The RAC is calling on local authorities to inspect all the signs on their networks and do everything in their power to ensure they are clear and visible to drivers.
The plea comes on the back of a survey, which found that half (53%) of drivers frequently notice road signs obscured by vegetation.
As a result, 42% of respondents admit to accidentally breaking the speed limit because they couldn’t see signs to indicate otherwise.
The RAC’s survey also found that unkempt vegetation isn’t just causing issues for road sign visibility – it’s also creating danger for motorists at junctions or roundabouts.
Of those who notice road signs are obscured, four-in-five (81%) drivers said too much foliage makes it difficult to pull out of a junction or roundabout safely.
As a result, more than half (58%) of drivers questioned felt strongly that foliage shouldn’t be allowed to grow out of control as it compromises road safety. An additional third (28%) said they expect foliage to be cut back considering how much they pay in council tax.
Alice Simpson, RAC Breakdown spokesperson, said: “In parks and gardens foliage is a welcome sign of spring, but on the roads it’s an entirely different matter if vital information like speed limit changes aren’t visible.
“It’s especially concerning that speed limit signs are often the hardest to detect and drivers are left guessing what the legal limit is before they spot a smaller repeater sign. Any amount of excessive speeding puts everyone on the roads at grave danger, especially on minor and local roads where there’s a greater number of pedestrians.
“Drivers shouldn’t be left to rely on their local knowledge and navigation apps to know if there’s a change in speed limit or if a junction is approaching. And new in-car systems that normally detect road signs and display them on the dashboard are redundant if a sign isn’t visible. Of course, it’s still the motorists’ responsibility to drive at an appropriate speed, whether a road sign is visible or not.
“While we realise local councils are under enormous pressure financially, we nonetheless ask them to inspect all the signs on their networks and do everything in their power to ensure they are clear and visible to drivers, as it’s these signs that can save lives.”
Did the RAC really need to do a ‘public survey’ to establish whether overgrown vegetation can obscure road signs? How about a survey to find out whether rain makes the road surface wet? How would we know otherwise?
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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Good call. There are also unreadable signs that are covered in mud, algae and tree pollen causing the same problem. Like potholes, local councils subcontract to outside agencies and highways departments veto many of the recommendations they make. The public can litter pick, but are unable to clean or clear foliage masking road signs on health and safety grounds, so it’s difficult to see how this will be resolved even though ultimately local councils are responsible.
Alex Beeston, Wokingham
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