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Sunday 17 April 2016 3:20 pm

It’s the end of totally pointless road signs on Britain’s roads and it could save millions of pounds

By: Lynsey Barber

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Drivers rejoice – road signs are about to become a lot less confusing.

If you've ever felt that there are simply too many notices on the roads telling you what's what and what to do, that's all about to change.

In what many may agree is a win for "common sense", no longer will signs about old diversions, or less-than-new road layouts ahead, be left idly cluttering up the nation's curbs.

The government is cracking down on what they themselves call "pointless" signage which it claims will save £30m by 2020.

Read more: Did these researchers just kill off the traffic light?

The Department for Transport (DfT) is introducing new rules which will put a three month limit on temporary signage and local councils handed powers to remove unnecessary markers.

That includes requirements for both a sign and road marker indicating the same thing, for example "permit holders only",  being removed in some instances, while rules over how often speed limit signs should be repeated are no longer mandatory and will be left up to councils.

Read more: Kerching – Tesla Modle 3 pre-orders are now worth $14bn

According to DfT, the number of signs on Britain's roads increased by 86 per cent between 1993 and 2003 to 4.57m.

"Road signs should only be installed on our roads when they are essential. Our common-sense reforms will help get rid of pointless signs that are an eyesore and distract drivers," said transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

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