Defunct Traffic Signs

Defunct Traffic Signs are those which are no longer prescribed by the TSRGD and therefore should no longer be erected on the public highway.

A sign can be withdrawn from the prescribed drawings list for several reasons;

• The sign no longer reflects a possible situation
• The sign is unclear and confusing for road users
• The sign has been replaced by a new design

Signs that are withdrawn from the TSRGD are often granted savings which enable highway authorities adequate time to prepare for their removal. Some signs are given a specific removal date, whereas others are granted a saving until they are life expired and replacement is necessary.

Unlike other non-prescribed signs which can be permitted through a direct authorisation from the Department of Transport, a sign that appears within this list has been removed from the Regulations and is no longer allowed to be used as a new sign under any circumstances.

Timeline of major changes to prescribed signs

Not all of the expiration of savings have been adhered to, indeed, a number of non-prescribed legacy signs still remain throughout the UK.

• 1957 - First edition of TSRGD published
• 1962 - Anderson report published
• 1964 - Worboys report published
• 1965 - TSRGD revised, combining findings from both the Anderson and Worboys reports to provide a modern system of traffic signs
• 1967 - End of saving for Pre-Worboys warning and regulatory signs
• 1975 - TSRGD revised with artwork updated on a number of signs
• 1981 - Metrication of units, legend tons replaced by legend tonnes on all weight signs
• 1987 - Guildford rules experiments commence
• 1994 - TSRGD revised to allow Guildford rules, and to introduce a simpler form of waiting and loading controls. Advance direction signs on motorways showing route number only withdrawn.
• 1999 - Broken yellow no waiting line and three bar no loading marks withdrawn
• 2002 - TSRGD revised, orange disabled badge symbol and No waiting at any time sign withdrawn
• 2005 - End of saving for Pre-Worboys direction signs
• 2011 - Signing the Way published, emphasis placed on de-cluttering and announcement of future revisions to TSRGD
• 2011 - Nationwide sign authorisations issued
• 2012 - Amendment TSRGD published, weight limit signs amended to show tonnes with correct abbreviation
• 2014 - End of saving for blue-bordered local direction signs
• 2016 - Revised TSRGD published, in new format.

Signs introduced in 1964 which are now defunct

Junctions

Signs related to junctions between roads.

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  Crossroads ahead - phased out in 1975

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  Side road (may be reversed) - phased out in 1975

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  Staggered junction, first road on left (may be reversed) - phased out in 1975

• 

  T-junction ahead - phased out in 1975

• 

  Traffic merges into major road ahead - phased out in 1994

• 

  Traffic merges from left ahead - phased out in 1994

• 

  Stop and give way - phased out in 1975

Change in road layout

Signs warning of a change of conditions requiring driver action.

• 

  Series of bends ahead - phased out in 1975

• 

  Severe gradient downhill - shown as a ratio (may be reversed for uphill) - phased out in 1975

• 

  Three lane single carriageway ahead - phased out in 1975

Waiting and Loading restrictions

Signs regulating waiting and loading along the highway.

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  Start of a Yellow Line system - phased out in 1975

• 

  Waiting limited during times shown - phased out in 1994

• 

  No waiting at any time - phased out in 2002

Regulatory Signs

Signs giving orders.

• 

  Axle weight limit in tons - phased out in 1981

• 

  Weight limit in tons - phased out in 1981

• 

  Manually operated Stop sign - phased out in 1994

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  Lorries prohibited - phased out in 1975

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  Buses and coaches prohibited - phased out in 1975

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  Direction in which the restriction applies (may be varied to point in one direction only) - phased out in 2002

Informatory Signs

Information for drivers.

• 

  Distance to picnic area ahead (may be varied to Toilets, Car park, Parking, or Garage parking - phased out in 1975

Direction Signs

Information at junctions.

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  Advance direction sign for local destinations - phased out in 1975

• 

  Advance direction sign for routes to a motorway - phased out in 1975

Signs introduced in 1975 which are now defunct

Change in road layout

Signs warning of a change of conditions requiring driver action.

• 

  Reduction of available traffic lanes ahead (may show different layout to suit conditions) - phased out in 1981

• 

  Switch to opposite carriageway during contraflow (may be reversed) - phased out in 1981

Regulatory Signs

Signs giving orders.

• 

  Entrance to a Controlled Parking Zone for lorries - phased out in 1981

• 

  Repeater sign used in Controlled Parking Zones for lorries - phased out in 1981

• 

  Lorries prohibited - phased out in 1981

• 

  School crossing patrol - phased out in 1994

Advance Direction Signs

Information at junctions.

• 

  Advance direction sign for local destinations - phased out in 1994

• 

  Advance direction sign to show route avoiding prohibition ahead - phased out in 1994

Signs introduced in 1981 which are now defunct

Change in road layout

Signs warning of a change of conditions requiring driver action.

• 

  Reduction in available lanes ahead, when varied to blue, green, or white for permanent situations - phased out in 2002

Regulatory Signs

Signs giving orders.

• 

  Axle weight limit in tonnes - phased out in 1994

• 

  Weight limit in tonnes - phased out in 1994

NOTE: This list only covers signs issued since the Worboys report. This is because the pre-worboys signs are so great in number that it would be extremely difficult to catalogue them all. However, a list of signs issued under the TSRGD 1957 which have been longer prescribed (between 2005-2010) are available on the Department for Transport's website here.

The drawings are illustrative only and are not always to scale.