THE GUILDFORD DIRECTION SIGN DEMONSTRATION PROJECT - PART 1: CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

This paper is the first of two describing the achievements of the direction sign demonstration project in guildford, England; it explains the context and background to the project and the preliminary lessons and conclusions. The second paper will outline various technical aspects and present further findings. The project re-designed and replaced all the approximately 400 direction signs in guildford, taking account of new design rules that have emerged as a result of the Department of Transport'S direction signs review (see IRRD 809544). The project is an important part of the current process of revising the UK traffic signs regulations. The dtp selected guildford as the location for a major demonstration project of direction signing in an urban area for the following reasons: (1) it provided a challenging range of traffic and environmental problems; (2) it would offer a comprehensive demonstration of how best to design and locate direction signs for road users seeking through routes, local destinations, car parks, tourist attractions, hospitals, railway stations and other facilities; and (3) it had access to up-to-date computer design facilities, which would ensure the effective and economical design of the new signs. The project has already demonstrated comprehensively some extensive improvements to the quality and utility of direction signing practice in urban areas, at a reasonable cost. It has shown that this task needs skill and sensitivity and the provision of much better guidance. Many lessons for the future have been identified, and a range of innovatory ideas has been developed. (TRRL)

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 27-8,30-1
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00497778
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS
  • Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM