Traffic signs and tourist signing
New signs are installed by the Highway Authority to regulate, advise and give directional information to the road user. The Highway Code gives examples of the most common signs in normal use. Signs fall into certain groups:
•Regulatory Signs - signs with red circles.
•Warning Signs - mostly triangular.
•Direction Signs - mostly rectangular. Destinations and map type.
•Information Signs - mostly rectangular.
All signs on the highway must be authorised by the Authority. Special signs are allowed with prior approval of the Department for Transport, or if they are experimental and under trial.
If you have a problem with the existing signing, or would like to suggest some improvements, then please use the Traffic Management Services link, unless you live in East Hampshire, when you can use the Contact Us link.
If, however, you would like to report a dirty or missing sign, or one that has been obscured by an overgrown hedge or tree, please use our Hampshire Highways forms.
Tourist Signing provides an important opportunity for both tourism businesses and local economies and will be implemented positively and constructively. The primary purpose is to safely guide those wishing to visit a tourist destination along the most appropriate route for the latter stages of their journey, or to indicate facilities that a tourist would not reasonably expect to find in that location.
Road Markings
White Lines: Road markings are as important as signs. Longitudinal markings inform and warn road users of approaching situations that will require them to take some form of action (i.e. solid white lines - do not cross, or lane line - turn right). Transverse lines also give instruction (ie stop or give way).
Yellow Lines: Yellow lines are used to mark some form of waiting restriction. There are only two types used –
Double lines mark lengths of road where there is no waiting at any time.
Single lines indicate a shorter period of restriction such as daytime. Supplementary plates will show the actual times.
Loading restrictions are shown by yellow markings on the kerb and on the supplementary plates.
The Highway Code gives examples of the lines in normal use and their associated rules. All lines on the highway must be authorised by the Authority.