Road signs are the most important sources of information for the driver. They are elements of the arrangement of roads. A significant role in creating a safe atmosphere on the roadway is played by the size of the road signs. Law No. 443-F3, which entered into force on December 30, 2018, confirms the priority of the safety of life of road users over any economic losses and loss of time.
Who invents and who is responsible
The need for road signs has ripened among the people since time immemorial, which was clearly reflected in Slavic folklore: "Go to the left - you will not collect bones; go to the right - you will lose a horse; you will go straight ...".
Who is doing this now? The numbering and dimensions of road signs are established in accordance with GOST R 52290-2004, developed by the State Enterprise "ROSDORNII" and SIC STSI of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, agreed with the Technical Committee for Standardization and put into effect by order of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Russian Federation No. 121-st dated June 27. 2006. The standard reflects European agreements.
The installation, dismantling, replacement of signs, the establishment of a uniform traffic order throughout the Russian Federation is the sphere of activity of state authorities.
Strict framework
In the process of accumulating and analyzing the experience of ensuring the vital functions of roads, the working characteristics of signs were developed, which also include dimensions. Their official classification is accepted. Types of road sign sizes:
- I - small (local roads, 1-2 lanes);
- II - normal (highways, 2-3 lanes);
- III - large (motorway, ≥4 lanes);
- IV - very large (hazardous areas; road works on autobahns).
The table below shows the borders of the images of signs of different styles.
| The form | Side length mm | Width mm | Diameter mm |
| Triangular | 700-1500 | ||
| Stripes | 615-3150 | 200-900 | |
| Right octagon | 700-1200 | ||
| Square | 350-1200 | ||
| Round | 600-1200 | ||
| Rectangular | 400-2250 | 900 | 200-1800 |
On roads with a vehicle speed of more than 60 km / h, larger road signs are allowed, but not less than the standard requires. In places where the statistics of the number of accidents exceeds the indicators in similar areas, signs of sizes III and IV are installed.
And what about the edge?
All proactive, rectangular prescriptive signs and signs 2.1-2.4, 2.6, 3.2-3.33, 5.23.2, 5.24.2, 6.13, 6.15.1-6.16, 6.18.1-6.19.2, 8.1.1-8.21.3 must have an outer rim width of 10 mm.
Round prescriptive signs and signs 2.5, 2.7, 3.1, 5.1-5.22, 5.27-5.34, 6.1-6.8.3, 7.1-7.18 - 20 mm.
On the signs 1.1-1.3.2, 1.5-1.32, 2.3.1-2.4, 2.6, 3.2-3.20, 3.22, 3.24, 3.26-3.30, 3.32, 3.33, it is possible to depict only one border with a total width.
The size of prohibitory traffic signs is the same as the signs that cancel their action. In accordance with the Vienna Convention, the color of the sign changes and the slope of the bar (/) on the cancel sign is opposite to the slant of the prohibition bar (\).
Spikes
A rough understanding by citizens about the size of the road signs will help eliminate unnecessary disputes with the traffic police inspector that they need to be considered in a magnifying glass. Obviously, such excuses will not save. But the dimensions of the road sign "Spikes" may be needed by home craftsmen. In fact, in the latest edition of the "Basic Provisions for the Admission of Vehicles to Use ..." among the signs that are required to be fixed on the car, it can not be found. But those who are confident that the spikes reduce the braking distance and it is advisable to warn the vehicle driving behind them about this can safely install this sign inside or outside the passenger compartment. Punishment for his presence does not threaten even in the summer.
The sign "Spikes" is a black letter Ш in a triangular frame with a red border.The same length of the sides of the triangle is at least 200 mm each. The width of the border is 10% of the length of one side. The triangle should fit right on the narrow side of the A4 sheet. It is convenient to fix a homemade sign on thick paper from the inside with three suction cups: the glass will remain clean as a tear. A listing of it is also offered by some sites.
"Lesser brothers"
With signs of reduced size, a practical experiment is being conducted on the central streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The government and the authorities responsible for the organization of safe traffic took this innovation under pressure from tourists and the public, indignant at the clutter of road equipment and the unaesthetic view of city panoramas with monuments of fine art and architecture. Since we are talking about the historical centers of cities, where it is often faster to go than to go, the dimensions of the signs participating in the experiment were reduced by more than 1.5 times.
Reduced road signs may be located on low speed roads. So, the diameter of prohibition signs 3.27-3.30 is reduced to 250 mm. Signs of special requirements 5.16-5.18 can be trimmed to a size of 800 × 500 mm. The width of the plates 8.22.1-8.22.3 may be reduced by 40 mm. If road works are planned to be completed within one daylight hours, the length of the side of the sign 1.25 may be 550 mm. According to GOST, the size of the road sign “Main Road” can be shrunk to a square of only 350 × 350 mm (≈2 times). This is done before intersections without traffic lights, which such a road crosses in a straight line. Repeat installation 3.27-3.30 with a small diameter of 250 mm (<2.5 times) without plates is allowed to confirm the prohibition in areas where the area of the sign is difficult to outline.
Modeling
There are signs that give information that does not affect the nature of the road, but significant for some drivers. They are made to order, but they comply with the requirements of the state standard and the balance of the territory. The sizes of road signs of this purpose are diverse. They depend on the category of roads, location, number of described objects. The huge advantage of such a sign over billboards and screens is that the information on them falls into the field of view of the driver, watching the spatial landmarks that make up the essence of the signs themselves. GOST allows you to place the following information together with the road signs of the route:
- address;
- phone;
- type of service;
- type of institution;
- direction to the object;
- distance;
- graphic information.
These data are placed below the sign 6.9.1, 6.9.2, 6.10.1 or 6.12 without a gap on the shield of the same width. Related information should occupy a smaller area:
- 1/3 of the total area of the sign with a capital letter height of ≤200 mm;
- 1/4 - with a height of capital letters ≥250 mm.
Are changes coming?
In order to awaken drivers from a nap, inspired by obtaining driving licenses for up to 30 years, the responsible authorities promoted the newly invented signs. Traffic police are ready to give workshops on traffic safety right on the sidelines at least every day. Nevertheless, scientists have long established that the more new knowledge the human mind constantly absorbs, the longer its performance lasts and even improves. Therefore, it is recommended that each road user to plunge into the element of images created by a fresh generation of artists. Someone complains that the recent change in the rules occurs 3-4 times a year. But it can be interesting. Now relevant game teaching methods. In order to better remember the information, experts on previous rules are invited to guess which group of characters the images below belong to:
- prescriptive;
- informational.
Probably, many had to witness the stop of tram traffic due to snow drifts.Apparently, such a case involves the sign "Dedicated tram lane." So that the car driver knows from what side the “light in the tunnel” will be lit. Caring for the empowerment of workers suffering from sclerosis, the traffic police of Russia is introducing a line of traffic signs for public transport. The combined stop sign with a list of driving routes below will surprise with the novelty except for the drivers mentioned in the previous sentence. But its manufacture will fly into the penny and on foot, and horseback. After all, now it has become a piece of goods, conveyor production does not shine here. And for years now, the ongoing experiment on several streets of two or three cities is also not supplied with large batches.
Someone saw them
According to the “Parliamentary newspaper”, rumors about the possible introduction of new signs and tablets are justified. Some road signs of reduced size with a changed background and backlighting are displayed in photographs on the Internet. Reliable sources list dozens of characters. Their number in the most plentiful lists tends to a hundred. It is assumed that the size of the new road signs will not go beyond the boundaries of 400-500 mm.
Desired signs or where to stay?
The innovation will affect parking images most of all by adding graphic tips to the familiar letter P about how to place the car in a specified location. Since each of these signs combined double information, their introduction can save materials and reduce the number of existing signs. Understandable images of paid parking and parking under the roof. The sign "Parking for disabled people" combined two familiar pictograms. Signs of paid and free parking with the number of parking spaces, apparently, are convenient in cramped pavement areas where a reasonable number of standing vehicles can be counted on the fingers of one hand. It is unlikely that the drivers will find it convenient to place signs for parking directions and prohibit stopping and parking perpendicular to the usual arrangement of signs on fences and walls of buildings. Moreover, you have to think not only where to stay, but also what kind of object you need on the street.
In such an environment, the size of traffic signs may seem like a trifle in general. Some parking spaces will be intended for cars with a limited width of the body. Labels for this are designed. Also, in parking lots, the “Time Limit” signs are applicable.
Gift for pedestrians
A good innovation is the sticker or application of frames of reflective materials on existing pedestrian crossing signs. They are legalized at unregulated intersections and in places with limited visibility day or night. Following the wishes of active pedestrians, diagonal ground crossings appear for them at intersections. Images on the corresponding signs seem logical and successful.
The next sign gives drivers the only advantage of an unregulated intersection - give in to everyone and go. It is hoped that it will save time and gas for those driving. Signs illustrating driving directions at the next intersection are useful on multi-lane roads and are likely to appeal to drivers. Not only the size of the road signs indicating the beginning and end of the bicycle zone, but their shape is different from the existing ones. By analogy, we should expect a change in signs 4.4.1-4.5.1, 4.5.4-4.5.7. Some temporary signs will be supplemented by the “Months” sign. The “Deaf Pedestrians” sign has been developed.
Conclusion
The size of road signs is an important indicator of road quality. Obviously, since the installation of the first sign in the Russian Empire at the beginning of the twentieth century, concern for road safety has poured into increasingly sophisticated decisions. The selection of new characteristics of the technical means of organizing the movement will inevitably end in the interests of citizens.