editor’s Note
Repeater signs advise of above 30 limits in built-up areas with street lights.  Removing them risks confusion. If there are street lights assume it’s 30 until you know different.