Traffic Signs Manual/Chapter 4/2013/19

by Department of Transport (UK)

19MISCELLANEOUS HAZARDS

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ANIMAL DISEASE

"RABIES" may be omitted or varied to any appropriate animal disease. "AHEAD" may be omitted or varied to "ENDS" or to a horizontal arrow pointing to the left or to the right

19.1 The sign to diagram 574 (see para 1.19 for sizes) is for use in connection with an outbreak of an animal disease. The appropriate name of the disease should be shown on the sign. It should be erected on roads at the boundaries of infected areas designated under the Animal Health Act 1981. During the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak, many areas were badly signed. To assist in proper control of the disease, traffic authorities should ensure that the prescribed warning signs are used. The signs must be removed when the area has been cleared of the disease.

19.2 Diagram 574 has been designed to allow space for the variants for different diseases to be applied by sliding appropriate plates into runners fixed to the sign (refer to the working drawing, see para 1.8). This should facilitate the making up of appropriate signs when an outbreak of disease occurs. Only one or two basic sign plates need to be stocked, together with a plate for each disease likely to occur.

ONCOMING VEHICLES

May be used only in combination with diagram 572, 572.7, 572.2, 573, 576, 577, 528 or 529.7

19.3 Diagram 575 is used where some physical restriction requires large vehicles to be driven in the middle of the road over a short distance. It is not intended to be used where the general width of a road is such that a large vehicle would be forced to straddle the centre line over a long distance. It may be used in combination with the "bend" signs to diagrams 512, 512.1, 512.2 and 513 (see paras 3.1 to 3.8) and the “road narrows” signs to diagrams 516 and 517 (see paras 4.1 to 4.3). It might also sometimes be appropriate to use it with the "hump bridge" sign (diagram 528) or the "tunnel" sign (diagram 529.1). Diagram 531.2 should be used at arch bridges (see paras 7.21 to 7.24). Where double white lines (diagram 1013.1) are used, they should be interrupted so that no vehicle is forced to cross them.

SIDE WINDS

May be used with diagram 570

19.4 The "side winds” sign to diagram 581 is used where vehicles are suddenly exposed to risk from strong winds. Such locations may include exposed bridges or places where vehicles emerge from cuttings in areas which are particularly prone to high winds. Drivers must anticipate some adverse effects caused by wind and in order to maintain the effectiveness of this sign, it should not be over-used.

19.5 The sign may be used with a distance plate to diagram 570 where an unusual hazard exists over a longer length, e.g. on a viaduct or high embankment. However, it should not normally be used on the open road, where drivers must expect gusts of wind.