International Focus Group on Rural Road Engineering
Information Note
Warning signs
Category : Technical Information/Road safety/
PROBLEM
Vehicles approach a hazard without warning
SOLUTION
Provide warning signs
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Drivers face many hazards when driving along a road. This is particularly true on low
volume rural roads where there may be frequent and considerable variation in
geometric standards and road conditions. Warning signs are used to warn drivers of
hazards ahead. Signs should be provided far enough in front of the hazard so that
drivers have time to slow down or stop. A distance of 200 metres in front of a hazard
is normally enough, although this will depend upon the speed at which vehicles are
expected to be travelling.
Requirements for signage
Warning signs should be provided in advance of the following hazards.
• Very tight bend. If a tight bend has been engineered with uniform curvature
and super-elevation, warning signs are normally required when the radius of
curvature is less than 30 metres, although this will depend upon the likely
speed of the vehicles. If the bend has not been engineered in this way,
judgement is required. Drive a vehicle round the bend at the speed at which
other vehicles are likely to travel. If it does not feel safe, provide a warning
sign. Black and white chevrons can be used on the outside of the bend itself. If
a road passes round a series of bends, a warning sign can be used to indicate
this.
• Steep ascents and descents. A warning sign is required if the gradient is
sufficient to require extra care. The sign can indicate the gradient of the slope
to better prepare the drivers.
• Very tight bends or blind crests where sight distances are reduced. The
warning signs should instruct drivers to keep to their side of the road.
• Densely populated areas, where people, particularly children, are likely to be
near the road, and sites where animals, either agricultural or wild, cross the
road. Although warning signs can indicate that vehicles should slow down in
the presence of vulnerable road users, traffic calming measures can also be
used to force vehicles to slow down. Speed limits may also be applied in such
areas.
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• Traffic calming measures, including road narrowings and road humps. These
can be dangerous or damaging to vehicles if encountered at speed, but can be
hard to see, especially at night, if not signed or unpainted.
• Narrow bridges and other sites with restricted width where vehicles must pass
either with care or alternately.
• Road surface in poor condition. Slippery, potholed, rough or loose surfaces
can be dangerous and damaging if encountered without warning. Soft verges
should also be indicated if vehicles may become stuck.
• Roadworks. If labourers or machines are working on or close to the road, or if
the roadworks have caused a temporary poor road surface condition, road
users should be given warning.
• Sites which are prone to rock-falls. Warning signs should indicate both the
danger of falling rocks and the possible presence of rocks on the carriageway.
• Steep slopes alongside the road. If barriers are not present, warning signs
should indicate the presence of steep slopes.
• Junctions and railway track crossings. Road users should be aware of vehicles
approaching from the side. Crossroad signs should also indicate if the road in
question has priority at the junction.
• Drifts. Dips and crests in the road can be dangerous to road users if
encountered at speed. This includes drifts where a water course crosses the
surface of the road, and where the water may be deep in the rainy season.
A warning sign is required before this narrow bridge deck
If funds are readily available, it is normal to provide a set of signs for each hazard.
This set might begin with advance warning 200 metres before the hazard and end with
an 'end of danger' sign 50 metres beyond the hazard. However, since warning signs
are expensive, it is often not possible to provide the full set of signs. It is therefore
necessary to strike a balance between safety and costs of signage. Table 1 describes
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three solutions which primarily depend upon the likely speed of vehicles along the
road.
Table 1 Solutions to the provision of warning signs at low cost
Description of road and traffic Solution
1 These roads are maintained to a uniform Signs should be provided at all sites
standard and are in good condition. They where warning is required. Signs
allow vehicles to travel at speeds over 60 should be reflective so that they can be
km/h which can increase the chance of clearly seen at higher speeds,
speed related accidents. These roads also particularly in fog and dust, although
have relatively high traffic levels. non-reflective signs can be used at less
dangerous sites.
2 These roads are not maintained to a Signs should be provided at all sites
uniform standard, varying from sections where warning is required. However,
of improved surface to sections of track they do not need to be reflective and
and earth road. Spot improvements are can be made from wooden or plastic
used to provide access. Vehicles travel at boards and normal weatherproof paint.
lower speeds and traffic volumes are
lower than on the first category of road.
3 These roads are not maintained to a Signs will add significantly to the cost
uniform standard, the very low traffic of these roads and so should be used
levels justifying very little expenditure only at very dangerous hazards. Signs
on improvement or maintenance. Vehicle do not need to be reflective.
speeds are very low.
The face of the warning sign should be carefully selected to indicate the hazard ahead.
All signs should follow national specifications and practice. A number of typical
warning sign faces are presented in Table 2.
Table 2 Typical warning sign faces
Sign face Description
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Right hand tight bend
A series of tight bends
Chevron – used at a tight bend
Downhill gradient of 10%
Uphill gradient of 20%
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Children on the road
Cattle on or crossing the road
Wild animals on or crossing the
road
Speed limit of 40 mph or 40 km/h
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Drivers should reduce speed now
Narrow road ahead
Road humps – a traffic calming
measure
Narrow bridge deck ahead
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Road surface is in poor condition
Slippery surface
Soft verge
Road works
Site is prone to rock falls
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Crossroads ahead (driver is on
main road)
Railway crossing without safety
barriers
Drift or dip in the road
Drift
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