Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

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Peter350
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Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Peter350 »

I have been curious to find out what is the oldest existing roadsign that features a yellow backing board. As you know, such backing boards were introduced many years ago to improve a sign’s visibility, but have not been without controversy due to them concealing the true form of the sign when the detail cannot be seen in snowy weather for example. Most of the ones I have seen in my area look quite modern, but there must be some much older examples out there, or even newer ones that have aged very badly!
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Conekicker
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Conekicker »

This one goes back to the early 90s. A non-reflective yellow backing board so that it stands out against the dark background in daylight but the retroreflective triangle stands out at night.

The then 3M rep was most dis-chuffed that we didn't want the yellow to be retroreflective.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.57961 ... 6656?hl=en

There are a few others of the same type on the M1 in the vicinity.

I vaguely recall a TRL report on yellow backing boards that recommended they be non-reflective, to ensure the sign they surrounded wasn't swamped by the yellow at night if the yellow was retroreflective.
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Gareth
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Gareth »

Hate them. Wouldn't be a thing, if I had my way.
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Chris Bertram
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Chris Bertram »

I believe them to be overused. In some areas they have become routine rather than exceptional, which is the reverse of how it should be. Using them for Give Way and Stop signs should be banned outright.

They're also more expensive. This is coming out of your council tax, folks.
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jervi
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by jervi »

Hate the yellow things. They are far too over used!

I think that a yellow border should only ever be used with warning signs that have "reduce speed now" plates. Some other special cases could also warrant yellow borders, but those must be on a case by case basis. I find it ridiculous when speed limit repeater signs every 100m has a yellow backboard.


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.08219 ... 312!8i6656
This one is old and bloody stupid.

Out of interest when were they first introduced?
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Conekicker
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Conekicker »

jervi wrote: Wed Jun 23, 2021 15:37 Hate the yellow things. They are far too over used!

I think that a yellow border should only ever be used with warning signs that have "reduce speed now" plates. Some other special cases could also warrant yellow borders, but those must be on a case by case basis. I find it ridiculous when speed limit repeater signs every 100m has a yellow backboard.


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.08219 ... 312!8i6656
This one is old and bloody stupid.

Out of interest when were they first introduced?
Very late 80s or early 90s I think.
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Bryn666 »

Conekicker wrote: Wed Jun 23, 2021 19:00
jervi wrote: Wed Jun 23, 2021 15:37 Hate the yellow things. They are far too over used!

I think that a yellow border should only ever be used with warning signs that have "reduce speed now" plates. Some other special cases could also warrant yellow borders, but those must be on a case by case basis. I find it ridiculous when speed limit repeater signs every 100m has a yellow backboard.


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.08219 ... 312!8i6656
This one is old and bloody stupid.

Out of interest when were they first introduced?
Very late 80s or early 90s I think.
In my entire 12 years working with road signs I have designed exactly three signs with yellow backing boards off my own back, the rest have been "orders" from above despite my argument they were asking for a completely unnecessary and a pointless exercise.

They should be a DfT approval in my mind.

I got asked why I'd specified a 1200mm Give Way at this junction with overshooting problems instead of a 600mm on a yellow backing board. I said why don't you just install it as I've instructed and see why: https://goo.gl/maps/hPft4NN9qcc55ewa8 - don't ask about the lining, no one in Blackburn knows how to maintain a surface to put lines on in the first place.
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Conekicker »

DfT approval you say.

Ignored by 98% of the industry because the majority are unaware they need it for the oddball stuff. Many of the minority that they do know they need it can't be bothered to apply, often because they know they'll be told "No", due to their design being flawed in so many, many, many ways.
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Bryn666 »

Conekicker wrote: Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:49 DfT approval you say.

Ignored by 98% of the industry because the majority are unaware they need it for the oddball stuff. Many of the minority that they do know they need it can't be bothered to apply, often because they know they'll be told "No", due to their design being flawed in so many, many, many ways.
Ah, I forgot to add the bit about licensing for traffic engineers.
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by traffic-light-man »

I've definitely seen a photograph of a PW 'halt at major road ahead' sign with a yellow backing board, but it was mounted off the back of the pole rather than being part of the sign itself (as you'd expect). I thought I'd saved the image (or taken a photo of the photo), but I'm having a hard time trying to find it.

In the process of trying to find it again, I did find these similar ones (neither being the photo I'd seen previously), though they aren't in colour so the backing board can't be confirmed.

First one. Second one.

Anyway, very much the exception rather than the rule like the more recent varieties!
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by A42_Sparks »

For some reason I was under the impression that yellow-backed STOP/Give Way signs were only to be installed at junctions where a fatal accident had occurred. Was that ever a rule or did I just imagine it?
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by Bfivethousand »

A42_Sparks wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 18:53 For some reason I was under the impression that yellow-backed STOP/Give Way signs were only to be installed at junctions where a fatal accident had occurred. Was that ever a rule or did I just imagine it?
That's some urban myth usually created by retired police officers or anyone hosting a speed awareness course.

Another one being that one entry to a mini-roundabout must have double give way lines whilst all others must use the square give way markings.

It's complete codswallop from people who should know so much better.
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Re: Oldest roadsign with a yellow backing board

Post by A42_Sparks »

Bfivethousand wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 19:08 That's some urban myth usually created by retired police officers or anyone hosting a speed awareness course.

Another one being that one entry to a mini-roundabout must have double give way lines whilst all others must use the square give way markings.

It's complete codswallop from people who should know so much better.
Thanks. Now you mention it, it would've been a speed awareness course as I attended one in 2019.
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