Drivers at risk due to obscured road signs

David Ross, Editor
Mon, 19 Jun 2023

Drivers are being put at risk by road signs that are obscured by foliage, according to GEM Motoring Assist. The breakdown and road safety organisation is urging highways authorities and landowners to address this recurring issue.

Obscured road signs are more than a nuisance for drivers, says GEM, they can also be misleading and dangerous.

Under the Highways Act 1980 (Section 154), landowners have a responsibility to ensure the safety of road users by maintaining roadside hedges and trees.

While the bird nesting and rearing season typically prohibits cutting or trimming trees until after August, any hedgerow or tree that overhangs a highway and obstructs drivers' views is exempt from the restriction and should be trimmed to improve road safety.

"If drivers can’t see signs, then their ability to make safe decisions is compromised, especially if they’re on unfamiliar roads," says GEM chief executive Neil Worth

"Dealing with trees, branches and plants that hide traffic signs is a vital task, ensuring that speed limit and other signs are made as clear as possible to everyone using their roads."

"We therefore ask any farmer and landowners to do their bit for road safety and ensure any signs are clearly visible for road users, and that drivers have a clear and unobstructed view ahead, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends."

GEM encourages drivers to report obscured road signs to their local authorities. Additionally, it is essential to remember that unless specified otherwise by signs, a speed limit of 30 mph typically applies to all roads with street lighting.

Ask HJ

Should I straighten my wheels when parking?

When I learnt to drive in the 1960s I was told to park with the wheels straight for two reasons: to avoid strain on the PAS in full lock and to facilitate easy exit from a confined space. Is this advice still valid? I understand angling wheels in to the kerb on a steep hill but I often see cars driven into level parking bays and left on full lock. I'm reluctant to park next to them in case the driver forgets how the wheels were left and sideswipes me on the way out.

We would say that the advice you received when you were learning to drive is still valid. It makes good sense to leave the wheels straight when parked to avoid the scenario of forgetting which way the wheels are pointing when leaving the space, although we would say that leaving steering lock on the vehicle causes no additional strain when the vehicle is parked. It also makes good sense to avoid parking next to a vehicle with steering lock on, but we would always try and avoid parking next to anyone in a car park for a variety of reasons.

Answered by David Ross

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