Warning Sign/Loose Chippings

Pre-Worboys sign

Before the Worboys Report of 1964 there does not appear to have been a standardised sign giving warning of loose chippings; instead, ad hoc, worded signs were displayed. Such warnings would, in any case, have been less frequent, given that many minor roads in rural areas retained loose surfaces until the 1950s and 60s and that surface dressing is a relatively recent addition to road maintenance techniques.

Worboys Report sign

Most commonly used as a temporary sign, traditionally on a fold out metal frame, but now more commonly on corrugated plastic cable-tied to a wooden post, this sign warns of loose chippings on the road ahead, generally as a result of recent surface dressing. Regularly paired with an advisory speed limit (commonly ignored) which is designed to minimise the risk of flying chippings damaging other vehicles.

In more recent years, 'skid risk' has been added to the signs and it is indeed possible for cars to skid around on the loose chippings if taking bends too fast.

Republic of Ireland

In Ireland the background colour of the equivalent (diamond-shaped) sign – being by its very nature a temporary one – is normally the orange associated with roadworks rather than the yellow that is used on other, permanent hazard-warning signs.