DfT home > Policy, guidance and research > Roads and vehicles > Traffic Signs and Signals

Good practice guidance, general guidance and information

Low bridges and prevention of bridge strikes

These guides intended to raise the awareness of staff involved in route risk assessment and schedules for passenger vehicles to the risks and consequences of bridge strikes, and to give guidance so that bridge strikes may be prevented.

Estimating the cost of conversion of road traffic signs to metric units

This report provides a broad indication of the costs of converting speed and distance measurements on traffic signs to metric units, including assumptions on which costs were based and items not taken into account.

Published:: 23 February 2006

New road signs and markings leaflet

All road users need to be aware of changes to the Traffic Signs Regulations 1 that came into effect on 31 January 2003. The changes introduce new regulatory signs, new road markings and modify the legal significance of some existing ones.

Published:: 09 July 2003
Last update:: 05 November 2004

Know your traffic signs (6 Mb)

This guide illustrates and explains the traffic signs that a road user is likely to encounter. Please note this is a large file which takes time to download. You may find it easier to right click on the link and select Save Target As (IE).

Published:: 24 July 2007

An introduction to the use of portable vehicular signals (1 Mb)

This booklet is for people with specific responsibility for portable vehicular signals at street works and road works. It replaces and updates advice first published in 1986 and covers subjects such as choice of approved equipment, setting up the equipment to maximise safety and minimise delays and trouble-shooting guidance to keep equipment working correctly.

Published:: 07 March 2008

Mini roundabouts good practice guidance (6 Mb)

This document explains what a mini-roundabout is and how it should be used. It explains the legislative basis for mini-roundabouts and establishes current practice based upon real examples of installation and lessons learned.

Published:: 27 November 2006

Puffin good practice guide (1 Mb)

Guidance and examples for Puffin pedestrian facilities at traffic signals and mid block crossings including Toucan and equestrian crossings. Advice applies to new installations and conversion of existing crossings.

Published:: 07 August 2006
Last update:: 01 April 2008

Puffin Good Practice Guide Video (26 Mb)

A windows media format video to accompany the guidance for Puffin pedestrian facilities at traffic signals and mid block crossings (NB This is a large file so may take a long time to download).

Published:: 22 August 2006

Puffin crossing toolkit (343 kb)

The Department has produced a Puffin toolkit consisting of a leaflet, posters and two DVDs/CD ROMs which are available free of charge from our distribution centre.