Road markings and signage
Road Signs, Lines and Markings
Road signs, lines and markings are used in the interests of traffic flow and road safety, by warning, providing information or indicating the presence of a regulation i.e. a one way street. They convey various messages to highway users, who can include motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and others.
Road signs, lines and markings are prescribed by the Department for Transport within 'The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions'.
This Statutory Instrument prescribes the detailed design of all signs and markings that are permitted for use on the public highway and contains further description on the way that the signs must be used such as illumination requirements and whether a sign needs to be supplemented by a traffic regulation order. Signs or markings not included within the regulations cannot be used on the public highway without special authorisation and this is rarely given.
Further guidance on the use of signs and markings is provided within Chapters 1 to 8 of the 'Traffic Signs Manual'. Please see the Useful Websites section of this page.
Any request for changes to signing, lining or road markings should be made in writing. Please refer to the Related Services section on the right of this page.
This includes any request for a driveway protection marking, a disabled parking bay sign and marking, temporary direction signing to a special event and small local directional signing.
To report a defective road sign please see the Online Forms section on the right-hand side of this page.