Wrong way driving

[Conekicker]

Do no entry signs not have to be lit? If they have to be lit then they'll already have a power source.

If they are placed within 50m of any lamp which forms part of a system of street-lighting, yes.

But not all junctions have street-lighting present, which is where the problem of a power source then comes from.

I see why, but it seems counterintuitive. If the area is light you need to light a sign, but don’t need to if the area is dark.

Like I said, if the area is unlit, where do you get the power from? Think motorway junction in a rural location, miles from anywhere. The default for the sign is for it to be retroreflective, not that the material would tend to work at the end of a slip road for a vehicle making such a sharp turn so close to the sign.

[c2R]

Do no entry signs not have to be lit? If they have to be lit then they'll already have a power source.

If they are placed within 50m of any lamp which forms part of a system of street-lighting, yes.

But not all junctions have street-lighting present, which is where the problem of a power source then comes from.

I see why, but it seems counterintuitive. If the area is light you need to light a sign, but don’t need to if the area is dark.

Presumably it's because you're allowed to drive around without headlights on if you're in an area with a speed limit of 30mph or under, and therefore your lights would not illuminate reflective roadsigns.

[Big L]

...where do you get the power from? ...

Solar panels seem quite popular these days.

[KeithW]

...where do you get the power from? ...

Solar panels seem quite popular these days.

They don't work in the dark of course and the size of the photocell array and battery pack would have to be very large as at this time of year at best you get 8 hours of daylight.

Worse put them on a junction on some of the local housing estates and I would be surprised if they aren't nicked within a week.

[Big L]

...where do you get the power from? ...

Solar panels seem quite popular these days.

They don't work in the dark of course and the size of the photocell array and battery pack would have to be very large as at this time of year at best you get 8 hours of daylight.

Worse put them on a junction on some of the local housing estates and I would be surprised if they aren't nicked within a week.

The local housing estates probably have electricity to hand anyway.

[Conekicker]

Solar panels seem quite popular these days.

They don't work in the dark of course and the size of the photocell array and battery pack would have to be very large as at this time of year at best you get 8 hours of daylight.

Worse put them on a junction on some of the local housing estates and I would be surprised if they aren't nicked within a week.

The local housing estates probably have electricity to hand anyway.

Two words.

Travelling.
Community.

'Nuff said?

[Chris5156]

...where do you get the power from? ...

Solar panels seem quite popular these days.

They don't work in the dark of course and the size of the photocell array and battery pack would have to be very large as at this time of year at best you get 8 hours of daylight.

It must be possible to make it work because solar powered road sign illumination, with a solar panel mounted on top of the pole and a battery underneath, are commercially available and used nationwide.

[Bryn666]

Solar panels seem quite popular these days.

They don't work in the dark of course and the size of the photocell array and battery pack would have to be very large as at this time of year at best you get 8 hours of daylight.

It must be possible to make it work because solar powered road sign illumination, with a solar panel mounted on top of the pole and a battery underneath, are commercially available and used nationwide.

Yes, and many of these panels are built into the sign light now to deter any tinkers from running off with them as it's a bit harder to scrap.

[Chris5156]

They don't work in the dark of course and the size of the photocell array and battery pack would have to be very large as at this time of year at best you get 8 hours of daylight.

It must be possible to make it work because solar powered road sign illumination, with a solar panel mounted on top of the pole and a battery underneath, are commercially available and used nationwide.

Yes, and many of these panels are built into the sign light now to deter any tinkers from running off with them as it's a bit harder to scrap.

These are two of the products currently available:
Enterprise Solar LED Light
Apollo Solar Sign Light

When I can remember where I've seen them I'll post some GSV images too - the Enterprise one is very distinctive, they look a bit like a bucket has been mounted on top of the sign.

[Big L]

Solar illuminated sign in Wolverhampton. And the other side of it.

[Bryn666]

Solar illuminated sign in Wolverhampton. And the other side of it.

https://goo.gl/maps/JX9JREWjK8twApTj9 this horrific disasteroid is the better example.

[Big L]

Solar illuminated sign in Wolverhampton. And the other side of it.

https://goo.gl/maps/JX9JREWjK8twApTj9 this horrific disasteroid is the better example.

I put that in the botched roadsigns thread when it was erected.

[RichardA35]

I was idly browsing the latest Highways Magazine email and one article grabbed my attention as it appears that FLOWSIGNALS may have been reinvented.
Highways Magazine - Flowsignals

[wallmeerkat]

Could do with around the Abbeycentre on the outskirts of Belfast.

It was converted to a one way system (with a new link road behind the shopping centre) approximately 30 years ago, but people still turn left out of the shopping centre here - https://www.google.com/maps/@54.6553999 ... ?entry=ttu

Otherwise Belfast City Airport has gained wig-wags on it's new one way system. GSV hasn't been in the airport since 2019, but you can see them in the background of GSV here, as traffic is now forced to do a U turn at the roundabout and take a one way road round the back of the short stay car park - https://www.google.com/maps/@54.6121169 ... ?entry=ttu
(I also notice the airport is now using double red lines, which I'm not sure is legislated in NI?)

[Bryn666]

I was idly browsing the latest Highways Magazine email and one article grabbed my attention as it appears that FLOWSIGNALS may have been reinvented.
Highways Magazine - Flowsignals

God help us.

[AndyB]

Picking up threads…

1. In GB they need lighting for important signs such as No Entry where there is street lighting because the street lighting reduces the impact of your headlights on signs. Think about signs where the light is not functioning - your headlights simply don’t appear to light it in the same way as they would on a country road. Direct lighting means that it always reflects.

2. NI uses NSL signs on Motorway slips if the speed limit on the side road is not NSL. I’m not sure that drivers necessarily realise that chopsticks mean 70, and because NI signs all limit changes explicitly (except NSL 60-70 and the NSL at M1 J2 when it is not operating under VSL) the intent is clearer.

3. No, the red wigwags are not prescribed, but nor are our direction signs

4. BHD can put down any colour road markings it likes. The roads in its property are private roads, but unlike most English motorway service areas, its signage is consistently reasonably close to TSM for simple intelligibility.