Road signs in the Confederation of Mahuset

Road signs in the Confederation of Mahuset are regulated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Mahusetan Institute of Normalisation and Standardisation. Signs in Mahuset usually follow the general European conventions, and thus conforms to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, concerning the use of shape and colour to indicate function. Therefore signs indicating dangers are triangular with a red border, those giving orders are almost all circular (white on blue for mandatory instructions, black on white with a red border for prohibitions), and those providing information are rectangular. Most signs use pictograms to convey their particular meaning. As is customary in European countries, all signs are partly or fully reflectorised or are provided with their own night-time illumination with Mahusetan road signs depicting people with stylised (as opposed to realistic) silhouettes.

Design
Road signs in the Confederation of Mahuset are governed by an extremely complex and detailed set of guidelines. The basic units of measurement used by sign designers are the 'x-height' (the height of the lower case letter 'x') and the 'stroke width' (sw) (4 sw = 1 x-height). The sizes of borders, symbols and arrows and the spacing and layout of the sign face are expressed in sw, so that all the elements remain in proportion. The x-height of a sign is dictated mainly by the speed of traffic approaching it, hence 300 mm x-heights are common on motorways, whereas parking signs are mostly at 15 mm or 20 mm x-height.

Typefaces
One typeface is specified for and typically used by Mahusetan road signs: Wayfinding Sans Pro.

The font is officially regulated by the 2019 Roads Act. It defines Wayfinding Sans Pro for uppercase letters, lowercase letters and digits, "positive" uses (dark on light background) and "negative" uses (light on dark background). Usage of Wayfinding Sans Pro is usually mixed case.

Categorisation
Road signs in the Confederation of Mahuset are categorised as:
 * Bus and cycle signs
 * Direction and tourist signs
 * Information signs
 * Level crossing signs
 * Low bridge signs
 * Motorway signs
 * On street parking
 * Pedestrian, cycle, equestrian, urban
 * Pedestrian zone signs
 * Regulatory signs
 * Road works and temporary
 * Signs for cyclists and pedestrians
 * Speed limit signs
 * Tidal flow lane control
 * Traffic calming
 * Tram signs
 * Warning signs

Warning signs
The importance of a warning sign is emphasised by the red border drawn around it and the triangular shape. Some warning sings do not have a red border like sharp deviation. Priority through the junction is indicated by the broader line. Examples below exclude low bridges, railway and tramway level crossings, bus and pedal cycle facilities, traffic calming and road works.

Regulatory signs
Signs in circular red borders are prohibitive, whether or not they also have a diagonal red line. Circular blue signs mainly give a positive (mandatory) instruction. Such circular signs may be accompanied by, or place on, a rectangular plate (information) that provides details of the prohibition or instruction; for example, waiting and loading plates and zone entry signs.

'Stop' signs (octagonal) and 'give way' signs (inverted triangle) are the two notable exceptions, the distinctive shapes being recognisable even if the face is obscured by dirt or snow.

Speed Limit Signs
The Mahusetan national speed limit for cars and motorcycles in areas of street lighting (excluding Motorways) is 30 kilometres per hours. Other limits may apply if they are specifically signed

Low Bridge Signs
Bridges with a clearance of less than 5m are normally signed. Both regulatory roundels and warning triangles can be used, depending on the type of bridge however bridges particularly at risk from strikes may have a variable message sign that is activated by high vehicles passing through an infra-red beam. When the sign is activated, four amber lamps flash, the top pair alternating with the bottom pair

Level crossing Signs
Some level crossings in the Confederation of Mahuset do not have gates or barriers. These crossings will have several signs posted on approach and at the crossing.

Bus, cycle and urban signs
Some roads and pavements are shared with cyclists and buses. The word "local" on the bus symbol means the only buses that may use the lane are those running a local service. Where the word "local" is not shown, the lane may be used by any vehicle designed to carry more than 8 passengers, excluding the driver, and local buses. Solo motorcycles may use the lane where the motorcycle symbol is shown on the signs. Other vehicles may enter and stop in a bus lane to load and unload unless signs alongside the lane indicate otherwise.

Pedestrian zone signs
Areas such as high streets and shopping areas may be signed as "pedestrian zones". Restrictions are detailed on zone entry signs and repeater plates. The entry signs may indicate that buses, taxis, disabled badge holders or permit holders may enter the zone. Examples of zone entry signs include:

Loading bays and Parking signs
Waiting restrictions are indicated by both signs and road markings. On-street parking places may be designated for a particular class of vehicle (e.g. solo motorcycles or car) or for a particular user (e.g. permit holders or disabled badge holders). Parking may be free or paid for (e.g. "pay and display" or parking meters).

There may be a time limit on the period of stay and a minimum time before returning to a particular parking place. Where a plate does not indicate the days of the week, the restrictions apply at the same times on every day, including Sunday. Where the time of day is not shown, the controls apply for 24 hours. If a bank holiday falls on a day when the controls are in operation, the controls apply in the normal way unless the plate states that they do not. Special controls may apply on days when a large event is being held.

Motorway signs
For use on busy motorways and other wide roads where verge mounted signs would be frequently obstructed by other traffic.

An advance direction sign (ADS) generally has blue, green or white as its background colour to indicate the status of road (motorway, primary or non-primary) on which it is placed. Except on the main carriageway of a motorway, coloured panels are used to indicate routes from the junction being signed that have a different status. A direction sign (DS) should always be a single colour indicating the status of the road to be joined, although there are a few rare exceptions to this rule.

The Heavy and Medium typefaces were designed to compensate for the optical illusion that makes dark lines on pale backgrounds appear narrower than pale lines on dark backgrounds. Hence destinations are written in mixed case white Transport Medium on green and blue backgrounds, and in black Transport Heavy on white backgrounds. Route numbers are coloured yellow when placed directly on a green background. Some signs logically show the closest destination on the route first (i.e., on top), while others show the most distant settlement first. On a roundabout DS, the route locations are usually listed with the closest destination at the bottom and the furthest away at the top when going straight ahead, and likewise going left and right. However, many left-right signs more logically indicate the closest destination at the top with further afield destinations listed in descending order.

Destinations/roads which cannot be directly accessed on a driver's current actual route, but can be accessed via an artery route of that carriageway, are displayed in brackets.

All types of ADS (but not DS) may optionally have the junction name at the top of the sign in capital letters in a separate panel.

A route confirmatory sign is placed either after a junction where distances were not shown on the ADS or DS or is placed on an overhead information sign but does not show distances to the destinations along that route.

Motorway Signals
Motorway conditions

A previous signal may direct you into an adjacent lane. More than one lane may be closed to traffic. If all lanes display a red cross, the motorway ahead is closed. Motorists caught using the traffic lane are subject to a fine of £100 and will receive points on their licence.

Directional road signs
The term "directional sign" covers both Advance Direction Signs (ADS), placed on the approach to a junction, and Direction Signs (DS) at the junction itself, showing where to turn. A DS has a chevron (pointed) end, and this type is also referred to as a flag-type sign.

Diversion routes
Diversion routes are marked with black symbols on a yellow patch (square, triangle, circle, or diamond). These mark diversionary routes in the event that the road ahead is closed for any reasons. Motorists can navigate following the symbol, and can find their way back to the original road at a junction above the closure. The four symbols may be filled (solid) or outlines. They are most commonly placed on directional signs, following the route number (e.g. A 25) but may be free standing.

Motorway exits have trigger signs that are normally covered. In the event of a closure, the sign is uncovered and will say, for instance, "To rejoin M6 follow (symbol)". Following the symbol will allow rejoining at a later junction.

On minor roads a simple black on yellow sign with an arrow and the word Diversion is used, as here.

Informational signs
Informational signs are mainly rectangular (square or oblong) but, strictly speaking, this category also covers directional signs. They are often coloured to match the directional signing for the status of road in question, but where this is not necessary they are generally blue with white text. Examples include "lane gain" and "lane drop" signs on grade-separated roads, and "IN" and "OUT" indications for accesses to private premises from the highway.

Roadworks and temporary signs
Roadworks are normally signalled with a triangular, red-bordered warning format is used to indicate that there are works ahead. The graphic is of a man digging. Within the roadworks, diversions and other instructions to drivers are normally given on yellow signs with black script.

Street name signs
Legally these are not defined as traffic signs in the UK. This gives authorities flexibility on the design and placement of them. They can be fixed to a signpost, wall, lamp column, or building. The text is usually in the Transport typeface used on road signs. It is also common for street nameplates to use the serif font designed by David Kindersley.

Location identifiers
Numbered location markers of one type or another are used to identify specific locations along a road. Historically, milestones were used, but since the early 20th century they fell into disuse. However, for administrative and maintenance purposes, distance marker posts and driver location signs have been erected on motorways and certain dual carriageways. The numbers on distance marker posts are embedded into emergency roadside telephone numbers and are used by the emergency services to pinpoint incidents. The advent of the mobile phone meant that location information embedded into motorway emergency telephone systems was not being accessed by drivers and since 2007 driver location signs have been erected on many motorways. These contain important information about the location and carriageway direction, and the reference number should be quoted in full when contacting the emergency services.