New digital signs for motorway users
Drivers in the South West will start to see some new signs on the motorway from next week.
The Highways Agency is changing the display on more than a hundred existing overhead electronic signs around Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester to show pictures as well as words.
Designs are based on familiar road signs such as those for accidents, queues, snow and ice, high winds and skid risk. At the moment the motorway signs are only able to display text messages in block capitals.
The well-known symbols now being introduced are inside red warning triangles which are recognisable from some distance away. Because they are easy for all road users to read and react accordingly, they can help to make roads safer
Highways Agency Traffic Operations Director Derek Turner said:
“We are now upgrading these latest generation signs with pictograms to get helpful and up-to-date information out to drivers. The programme is starting in the South West and will be rolled out to other areas of the country during the year.”
Variable message signs on England’s motorways are either set automatically, when they detect slow moving traffic for example, or can be set by an operator at one of the Highways Agency’s control centres. They warn of traffic conditions ahead, give real journey time information or provide advance warning of roadworks and diversions.
Upgrading the existing signs so they can show images involves a simple software download at each sign location. This will be done over four days, starting on the M4 between junctions 15 and 19, followed by signs on the M32 in Bristol and on the M5 around Gloucester (junctions 10 to 11a). No new equipment is being installed and no lane closures are required for the work.
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