When traffic control device complies substantially with regulation
316 When traffic control device complies substantially with regulation
A traffic sign complies substantially with this regulation if—
it is a reasonable likeness of a diagram in schedule 2 (Standard or commonly used traffic signs) or schedule 3 (Other permitted traffic signs) of that kind of traffic sign; or
for a traffic sign of a kind for which there is not a diagram in schedule 2 or schedule 3—it complies substantially with a description of that kind of traffic sign in this regulation and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in schedule 4, the symbol on the sign is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
A road marking complies substantially with this regulation if it complies substantially with a description of that kind of road marking in this regulation and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in schedule 4 (Symbols and traffic‑related items), the symbol in the road marking is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
A traffic control device (except a traffic sign or a road marking) complies substantially with this regulation if the device complies substantially with a description of that kind of traffic control device in this regulation and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in schedule 4, the symbol on the device is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
Examples
1 A children’s crossing may have a red and white post missing temporarily. The missing post does not prevent the crossing from meeting the description of such a crossing that is set out in s 80 (6).
2 A freeway may have several freeway signs missing. The missing signs do not prevent the area from still being considered to be a freeway.
A traffic sign may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of traffic sign mentioned in this regulation even though 1 or more of the following apply to the sign:
the dimensions of the sign, or of anything on the sign, are different;
the sign has additional information on or with it;
the number on the sign is different;
the sign has a different number of panels;
the sign is combined on a single panel with 1 or more other traffic signs;
for a parking control sign—words, figures, symbols, or anything else, on the sign are differently arranged;
for a bus lane sign, emergency stopping lane only sign, one‑way sign or parking control sign—the sign has an arrow pointing in a different direction;
for a separated footpath sign or an end separated footpath sign—the pedestrian and bicycle symbols are reversed;
for a road access sign—information on or with the sign indicates (whether by different wording or in another way) that it applies to different or additional vehicles or people;
there is a variation in shade or brightness between a colour on the sign and the equivalent colour in the diagram.
Example—par (b)
A speed limit sign near a school may say that the sign has effect at certain times. This additional information does not prevent the sign being a reasonable likeness of the diagram of a speed limit sign in sch 2.
Example—par (c)
The diagram of the area speed limit sign in sch 2 has the number ‘60’. A particular area speed limit sign may have another number, for example, ‘50’. The different number on the sign does not prevent the sign being a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
Examples—par (d)
1 A school zone sign may have the indicated speed limit, the words ‘school zone’, and the times of operation, on a single panel or separate panels.
2 An end bicycle path sign may have the word ‘end’ on a separate panel or on the same panel as the rest of the sign.
Example—par (e)
A no parking sign that operates at certain times may be combined on a single panel with a permissive parking sign allowing pay parking at other times.
Example—par (f)
A permissive parking sign limiting parking to 2 hours may have the time limit above, or below, the word ‘parking’.
Example—par (i)
The diagram of the road access sign in sch 2 says ‘no pedestrians bicycles animals beyond this point’. The replacement of the word ‘bicycles’ by the word ‘tractors’ on a particular sign does not prevent the sign being a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
A variable illuminated message sign may also be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of traffic sign in schedule 2 or schedule 3 even though the colour of the sign, or of anything else on the sign, is different.
1—Speed limit sign (standard sign)
2—Speed limit sign (variable illuminated message sign)
A symbol on or in a traffic control device may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of symbol mentioned in this regulation even though the dimensions of the symbol, or of anything on the symbol, are different.
In this section:
panel includes a board, plate and screen.
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