Botched Roadsigns

[wallmeerkat]

This sign was replaced a few years ago to include Thanet Parkway, but why is A299 and A256 in brackets? The scaling and alignment seem off as well, looking back, the previous sign also contained the same errors. This one, replaced at the same time also has scaling issues. Also this sign has Hospital No A&E when it does in fact, and always has had an A&E. It appears to have been covered over but has partially come off. I'm not sure why it's even on this sign, as is not signed anywhere else here and the first mention of it on that route is here.

Kent County Council just love their erroneous brackets.......

That stubbed out left arrow looks strange. It seems it was a recent addition when the offslip was made 2-way to accomodate a housing development. Why not either make it "straight ahead and left" arrow, or just ignore the left turn if you want to direct traffic to the A28 in that lane?

[Conekicker]

This sign was replaced a few years ago to include Thanet Parkway, but why is A299 and A256 in brackets? The scaling and alignment seem off as well, looking back, the previous sign also contained the same errors. This one, replaced at the same time also has scaling issues. Also this sign has Hospital No A&E when it does in fact, and always has had an A&E. It appears to have been covered over but has partially come off. I'm not sure why it's even on this sign, as is not signed anywhere else here and the first mention of it on that route is here.

Kent County Council just love their erroneous brackets.......

That stubbed out left arrow looks strange. It seems it was a recent addition when the offslip was made 2-way to accomodate a housing development. Why not either make it "straight ahead and left" arrow, or just ignore the left turn if you want to direct traffic to the A28 in that lane?

So a "straight ahead and left" arrow would mean it's possible to get to the A28 by either going straight ahead or left then?

There's a reason why there's no such thing as a "straight ahead and left " arrow on directional signs. Despite what some less than knowledgeable designers might have you believe.

[Lockwood]

Seeing Futura on a sign is rare as well, usually dodgy signs are fully in Helvetica.

I'm sure I mentioned this years ago in this thread.
How about a serif font?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KukGTikeFYAwPtSW6

[wallmeerkat]

Kent County Council just love their erroneous brackets.......

That stubbed out left arrow looks strange. It seems it was a recent addition when the offslip was made 2-way to accomodate a housing development. Why not either make it "straight ahead and left" arrow, or just ignore the left turn if you want to direct traffic to the A28 in that lane?

So a "straight ahead and left" arrow would mean it's possible to get to the A28 by either going straight ahead or left then?

There's a reason why there's no such thing as a "straight ahead and left " arrow on directional signs. Despite what some less than knowledgeable designers might have you believe.

Then take my second suggestion "just ignore the left turn if you want to direct traffic to the A28 in that lane?"

The stub just looks strange

[MotorwayGuy]

This is a common issue with signing lane destinations, like here. These are botched for other reasons, but at least it's somewhat clear that you can't go in two different directions to get to the same place. This also brings up a point that annoys me, when a sign shows more lanes than are currently on the road. Yes the middle lane might go strait on, but if there's only two on the road, how am I supposed to know if the middle lane opens from the left or the right? When it's on a two-way section of road, this seems dangerous as people might mistake the oncoming lane for the one they need.

[jnty]

This also brings up a point that annoys me, when a sign shows more lanes than are currently on the road. Yes the middle lane might go strait on, but if there's only two on the road, how am I supposed to know if the middle lane opens from the left or the right? When it's on a two-way section of road, this seems dangerous as people might mistake the oncoming lane for the one they need.

I really hate that too. It would not be hard to have a single arrow diverging into two to signify what's about to happen.

[wallmeerkat]

This is a common issue with signing lane destinations, like here. These are botched for other reasons, but at least it's somewhat clear that you can't go in two different directions to get to the same place. This also brings up a point that annoys me, when a sign shows more lanes than are currently on the road. Yes the middle lane might go strait on, but if there's only two on the road, how am I supposed to know if the middle lane opens from the left or the right? When it's on a two-way section of road, this seems dangerous as people might mistake the oncoming lane for the one they need.

Sandyknowes is famous! It's got a reputation of being an nightmare of a junction - M2 to Larne (A8(M)) traffic mixes with local traffic, traffic to the industrial estates of Mallusk etc.

Further round technically the middle lane https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.67835 ... ?entry=ttu serves both the A8(M) outside lane, the inside lane to M2 onslip to Belfast, and also the "other routes" (B90 and A6)

This sign (and others round the roundabout) feel a bit off in terms of colour, it isn't a motorway roundabout even if you can access 2 motorways from it - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.67828 ... ?entry=ttu

[stevenson3529]

Horrible bit of (erroneous bracketing) on the M45 sliproad. Reminds me of M5 junction 20

[Big L]

Some odd alignment in Sidcup. Link shows 2008 imagery. Same today.

[Brenley Corner]

This sign was replaced a few years ago to include Thanet Parkway, but why is A299 and A256 in brackets? The scaling and alignment seem off as well, looking back, the previous sign also contained the same errors. This one, replaced at the same time also has scaling issues. Also this sign has Hospital No A&E when it does in fact, and always has had an A&E. It appears to have been covered over but has partially come off. I'm not sure why it's even on this sign, as is not signed anywhere else here and the first mention of it on that route is here.

Kent County Council just love their erroneous brackets.......

I raised the A28 brackets error on their portal earlier in the week and I have received the following reply this morning:

Dear Mr <snip>,

Thank you for your enquiry dated 7th May 2024 regarding your concern about road signs on Thanington Road, Canterbury.

We appreciate the time you have taken to raise this issue with us, every suggestion about road safety is taken very seriously and we have raised an order to have these signs corrected.

For future reference the current process for how to request highway improvements can be found at: www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/what-w ... -your-area

I would like to reassure you that reducing the number of people injured on our roads is one our top priorities.

Kind regards,

<snip>

Technical Support Officer (East)| Road Safety and Active Travel Group | Highways, Transportation & Waste | 03000 418181 | www.kent.gov.uk/highways

Lets see how long the correction takes...........

[Chris5156]

Seeing Futura on a sign is rare as well, usually dodgy signs are fully in Helvetica.

With sincere apologies for excessive pedantry, I think that's Arial rather than Helvetica. The terminals on the S are angled and not horizontal.

It's still an abomination, of course.

[wallmeerkat]

Seeing Futura on a sign is rare as well, usually dodgy signs are fully in Helvetica.

With sincere apologies for excessive pedantry, I think that's Arial rather than Helvetica. The terminals on the S are angled and not horizontal.

It's still an abomination, of course.

Council: Would you stop using the wrong font on the Oasis pool sign?

Signmaker: I said maybe...

[wallmeerkat]

I'd say by the time you are in the grass you'd realise it's a No Through Route

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0348264 ... ?entry=ttu

[Conekicker]

I'd say by the time you are in the grass you'd realise it's a No Through Route

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0348264 ... ?entry=ttu

And "Give Way" to what exactly?
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0350222 ... ?entry=ttu

[OliverH]

I'd say by the time you are in the grass you'd realise it's a No Through Route

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0348264 ... ?entry=ttu

And "Give Way" to what exactly?
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0350222 ... ?entry=ttu

And to Give way in Like 100 yards when it's a stop line.

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0376445 ... ?entry=ttu

that plate should display the words stop above the distance to the stop line, shouldn't it?

[freebrickproductions]

I'd say by the time you are in the grass you'd realise it's a No Through Route

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0348264 ... ?entry=ttu

And "Give Way" to what exactly?
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0350222 ... ?entry=ttu

Looking at older imagery, the road stub there used to be a bit longer, so I suppose in the unlikely circumstance someone had accidentally gone onto the stub, anyone coming from the "side" road would want to yield. Might be better to at least restripe it as a curve, if rebuilding it as one is out of the question.

Either way, it reminds me of this completely useless stop sign that used to exist here in Huntsville, at a similar sort of "intersection".

[jnty]

I'd say by the time you are in the grass you'd realise it's a No Through Route

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0348264 ... ?entry=ttu

And "Give Way" to what exactly?
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0350222 ... ?entry=ttu

Looking at older imagery, the road stub there used to be a bit longer, so I suppose in the unlikely circumstance someone had accidentally gone onto the stub, anyone coming from the "side" road would want to yield. Might be better to at least restripe it as a curve, if rebuilding it as one is out of the question.

Either way, it reminds me of this completely useless stop sign that used to exist here in Huntsville, at a similar sort of "intersection".

In fairness the sign is entirely correct, you do really want to stop if you're planning to turn left!

[Conekicker]

I'd say by the time you are in the grass you'd realise it's a No Through Route

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0348264 ... ?entry=ttu

And "Give Way" to what exactly?
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0350222 ... ?entry=ttu

And to Give way in Like 100 yards when it's a stop line.

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0376445 ... ?entry=ttu

that plate should display the words stop above the distance to the stop line, shouldn't it?

The triangle is correct. It's the supplementary plate that is wrong. It should say "STOP 100 yds".
TSRGD Diagram 501, S2-6-1.

[OliverH]

And "Give Way" to what exactly?
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0350222 ... ?entry=ttu

And to Give way in Like 100 yards when it's a stop line.

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.0376445 ... ?entry=ttu

that plate should display the words stop above the distance to the stop line, shouldn't it?

The triangle is correct. It's the supplementary plate that is wrong. It should say "STOP 100 yds".
TSRGD Diagram 501, S2-6-1.

and just a tiny bit behind is another one that says 150 Yards.

[MotorwayGuy]

Where's the lane joining from the left? Oh, there it is on the other side of the roundabout. Another question is, why are the colours inverted? There is also this thing?