Contents
Annex 8
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1. Introduction
The primary purpose of traffic signs, road markings and other traffic management assets is to improve road safety and inform highway users of any hazards or requirements as they move around the network.
There is a statutory requirement to maintain traffic signs and road markings in relation to the mandatory requirements set for road users, including those set out by Traffic Regulation Orders.
Traffic signs, road markings and other traffic management assets are critical not only to keeping the network safe but for the Council to meet its statutory requirements under the Highways Act and the Traffic Management Act to keep the network moving.
These assets will communicate requirements relating to speed, hazards in the road ahead, where to park, load, or unload, and facilitate the payment for parking sessions maintaining an important income stream of approximately £3m per annum.
By not maintaining these assets there is a risk to drivers and associated litigation against the Authority.
With increasing levels of autonomy in vehicles on our network the importance of road signs in guiding driver and vehicle is likely to require a higher level of investment.
Changes to the Safety Defect Maintenance Policy in December 2020 has reduced the number of signing types that are inspected and maintained reactively.
These assets have not previously been recognised in the Authorities Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan. However, to maintain the network and make informed decisions on budget setting it is important to do so. This Annex outlines a proposal to develop asset management principles for this area over the next 5 years.
It is considered that Electric Vehicle charging facilities may be within the scope of this annex, however at this time the ambition to investigate solutions funded and maintained by third party partners.
The impact of not maintaining our signing and traffic management asset is an increased risk of claims against the Authority, failed enforcement (including enforcement undertaken using new Moving Traffic Enforcement powers), and reputational damage.
2. Inventory
Extent of asset, may be split into different asset types.
The Council has historically held limited information relating to traffic signs, road markings and other traffic management assets.
2.1 Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
There is a robust inventory of Traffic Regulation Orders relating to parking restrictions, these are digitised in both text and map-based formats in the Buchanan ParkMap software suite. A public facing map-based viewer for these restrictions is also available:
There is no detailed inventory of signing however sufficient information to understand the amount and quality of signing on the network.
There is a robust inventory relating to Pay & display machine asset across the County.
2.2 Road Signs (General)
There is no up-to-date inventory currently held relating to general road signs.
2.3 Road Signs (Regulatory)
There is an inventory of Traffic Regulation Orders relating to restrictions that is under development, this will include digitised records in both text and map-based formats in the Buchanan ParkMap software suite.
There is no detailed inventory of signing relating to these restrictions, however this is identified as a priority as Moving Traffic Enforcement powers are adopted.
2.4 Vehicle Activated Signs
There a partial inventory of Vehicle Activated Signs, work is being undertaken to complete this inventory currently.
3. Performance
3.1 Current and historical condition
There is no overall condition assessment of traffic signs / road markings and other traffic assets, this is an identified area for improvement. There is a need to gather more information to plan routine maintenance programmes for future years and inform areas of investment.
3.2 Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
There are no comprehensive records of signing and lining condition in respect to the CPE asset. However, there are regular inspections as part of enforcement activities and the Council is able to respond well to reactive issues identified by Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs).
These measures are deemed to be adequate.
There is a live reporting system which ensures the functionality of the Pay & Display machine asset, identifying whether machines are functioning correctly and when cash collections are required.
The current performance in terms of pay & display machine asset is not deemed to be adequate, there are significant vulnerabilities due to the mechanical nature of the machines, such as coin and ticket jams. Cash collection also presents risks due to current recruitment issues within the contractor’s team. Ongoing maintenance is costly.
The medium-term ambition is that a greater reliance on cashless infrastructure is investigated, reducing maintenance liability and costs and encouraging use of “pay by phone” apps etc.
3.3 Road Signs (General)
There is no comprehensive record of sign condition, ad-hoc surveys are undertaken and there is also scope for the public to report issues with damaged or missing signs.
These measures are deemed to be adequate.
3.4 Road Signs (Regulatory)
There is no comprehensive record of sign condition, ad hoc surveys are undertaken and these signs are also included in Safety Defect surveys. There is also scope for the public to report issues with damaged or missing signs
In general, these measures are deemed to be adequate. However, additional audits will be desirable with the adoption of moving traffic enforcement powers.
3.5 Vehicle Activated Signs
There is no comprehensive record of sign condition, ad-hoc surveys are undertaken and there is also scope for the public to report issues with damaged or missing signs.
These measures are deemed to be adequate.
4. Maintenance Strategy
4.1 Creation of a new asset
Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
These assets are created in association with new parking schemes and improvements. All new assets (and changes to existing assets) will require a new Traffic Regulation Order.
Source of requests may include:
- Annual HATOC Waiting Restriction Programme,
- Highway schemes with Capital funding,
- New developments / S106 / S278 monies, and
- Community / Member requests.
New assets will be discussed with Local Member and HATOC chair at a minimum.
More information on our Traffic Regulation Orders (including the Annual HATOC Waiting Restriction Programme can be found here:
Road Signs (General)
These assets are created in association with highway improvement schemes or new developments. These include:
- Highway schemes with Capital funding,
- New developments / S106 / S278 monies,
- Community / Member funded schemes,
- Road safety audits, and
- Community / Member requests.
Road Signing (Regulatory)
These assets are created in association with highway improvement schemes or new developments. All new assets (and changes to existing assets) will require a new Traffic Regulation Order. These include:
- Highway schemes with Capital funding,
- New developments / S106 / S278 monies,
- Community / Member funded schemes,
- Road safety audits, and
- Community / Member requests.
New assets will be discussed with Local Member and HATOC chair at a minimum.
Vehicle Activated Signs
These assets are created in association with highway improvement schemes or new developments. These include:
- Community / Member funded schemes,
- Road safety audits / Speed compliance action review forum (SCARF*), and
- Community / Member requests.
*More information can be found out about our SCARF process here:
4.2 Routine Maintenance
Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
There is no formal serviceability service inspection regime, however all sites are regularly attended by Civil Parking Enforcement Officers and condition of the asset is checked before enforcement is carried out. Defects are recorded and reported to the technical team who arrange ad hoc maintenance of the asset.
There is a medium-term ambition to return to cyclic maintenance of this asset to reduce costs and improve condition.
For Pay and Display machines there is a live reporting function to the back-office system (Smartfolio) which provides information of current status (for example if the machine is out of service or cash box full). There is a maintenance contract to keep machines in service and a replacement programme which sees machines typically replaced after 10 years service.
Road Signs (General)
There is no formal serviceability service inspection regime, routine maintenance is rarely undertaken (with the exception of triangular “Warning Signs” which would be identified as a Safety Defect).
Cleaning of any sign is no longer undertaken by the Authority due to budgetary pressures.
Where treatment is identified by road users or via a route review maintenance would be considered against available budgets or communities encouraged to fund / self help. For example Chapter 8 trained Parish Wardens may choose to undertake sign cleaning.
Road Signing (Regulatory)
These signs are included in routine safety inspections and will be replaced or repaired accordingly.
Treatment may also be identified by Police or Safety Camera Partnership when identifying defects during enforcement of speed limits or moving traffic offences.
With the adoption of moving traffic offences regular audits of signing and lining will be required at any site identified (and signed off) for enforcement. It is anticipated that a 3 month inspection will be sufficient to ensure robust enforcement.
Vehicle Activated Signs
There is no formal serviceability service inspection regime, routine maintenance is rarely undertaken.
Where treatment is identified by road users or via a route review maintenance would be considered against available budgets or communities encouraged to fund in some instances.
4.3 Renewal or replacement
Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
Signs are renewed and replaced as necessary when identified by inspection or report. In the instance of damage relating to a vehicle collision, costs are recovered from insurers if possible.
Pay & display machines are replaced as they end their serviceable life typically replaced after 10 years service.
Road Signs (General)
For signs that do not relate to mandatory instructions to drivers and that fall outside our Safety Defect Policy there is insufficient budget to renew or replace all signs when identified by inspection or report. A small budget is provided to Neighbourhood Highways Teams to prioritise “non-safety defect” signs for replacement.
In some instances, funding will be provided by communities to maintain local signing such as fingerposts.
In the instance of damage relating to a vehicle collision, costs are recovered from insurers if possible.
Road Signing (Regulatory)
Signs are renewed and replaced as necessary when identified by inspection or report. In the instance of damage relating to a vehicle collision, costs are recovered from insurers if possible.
Vehicle Activated Signs
Signs are renewed and replaced as necessary when identified by inspection or report. This would be considered against available budgets or communities encouraged to fund in some instances.
In the instance of damage relating to a vehicle collision, costs are recovered from insurers if possible.
4.4 Decommissioning of the asset
Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
Removal of signing would typically be as a result of a change in Traffic Regulation Order. In some instances, changes may be bought about by new national Legislation.
Removal of pay & display asset may be undertaken to reduce maintenance / replacement costs along with reducing impact on public realm. As noted, there is a strategy to reduce reliance on this technology and increase use of cashless and app-based services.
Road Signs (General)
It would be unusual for signing to be removed. In some instances, changes may be bought about by route review to ensure consistency of signing and minimise impact on public realm.
Route reviews are undertaken as financial and staffing resources permit. Sites are identified using local knowledge and will normally be within our A & B road network. The aim of a route review is to look at consistency of signing and remove any redundant signage.
Road Signing (Regulatory)
Removal of signing would typically be as a result of a change in Traffic Regulation Order. In some instances, changes may be bought about by new national Legislation.
Vehicle Activated Signs
It would be unusual for signing to be removed. At time of replacement highway conditions would be considered to ensure the sign is still relevant and budget is available, in some instances communities would be encouraged to fund.
4.5 Maintenance Service Standards
Maintenance Service Standards were developed which define the service of provision for each asset type based on three levels: Safety, Safety and Serviceability or Safety, Serviceability and Sustainability. These are defined in simple terms of what a road user could expect to see. This is very useful understanding the level of service in context of what is affordable.
As pressures on budgets continue and become very restrictive, the ability of the Council to provide a service above that of safety is going to be severely impacted.
The tables below show the maintenance standards for Road Signs on each road category.
| Carriageway Hierarchy | Road Signs (CPE & Regulatory | Carriageway Hierarchy | Road Signs (General) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | |||
| 4 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 5 | |||
| 6 | 6 | |||
| 7 -10 | 7 -10 | |||
| 11+ | 11+ |
Key
| Maintenance Standard 1 | Provision of Safety, Serviceability and Sustainability |
| Maintenance Standard 2 | Provision of Safety and intermediate level of Serviceability |
| Maintenance Standard 3 | Provision of Safety and minimal level of Serviceability |
| Maintenance Standard 4 | Provision of Safety only |
Fig. 8.1: Maintenance Standards for Road Signs for each Road Category
| Road Signs | Provision of safety related issues only | Provision of safety and minimal level of serviceability | Provision of safety and intermediate level of serviceability | Provision of safety, serviceability, and sustainability issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What a road user would see | Signing safe and looking untidy. | Signing safe and in fair order. | Signing safe and in good order. | All signing in good order. |
| Maintenance standards and activities | Undertake safety inspections and react to defects that represent an immediate or imminent hazard. | Undertake safety inspections and react to defects that represent an immediate or imminent hazard.
Limited routine maintenance based on hierarchy. | Undertake safety inspections and react to defects that represent an immediate or imminent hazard.
Risk-based service and specialist inspection prioritising condition led scheduled routine maintenance based on hierarchy. | Undertake safety inspections and react to defects that represent an immediate or imminent hazard.
Service & specialist inspections of signs and development of a risk-based programme for renewal/removal based on fit for purpose and condition analysis. |
| Impact | No condition assessment to assess whether fit for purpose leading to increased possibility of failure and potential claims. | Limited programme of renewal/removal based on risk rating.
Some improvement to asset reducing the likelihood of failure and reducing claim potential. | Limited programme of renewal/removal based on risk rating.
General improvement to asset reducing the likelihood of failure and reducing claim potential. | Improvement to asset reducing the likelihood of failure and minimising claim potential. |
Fig 8.2: Maintenance Standards for Road Signs
5. Levels of Service and Investment Strategy
5.1 Levels of Service
Levels of Service demonstrate the relationship between the Council’s corporate objectives, including the Strategic Plan for 2021 – 2025, and the performance of highway assets in terms of stakeholder requirements. The Levels of Service represent the fundamental service aimed at helping to deliver a road network which is as safe, reliable and as fit for purpose as possible within the current funding and resource constraints. Table 8.3 is an extract from the Strategy and shows the Levels of Service measures for Traffic Signs along with an indication of how they relate to the Council’s Levels of Service Statements.
| Asset | Service | Measure | Responding to the climate emergency | Be ambitious for children and young people | Support sustainable economic recovery | Tackle poverty and inequality | Improve health and wellbeing | Help communities to be safe, connected and resilient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic
Signs and Road Markings
| Traffic Signs | Repair or replace any safety signs knocked down or damaged by routine traffic accidents | √ | √ |
Fig. 8.3: Levels of Service for Traffic Signs
5.2 Investment Strategy
Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
There is currently no investment strategy in place for the renewal of signing due to limited financial resource available. The maintenance of signs is reliant on identification by inspection or report.
The exception is the investment in new Pay and Display machines, approximately £100,000 per annum is allocated for the replacement of machines on a “worst first” basis. This level of investment remains insufficient to maintain a suitable condition of asset. It is intended to reduce this budget with reduced reliance over the next 5 years on physical infrastructure and increase investment and promotion of cashless options.
Road Signs (General)
There is currently no investment strategy in place for the renewal of signing due to limited financial resource available. The maintenance of signs is reliant on identification by inspection or report.
Road Signing (Regulatory)
There is currently no investment strategy in place for the renewal of signing due to limited financial resource available. The maintenance of signs is reliant on identification by inspection or report.
Vehicle Activated Signs
There is currently no investment strategy in place for the renewal of signing due to limited financial resource available. The maintenance of signs is reliant on identification by inspection or report.
In some instances, communities will fund signing if the site has not been identified as a priority for treatment or budget is not available.
6. Programme Development
6.1 Identifying Schemes for an Initial Works Programme
In the case of new assets relating to traffic management schemes or developer projects the programme will be dictated by the availability of budgets (typically on an annual basis) and Member / Developer expectation.
For other matters relating to maintenance, reports will be considered against available budget and added to programme as appropriate.
6.2 Prioritising the Works Programme
In the case of new assets relating to traffic management schemes or developer projects the programme will be dictated by the availability of budgets (typically on an annual basis) and Member / Developer expectation.
For other matters relating to maintenance, works orders are created and provided to contractors to programme efficiently with other works.
6.3 Selecting and Optimising Schemes for the Forward Programme
There is limited scope for optimisation outside those signs identified as safety defects. The scope of works exceeds available budgets, forward programme is developed on engineering judgement and with the aim to provide an equitable service across the county focusing on our main conurbations and A&B road network. Works orders are created and provided to contractors to programme efficiently with other works.
7. Risks
Issues which may prevent asset management objectives being achieved.
7.1 Civil Parking Enforcement inc Pay and Display machines
- Limited funding (increasing supply chain costs),
- Limited inventory, and
- Vulnerability due to aging machine stock.
7.2 Road Signs (General)
- Limited funding (increasing supply chain costs), and
- No inventory.
7.3 Road Signs (Regulatory)
- Limited funding (increasing supply chain costs),
- Limited inspection regime, and
- No inventory.
7.4 Vehicle Activated Signs
- Limited funding (increasing supply chain costs),
- Limited inspection regime, and
- No inventory.
8. Improvement Actions
Alongside the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan, this Annex is a live document. It will be subject to continuous improvement and ongoing development with input from Council Officers and Stakeholder feedback. Areas for improvement are identified within the Annex which are summarised as Improvement Actions in this section. These Actions are aligned with Strategic Goals and are assessed as part of a wider cross-asset prioritisation process that prioritises their implementation taking account of the framework of funding and resource availability.
The actions that have been identified as being required to ensure the Signs and Other Traffic Assets asset management objectives are achieved are:
- Gathering and maintaining an appropriate inventory of assets (priority to be given to enforceable “moving traffic” signing),
- Digitisation of Traffic Regulation Orders relating to regulatory signing,
- Inspection regime for sites identified for “moving traffic” enforcement,
- Investigate capacity within Safety Inspection Team to identify non safety defects to inform future programme / investment,
- Investment in (and promotion of) cashless technology, along with decommissioning of physical pay & display infrastructure, and
- Monitor and consider needs of future autonomous vehicles.
Version Control
| Version | Date | Summary of Changes |
| 1.0 | 12 April 2023 |