Vertical signage (commonly referred to as traffic signs) is an essential element of a modern and well maintained road infrastructure. It helps regulate traffic, provide crucial visual guidance, can alert drivers to potential hazards on the road and give drivers important preview time during night-time conditions. The functionality of traffic signs depends on their visibility and recognisibility during daytime and night-time. During the day this requires that the sign face and symbol colours are not faded in such a way that it becomes impossible to recognise the message that the sign is trying to deliver. Additionally, during night-time, the sign should be able to reflect the light from the headlights of an approaching vehicle back to the driver of that vehicle. This requires that traffic signs are maintained on a regular basis and replaced either once their visual performance begins to fall below the desired level or in case of damage to the signs (e.g. vandalism). However, as a result of cut-backs in public spending, there is an increasingly large backlog in traffic sign maintenance. For example, Germany has 25 million traffic signs of which 33% are considered non-readable and 25% being older than 15 years. In practice, this means that many traffic signs fail to perform their basic function, thus creating an increasingly hazardous road environment for all users and especially for drivers unfamiliar with the road. As Europe’s population is ageing, it is important to ensure that road infrastructure adapts to the needs of an increasingly important segment of road users who display reduced visual abilities and slower reaction times. At the same time, as European cross-border traffic increases, it is advisable that authorities strive to reach a greater degree of harmonisation on European roads, where significant differences exist even though traffic signs across Europe are governed by the Vienna Convention. This will not only generate an increasingly familiar driving environment for drivers across Europe, moreover, it will maximise the safety potential emanating from the Traffic Sign Recognition systems that are present in modern vehicles. In brief, this position paper advocates for: - Authorities to tackle phenomena of unnecessary traffic signs proliferation and ensure that, when deployed, they provide a clear and unambiguous message to road users - The need, on behalf of road authorities, to urgently prioritise road sign maintenance by first, establishing an inventory of signs under their jurisdiction, second, assess their retroreflectivity and establish a work plan for the replacement of non-performing signs - The necessity to adapt traffic signs to the needs of an increasingly ageing driver population by ensuring that safety critical signs are sufficiently visible for the reduced visual abilities of such drivers - A greater harmonisation of traffic signs across Europe to cater for a growing percentage of cross-border traffic and maximise the safety benefits that can arise by the gradual introduction of Traffic Sign Recognition Systems in new vehicles. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting