Too many road signs are being obscured by foliage putting motorists at risk, according to UK breakdown and road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist.
Now highways authorities and landowners are being called on to tackle the recurring menace.
“Road signs provide vital instructions and information for drivers, who choose their speeds and actions based on what the signs tell them,” said GEM chief executive, Neil Worth.
“If they can’t see the signs, then their ability to make safe decisions is compromised, especially if they’re on unfamiliar roads.
“Dealing with trees, branches and plants that hide traffic signs is a vital task, ensuring that speed limit and other signs are made as clear as possible to everyone using their roads.
“We therefore ask any farmer and landowners to do their bit for road safety and ensure any signs are clearly visible for road users, and that drivers have a clear and unobstructed view ahead, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends.”
The Highways Act 1980 (Section 154) says landowners must protect the safety of road users by ensuring they maintain roadside hedges and trees.
GEM is encouraging drivers to report obscured road signs to the appropriate local authority, and to remember that a limit of 30mph usually applies to all traffic on all roads with street lighting, unless there are signs to say otherwise.
