Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Introduction
IRC 67-2001 is the official guide to designing, manufacturing and installing traffic signs in
India. It is a good introduction to this complex subject, but there are some confusions,
contradictions and omissions, which this note seeks to resolve. It provides technical advice
which supplements and in some cases modifies the guidance given in the IRC Code. The note
follows the layout of the IRC Code.
2. Classification of Road Signs
3. Siting of Signs with Respect to the Carriageway
Figure 1 illustrates the main requirements.
Fig. 1 Heights and Clearances
B
A
H
No shoulder
Shoulder
Kerb
Footway
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
F
A
Kerb
Minimum (mm)
600
1000
300
2000
2100
5500
750
Desirable (mm)
1000
2000
600
2000
2100
5900
Maximum (mm)
2500
3000
1000
2500
2500
5000
Notes
1. Mandatory signs (e.g. Keep Left) on traffic islands are normally mounted so that the bottom edge is
about 1000mm above the paved surface.
When several signs have to be placed along the same section of road take care that they do not
obscure each other. Locate the signs a minimum of 0.6V metres apart (where V is the 85
percentile speed in km/h).
Signs are normally erected on the left side of the road, but for extra emphasis a second sign may
be placed on the right side of the road. This is especially useful on left-hand bends.
4. Orientation of the Signs
Figure 2 illustrates how signs should be orientated. This helps to avoid glare from reflective
signs at night.
Fig. 2 Sign Orientation
95o
NH and SH roads
NH and SH roads
Other roads
Reassurance Signs
Place Identification Signs
Temporary Diversion Signs
NH and SH roads
NH and SH roads
All roads
Other roads
NH and SH
Other roads
NH and SH roads
All roads
Colours of sign
(lettering /
background)
White on green
(see notes below)
Black on white
White on green
Black on white
White on green
White on green
Black on yellow
Notes
1. Where the sign gives information on NH or SH roads and other roads it will have white lettering on a
green background throughout.
2. Signs on NH or SH roads through towns which refer exclusively to local in-town destinations will have
black lettering and symbols on a white background.
8. Sizes of Signs
9. Visibility of Signs
10. Sizes of Letters
The size of lettering on Route Information signs (the IRC Code refers to them as Direction and
Place Identification signs) must be related to the speed of approaching traffic. Table 2 gives the
details. It differentiates between:
Advance direction signs (ADS) (IRC Fig.15.1, 15.2 and 15.3) - placed before the junction
Direction signs (IRC Fig. 15.4, 15.5) placed at the junction and pointing in the appropriate
direction
Route confirmatory (Reassurance) signs (IRC Fig. 15.6) placed after the junction
Place identification signs (IRC Fig. 15.7) placed at the entrance to a town or village
Refer to the Sign Layout section of this note for illustration of sign placing at junctions.
Letter sizes are referred to in terms of x heights. This is the height of a lower-case x in the
English (Latin) alphabet (see section titled Annexure 4 Rules for the Design of Informatory
Signs for more information). IRC para. 10.3 states that lettering on ADS on NH/SH should
have an x height of at least 150mm, but it is recommended that the advice in Table 2 be used
instead. References in the same paragraph to letter thickness and size of upper case initial letters
are misleading and should be ignored. In the chosen letter style (Transport) the upper case letters
(capitals) are always 1.4 times the x height.
1
85th percentile
approach
speed of cars
2
x height
(mm)
Up to 50 km/h
50 - 65 km/h
65 - 80 km/h
80 - 90 km/h
Over 90 km/h
75
(60)
100
(75)
125
(100)
150
(125)
200
(150)
3
Minimum
clear
visibility to
the sign (m)
45
4
ONE sign:
distance from
junction (m)
Direction Signs
Reassurance Signs
Place Identification Signs
45
5
TWO signs:
distance
between 1st and
2nd sign (m)
-
60
90
50
80
90 - 150
70
90
150 - 225
100
115
225 - 300
100
6
x height
(mm)
60
(50)
75
(60)
100
(75)
125
(100)
150
(125)
7
Minimum clear
visibility to the sign
(m)
35
45
60
75
105
Notes
th
1. The 85 percentile speed is the speed exceeded by only 15% of vehicles.
2. The x height is the height of a letter "x". Multiply the x height by 1.4 to get the equivalent height of a capital letter.
3. In the case of signs on roads with more than 2 lanes in the same direction use the next larger x-height.
4. In columns 2 and 6 the smaller x heights shown in brackets are the absolute minimum sizes to be used where site space is
limited.
5. In columns 3 and 7 the clear visibility distances indicated are minimum values. Greater distances should be provided wherever
possible.
6. Two advance direction signs can be used where there is too much information to put on one sign. Typically, the first sign will
show primary destinations; the second sign will show local destinations and will be closer to the junction. The distance between the
two signs is indicated in column 5. So, where the approach speed is 60 km/h, the first sign will be 140m in advance of the junction
and the second sign will be 90m in advance of it.
7. Reassurance Signs are normally placed about 100-150m after the junction. Place Identification Signs are normally placed about
90m in advance of the start of the built-up area.
Warning
signs length
of side (mm)
700
900
1000
Regulatory signs
diameter (mm)
600
750
900
The IRC Code section 12. states that the border of supplementary plates shall be 20mm wide, but
this contradicts Annexure 4, section H which states that the border shall be 1 stroke width. The
latter is correct. See comments on Annexure 4 for further explanation.
Diameter of sign
(mm)
300
450
600
750
900
900
Mandatory / regulatory signs are normally sited at or near the point where the instruction applies.
Length of
triangle
side (mm)
700
900
1000
1340
Distance of
sign from
hazard (m)
45
90
120
200
signs (with multiple chevrons) are for use at sharp radius curves they have more visual impact
than the single chevron sign. The two-chevron sign is also used on the centre island of
roundabouts to indicate that drivers must turn sharply left on entering the circulatory carriageway
(see the Sign Layouts section). Signs K2.8A and K2.8B have yellow chevrons on a black
background. Sign K2.8C has a black chevron on a yellow background.
Fig. 3 Positioning of Chevron Signs
K2.8A
K2.8C
K2.8B
At a junction the Direction Signs and the Reassurance Signs, if any, must repeat the place
names given on the Advance Direction Signs;
The place names on Reassurance Signs shall be listed in order of distance (furthest at the top)
not population size.
Care is needed when selecting the place names to put on signs. It is important to be consistent at
each junction along a route. In other words, once a place name appears on a sign it must appear
on every subsequent sign until that place is reached. Major places that are near to the route, but
not on it, can be shown on the sign. At major junctions on National Highways the signs will
normally refer only to the more important places, such as Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur,
Kasargod, Kochi, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram
and Thrissur. Reassurance Signs may show the destination at the end of the route (e.g., Salem
and Kanyakumari on NH47).
When considering the provision of Facility Information Signs it is recommended that priority be
given to signs showing the location of Hospitals, First Aid Posts, and Police Stations.
16. Backing Boards
Signs can be mounted on yellow or grey backing boards to make them more prominent. This is
useful where there is a distracting background or the sign is particularly important. Yellow
backing boards are very effective but should only be used for critical signs if they are too
widely used drivers will stop noticing them. Signs assemblies (two signs, or a sign and a
supplementary plate) will often look neater, and be much stronger, if they are combined on a
single plate.
Fig. 4 Mounting of Signs on Backing Boards
0.4 s/w
5.6 s/w
2 s/w
2 s/w
1.4x
8 s/w 2.0x
4 s/w
1.0x
2s/w
Imaginary Text Tile
The IRC Code (page 28) Table 4(a) contains a Remarks section which sets out letter heights
and stroke widths for various types of signs. It is recommended that the advice given in Table 2
of this note (where letter height is related to traffic speed) be used instead.
Layout of Signs
A. General
Route Information signs are not standard sizes. Never try and squeeze words onto a sign plate of
a specific size. You must first determine the size of the lettering to be used, which has to be
large enough for drivers to read at a distance. Refer to Table 2 in this note for the letter sizes for
informatory signs. The letter size that you select, (more specifically, the x height) is critical to
the design, because the design rules specify dimensions in terms of stroke widths and a stroke
width is always one quarter of the x height.
The design rules common to all Route Information signs are as follows (although there are a few
exceptions):
Make the sign as small as the design rules allow
Place names are to be given in Malayalam and English with the Malayalam word stacked
above the other and with their initial letters aligned (i.e. ranged left)
No more than four destinations (place names) are permitted on one sign
No more than two destinations are permitted for any one direction (except for Reassurance
Signs)
Where two destinations are shown for one direction the nearer of the two shall be stacked
above the other and with their initial letters aligned
All the lettering on the sign shall be the same size regardless of the importance of the
destination
Corners of the signs are to be rounded for greater safety and better appearance.
2.5 s/w
1.5 s/w
2.5 s/w
8 s/w
8 s/w
1.5 s/w
Radius of 2 s/w
on internal corners
2.5 s/w
1.66 SW
1 SW
60
min.
12.5 s/w
L
2/3 L
4 s/w (DR)
radius
1 s/w
symbol
width (SW)
2.5 s/w
1.5 s/w
4 s/w
6 s/w
(NH or SH)
2.5 s/w
12 s/w
min. (all exit arms)
12 s/w
7 s/w
14 s/w
30
E. Stack-type signs
Figure 9 illustrates the layout principles. Arrows may be vertical or horizontal or at any angle in
between in increments of 22.50. The IRC Code (page 33) E.(iii) specifies that black borders on
local advance direction signs shall be 4 s/w wide, but this will make the border too prominent, so
it is recommended that the standard width of 1.5 s/w be used.
Fig. 9 Layout of Stack-Type ADS
F. Direction signs
Figure 10 illustrates the layout principles.
Fig. 10 Layout of Direction Signs
3.5 s/w
60
120
radius
1 s/w
1.5 s/w
radius
3 s/w
1.5 s/w
equal
equal
H. Supplementary Plates
Figure 12 illustrates the layout principles.
Fig. 12 Layout of Supplementary Plates
1 s/w
2.5 s/w
1.5 s/w
Radius of 1 s/w
on internal corners
2.5 s/w
Supplementary plates always have black lettering and border on a white background. The
English legend is always in capital letters. Note that unlike other signs the border is only 1 s/w
wide.
I. Table of measurements of stroke widths
Stroke widths are one quarter of the x height. If you follow this rule exactly you may find that
you are using dimensions expressed in parts of a millimetre, in which case you can, if you wish,
round them up or down to the nearest millimetre. The Table in Section I of the IRC Code gives
you alternative dimensions, which, if used, will avoid the need for rounding. In practice, it will
not matter which method you use.
24s/w
24 s/w
1.5 x the width
of the route
symbol
1.5 s/w
1.5 s/w
24 s/w
2.5 s/w
24 s/w
2.5 s/w
2.5 s/w
2.5 s/w
10 s/w
Kottayam Punalur
>
>
>
Angamali
Note: this is an advance direction sign on a dual 2-lane primary road ahead of a junction where
there is a left slip road leading to Angamali. Note that there is no route information above the
right-hand carriageway.
Note: this is an advance direction sign on a 3-lane road. Lanes 1 and 2 can be used by traffic
heading for East Fort and Vallakadavu. Lane 3 is only for traffic that will turn right at the
junction to go to Kovalam.