Is Your Signage Safe & Legal?

Messagemaker Displays were exhibiting in full form at the Highways UK exhibition at the NEC on the 6th and 7th of November, with stand K50 boasting our brand-new Smart VMS Tower and VMS Mini Unit, as well as multiple fixed VMS traffic signs. However, our innovative products and excellent team were not the only attractions worth attending the show for – we also managed to sit down for a talk with Andy Fish from ARTSM – a road traffic safety and management association with whom Messagemaker are members. Andy talked us through the importance of safe signage, and what a difference a high quality, well placed road sign can make to prevent accidents and potentially save lives. Andy split the factors of signage safety into four main categories: Conspicuity – The sign must be clear and bright, easily visible to the naked eye in order to attract a road user’s attention. Legibility – The sign must be readable in all weather conditions, and not covered/potentially covered by any trees or other wildlife. Comprehensibility – The content of the sign must make sense, and provide a clear message to road users of all ages, languages etc. Credibility – The sign must be credible in order to be taken seriously by road users – e.g. be well kept, in good condition and positioned in the right place. Andy stressed that signs are often viewed as a commodity by users, who will, as a result of this, opt for cheap, low quality signage to save costs. While saving costs may be great for a company installing the signs, the negative impact on road users could be huge. Andy then asked the question – “If you were a motorcyclist, would you by a cheap, low quality helmet in order to save a few pounds?”. This is much more relevant to safety signage than you may think, as it’s asking sign manufacturers and end users to put themselves in the road users’ shoes. After all, we all use the roads in one way or another and would like to take comfort in the fact that our roads are as safe and secure as they can be. Here at Messagemaker, we take safe signage very seriously. All of our road signs are CE certified, as well as being fully tested in-house before release. Our membership with ARTSM serves to also further our knowledge of the traffic industry and sign safety, so that we can ensure we’re providing the best quality product and service we can. We look forward to seeing you at the London Build Expo on the 27th and 28th of November! Come and say hi!

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