It dates back to the London Lorry Control Scheme, introduced in 1986 after the M25 was completed to deter HGVs rat-running across the capital. Quite why 16.5t was chosen is anyone's guess.tom66 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 19:00 There's a further restriction sign a bit up the road:
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5741569 ... 384!8i8192
(looking a little tatty)
as well as a larger sign indicating 16.5 tonne trucks are not permitted down a specific street.
My guess is that the 16.5 tonne restriction* was implemented to prevent rat running, but at some point a few streets were made one-way, and no one thought that there might be a conflict arising here. The fact that it's been tidied up and replaced though, that's quite amusing. Sometimes you wonder.
*I'm curious about exactly how 16.5 tonnes may have been reached. It's my understanding that would basically cap it at a bit under the typical 18 tonne two-axle limit, and of course anything over that up to 44 tonnes. But it does seem fairly arbitrary compared to 7.5 tonnes (standard licence limit) or 18 tonnes (the point at which something might be called a "proper lorry", for lack of a better term.)
There's some further amusement down the road:
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.573685, ... 384!8i8192
Presumably this is a calendar of events. Something happens from midnight to 7am on Saturdays, but permit holders aren't invited because they really damp the party down. It's been like this for at least 10 years...
This goes even further:
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5704653 ... 384!8i8192
No motor vehicles 8.30-9.30am 3.30-4.30pm (M-F) then 20ft down the road no trucks midnight-7am. So if you do drive a 16.5 tonne truck, watch out: you're not allowed there midnight-7am 8.30am-9.30am 3.30pm-4.30pm and then 9pm-midnight on a weekday. Unless you've got a permit SS12, then you can do the school run in your truck. God only knows how London drivers cope.
I've always hated signs like this. How on earth are you supposed to parse and understand that when you're moving a vehicle at 20 odd mph? Let alone, by the time you have read it, you're breaking the law by passing that with nowhere to go.
Botched Roadsigns
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
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Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
- the cheesecake man
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Cynicism makes me think the council might have had some 16 tonne lorries. How much does a dustcart or gritter weigh for example?
Re: Botched Roadsigns
If it dates back as far as 1986 (I found a different reference suggesting 2005) then I believe C&U was in force then and the limit for a two-axle lorry was 17t not 18t. Still not 16.5t but maybe they were rounding down.
Can the council apply regulations to the road that exclude its own vehicles from the restriction - I've seen "no public service vehicles" signs before which is the opposite, but it'd be interesting if there's any road sign along the lines of "16.5t limit (excluding PSVs)".
Can the council apply regulations to the road that exclude its own vehicles from the restriction - I've seen "no public service vehicles" signs before which is the opposite, but it'd be interesting if there's any road sign along the lines of "16.5t limit (excluding PSVs)".
- MotorwayGuy
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- Conekicker
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
That shows Johnny Foreigner the quality of signing to expect I suppose.
Patience is not a virtue - it's a concept invented by the dozy beggars who are unable to think quickly enough.
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
It seems that the sign on the left has been replaced as it looks newer than its companion but why wasn't it compared to the existing sign to ensure that it matches? https://maps.app.goo.gl/g5PEwpTdC6xHkzFt6
At 400yds is a matching pair of the correct 'End Of Dual Carriageway' signs that looks to be of the same vintage as the one at 600yds.
At 400yds is a matching pair of the correct 'End Of Dual Carriageway' signs that looks to be of the same vintage as the one at 600yds.
- Nathan_A_RF
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
One also using 'yds' and the other 'yards'. Is there certain situations where one is used over the other? Why can't we just use 'yds'?
- MotorwayGuy
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
This doesn't look right.
On the same road, I'm pretty sure this isn't authorised.
Umm, okay.
In fact, it seems Bristol like to make their own signs.
Then we have another bodge where they have just copied the previous one without checking.
Same thing here.
On the same road, I'm pretty sure this isn't authorised.
Umm, okay.
In fact, it seems Bristol like to make their own signs.
Then we have another bodge where they have just copied the previous one without checking.
Same thing here.
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Good spot, Nathan, I didn't notice that. I think most signs use 'yds' but I'm sure one of the experts on here will be able to let us know what's correct.
Last edited by Kevin Roads on Mon Aug 08, 2022 16:22, edited 1 time in total.
- Conekicker
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Dare one say a rather "unique" way to give advance warning of a low bridge.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.93169 ... 8192?hl=en
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.93108 ... 8192?hl=en
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.93136 ... 8192?hl=en
I'm not certain signing a lorry route to an industrial estate half a mile beyond such a very low bridge is the best idea either.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.93169 ... 8192?hl=en
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.93108 ... 8192?hl=en
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.93136 ... 8192?hl=en
I'm not certain signing a lorry route to an industrial estate half a mile beyond such a very low bridge is the best idea either.
Patience is not a virtue - it's a concept invented by the dozy beggars who are unable to think quickly enough.
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- Conekicker
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Patience is not a virtue - it's a concept invented by the dozy beggars who are unable to think quickly enough.
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Variable Message Sign on M80 Southbound at Haggs currently says "DONT USE MOBILE PHONE WHEN DRIVING NULL".
- MotorwayGuy
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Earls Road? The road is actually called Earle's Road. It's in Helvetica too and not sure why it's even on a flag sign.
Re: Botched Roadsigns
This one could equally have gone in the Manky Signs thread. It should read A5008, not B5008, and by the looks of it, it's been wrong for decades.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.0229482 ... 384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.0229482 ... 384!8i8192
"I went to a planet without bilateral symmetry and all I got was this lousy F-shirt."
Re: Botched Roadsigns
Who exactly is that sign for? It's barely visible from the position of the traffic lights, but by the time you've committed to being in that lane, you're going to be stuck. And it looks like a left-turn from the give-way point would be a dubious manoeuvre.Klepsydra wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 18:31 This one could equally have gone in the Manky Signs thread. It should read A5008, not B5008, and by the looks of it, it's been wrong for decades.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.0229482 ... 384!8i8192
Perhaps the junction was reconfigured at some point and this sign was completely forgotten.
Re: Botched Roadsigns
Leaving aside some other things, there is no stop sign after this. Traffic lights, yes.
Make poetry history.
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- Skermington
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
A plethora of botches from recent travels:
Classic sin of an advanced Give Way - Hertingfordbury, Hertfordshire
I'm sure this one has been posted before. Alton Towers is too important to be seen with the likes of Gulliver's Kingdom!
This one is really nitpicky, but it's rubbed me up the wrong way for years. Is there no standardisation of arrow angles for off-slips?
Not faded!
THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW!
This.
Classic sin of an advanced Give Way - Hertingfordbury, Hertfordshire
I'm sure this one has been posted before. Alton Towers is too important to be seen with the likes of Gulliver's Kingdom!
This one is really nitpicky, but it's rubbed me up the wrong way for years. Is there no standardisation of arrow angles for off-slips?
Not faded!
THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW!
This.
- Conekicker
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Re: Botched Roadsigns
Patience is not a virtue - it's a concept invented by the dozy beggars who are unable to think quickly enough.