TRAFFIC SIGNS AND MARKINGS, PART 1. TRAFFIC SIGNALS, PART 2.

"CLEAR AND EFFICIENT SIGNING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND A ROAD WITH POOR SIGNING OR WITH BADLY MAINTAINED SIGNS IS AN UNSATISFACTORY ROAD." THIS QUOTATION FROM THE INTRODUCTION TO THE TRAFFIC SIGNS MANUAL (U. K.) EXPRESSES THE VIEWPOINT OF ROAD USERS AND HIGHWAY ENGINEERS ALIKE. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC SIGNS AND ROAD MARKINGS THERE IS A DANGER THAT THE PROPORTION OF UNSATISFACTORY ROADS MAY INCREASE. THE WORBOYS REPORT ESTIMATED THAT THE CHANGE-OVER OF THE 1,600,000 SIGNS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WOULD COST ABOUT $60 MILLION. THERE ARE NOW SEVERAL MILLION SIGNS, WITH A VERY HIGH TOTAL CAPITAL COST AND THE PROSPECT OF A MAJOR AND RAPIDLY INCREASING MAINTENANCE BILL. ROAD MARKINGS, WITH AN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURE OF $8 MILLION FORM AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE TOTAL AIDS TO MOVEMENT BUDGET. PART I LOOKS AT THE MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS FROM A NATIONAL (U.K.) POINT OF VIEW. SATISFACTORY MAINTENANCE OF SIGNALS DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE SPEED OF FAULT CLEARANCE BUT ALSO ON THE EARLY DETECTION OF FAULTS. FACTORS AFFECTING THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE DISCUSSED AND SUGGESTIONS MADE FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE WHOLE MAINTENANCE SERVICE BOTH FOR EXISTING EQUIPMENT AND FOR EQUIPMENT LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE. PART II LOOKS AT THE MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS FROM THE LOCAL AUTHORITY'S VIEWPOINT. FAULTS IN SIGNAL INSTALLATIONS ARE TOO FREQUENT AND THE METHODS OF DEALING WITH THEM UNSATISFACTORY. A PROPOSED NEW FORM OF MAINTENANCE CONTRACT IS DISCUSSED INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE INSPECTION ORGANIZATION NECESSARY TO MAKE IF EFFECTIVE IN A LARGE URBAN AUTHORITY. /TSR & A/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 17, Pp67-79, 81-87
• Authors:
  • Selby, D L
  • Cobbe, B M
  • Ridley, G
• Publication Date: 1970-5

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 67-79,
• Serial:
  • Institution of Highway Engineers, Journal of
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Industrial Newspaper Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Equipment; Installation; Maintenance; Road markings; Traffic engineering; Traffic signals; Traffic signs
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic marking
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00225933
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Traffic Systems Reviews & Abstracts
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 25 1989 12:00AM