Signs

There are a number of signs that can be used to highlight traffic islands, median barrier terminals, or other features located within the roadway.

In summary:

• a feature which traffic must pass on the left eg an object located at the centre of the roadway of a conventional two-way, two-lane road, should be marked with a regulatory R3-13 Keep left – single disc;
• where the feature is so narrow that an R3-13 sign is being damaged and the width of the island is less than 600mm, an R3-13.1 Keep left – twin disc with a higher level of retroreflectivity should be installed;
• a feature which traffic may pass on either side may be marked with a W14-1 Diverge sign; and
• no grass or ground cover planting should be allowed to obscure signs and, where necessary to avoid this, the surface on approach to the feature should be suitably paved in the vicinity.

Where the feature is located on a road which is illuminated and vehicle speeds are low, the signs may be omitted if the RCA considers that it is safe to do so.

Approach to feature

Table 6‑1 describes signs that should be installed to alert road users they are approaching a feature within the roadway that may require the road user to deviate from a straight path along the roadway.

Table 6‑1: Signs for diverge and keep left for features within the roadway 

Sign code	Example	Description/use
W14-1 Diverge		May be installed where traffic lanes carrying traffic in the same direction diverge and pass to each side of a hazard such as a kerbed traffic island, bridge support or similar substantial obstruction. Owing to the visibility obstruction that these signs create, they should only be used where other cues have failed. The hazard (other than kerbing) should be painted white to a height of 1.7m above road level. See notes 1, 2, and 3 for sign location.
R3-13 Keep left – single disc		An R3-13 sign should be installed at or near the nose of a hazard to face approaching traffic where traffic must pass to the left of the island nose. For sign location, see notes 2, 3, and 4.
R3-13.1 Keep left – twin disc		Where the hazard is so narrow that an R3-13 sign would be (or is being damaged) by turning vehicles the alternative R3-13.1 sign should be used. For sign location, see notes 2, 3, and 4.

Table 6-1 notes:

1. The sign should be installed about 5m beyond the nose of the traffic island or in front of other types of hazard.
2. The sign should be installed in advance of the hazard that may require to deviate from a straight path along the roadway by at least the distance shown in the table below.

   Operating speed	Distance
   50km/h	65m
   70km/h	100m
   80km/h	120m
   90km/h	140m
   100km/h	160m

3. Approaching drivers should have an uninterrupted view of it over a distance of at least 120m in rural areas and at least 60m in urban areas.
4. From side roads, the mounting height of the sign should be such as to not present an obstruction to driver visibility, particularly across traffic islands at intersections. In such situations the signs should not be mounted higher than 150mm above the surface of the island.
5. Where right turning vehicles pass to the left of the sign it should be located as close as possible to the end of the traffic island. In other situations, the sign should be located between 1m and 5m beyond the end of the island.

Departure from feature

On departure from a feature, for which road users have had to move laterally and / or diverge, information may need to be provided to remind road users that the feature has been passed. For example, a two-way sign can be used to advise road users that the centre-line marking divides opposing traffic flows; refer to Table 6‑2.

Table 6‑2: Signs for lane management

Sign code	Example	Description/use
W14-2 Two-way		W14-2 signs should be installed: on non-divided motorways; at the termination of median divided roadways; at an intersection where a two-way road is directly ahead of a one-way approach leg. Should not be used to indicate sections of narrow two-way road. In such situations, W13-1 Road narrows -left or right side or W13-1.1 Road narrows – both sides signs should be used. W14-2 and W13-1.2 Two-way [distance] ahead supplementary signs should be installed in advance of W14-2 signs or the first of any series of W14-2 signs. For sign location, refer to note 1.

Table 6‑2 note:

1. The sign should be located where approaching drivers have an uninterrupted view of it over a distance of at least 120m in rural areas and at least 60m in urban areas. In addition, it should be located:
   • On non-divided motorways – at the start of the motorway and at intervals not exceeding 1km.
   • On median divided roadways – opposite the end of the median and 150m beyond the median end.
   • During reconstruction or stage construction of a divided highway where there is temporary two-way operation on one roadway – at intervals not exceeding 400m.
   • At a relevant intersection – on both sides of the two-way road and not more than 15m beyond the intersection.
2. The sign should be installed either in advance of the hazardous section (such as centre-line marking divides opposing traffic flows) of the roadway by at least the distance shown in the table below.

   Operating speed	Distance
   50km/h	65m
   70km/h	100m
   80km/h	120m
   90km/h	140m
   100km/h	160m