Department ruling on works signage

New rules on how local authorities use signposts at roadwork sites have been sent to all county road engineers by the Department of Transport.

The directive was issued in recent weeks, just before local authorities begin this year's programme of road maintenance and upgrading works.

Significant concerns over poor traffic management at non-national roadwork sites operated by many local authorities, and in particular problems with signposting, were identified in a Health and Safety Authority (HSA) report published at the end of 2005.

There have been a number of high profile fatal crashes close to local authority roadwork sites in recent years.

Sinéad McDaid (22) died in a single-car collision in Co Donegal in 2001. Her family maintains that roadworks near the scene may have contributed to the crash.

Three years later, in December 2004, Ashling Gallagher (22) was killed in another single-vehicle crash in Co Mayo. Her family also believe road works on the road where she crashed were a factor in the collision.

The HSA is investigating these crashes and the signage used is part of both inquiries.

While the information focuses on signposting and does not address all concerns identified by the HSA, it is an effort to ensure nationwide consistency in how county councils warn motorists of temporary roadworks. It also reflects recent legislative changes; including changes in the rules for signage in tunnels and for light rail systems.

The new directive (which includes mandatory rules along with guidelines and suggestions for local authorities) was drawn-up by the Department of Transport, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority, and emphasises that "clear and effective traffic signs are essential at roadworks".

One new rule is that since December 2006, only trained or authorised personnel can operate the manual Stop/Go signs used at roadworks where only one lane is open to traffic.

The rules also state that all temporary signs, cones and reflectors must be covered or removed from the road side when not in use.

"If road users pass signs and cones in place with no operation (roadworks) being carried out, they may disregard the signs and cones when the operation is under way," the rules state.

Council officials are also instructed to check that all original signs are uncovered or put back in place once the road works are completed.

Councils are also reminded that only orange and black warning signs can be used at roadwork sites. It warns yellow signs are not permissible.

The Department's letter to local authorities accompanying the new rules reinforces this point: "No other warning signs or other format sign shall be used. The use of orange and black symbols/text on an orange background is unique to roadwork signs."

Detailed drawings outlining the type and number of signs and their spacing around the work site are also included in the new rules.

According to the new guidelines, the designer of temporary traffic measures is responsible for enforcing the rules set out "to provide a safe working area and an a safe and efficient flow of traffic though the works."

NRA spokesman Seán O'Neill said the new rules contained "relevant technical information that we wanted to make all local authorities counties aware of as soon as possible because of the extensive work that is going on around the country".

In response to a parliamentary question from Labour's transport spokeswoman Roisín Shortall earlier this month, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said a full version of the revised traffic signs manual, of which roadwork signs are just one chapter, would be published by the end of this year.