Skip to main content

Transport Focus to sort out English road signs

Transport Focus is zeroing in on poorly maintained road signs in England.
By David Arminas March 18, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Sort My Sign: Transport Focus is pushing for more accurate and informative road signs

The UK’s independent road user watchdog has launched a campaign called Sort My Sign to encourage England’s road users to report poor road signage.

England’s road authority, Highways England, manages more than 7,000km or motorways and major A roads.

Drivers can visit the Transport Focus website, enter a location, road name or postcode and enter details of the problem. Transport Focus will send it to Highways England on the road user’s behalf.

“We want to hear from road users about signs and information that aren’t up to scratch. We’ll use what you say to press Highways England to make journeys easier and safer,” said Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus.

“There is nothing more frustrating than missing your turnoff because the sign was hidden behind a tree or missing crucial information. While we have some of the safest roads there are still too many signs which are broken, confusing or out of date. If it’s not clear, it’s not safe.”

The Sort My Sign campaign aims to increase the usefulness and effectiveness of information on roads, including messages on electronic signs. This will allow more road users to make informed decisions in plenty of time, improving safety and reducing stress.

The examples sent in will be used to build up a map of issues across England and press for improvements for road users.

Transport Focus is calling for Highways England to mend broken or improve inaccurate signs as reported by road users. There is also a need top provide better information during delays and unexpected disruption. There should also be a review of the standards for signs on motorways and major A roads.

Related Content

  • Improving safety for vulnerable road users
    January 2, 2013
    Dutch-style cycle safety for other European nations – Mike Woof writes A recent event held in London during October was aimed at improving safety for vulnerable road users. Called Love London go Dutch, the event was intended to highlight some of the experience from Holland in reducing risk rates for vulnerable road users such as cyclists. Similar events were held in other UK cities, while other major European cities such as Paris that are seeing an increase in cycling also have a lot to learn from Dutch exp
  • UK’s M3 motorway gets first orange smart motorway emergency area
    July 19, 2017
    The first of a new-style smart motorway emergency stop area is being trialled on the M3 in England’s county Surrey. The redesigned emergency area has a highly visible orange road surface and better signs to help improve its visibility make it more obvious to drivers on smart motorways, according to Highways England.
  • Strategic road plan announced in the UK
    May 23, 2023
    A statement from National Highways in the UK said the emphasis is on boosting the economy “in an environmentally sustainable way” up to 2030 and beyond.
  • Telent extends National Highways deal
    March 20, 2025
    This is the second contract extension for Telent which will manage and operate digital technology services for the English agency’s National Roads Telecommunications Service, NRTS.