Vegetation blocking road signs labelled dangerous for drivers

More than four-in-10 (42%) drivers have admitted to accidentally breaking the speed limit, because of overgrown foliage blocking road signs, new research from the RAC suggests.

Three-quarters (74%) of drivers say speed limit signs are the most likely type of sign to be covered up by overgrown foliage, with 30mph signs the most commonly obscured.

Mor than half (53%) of motorists say obscured signs are a frequent occurrence on their journeys, with a further two-in-five (39%) saying signs are occasionally harder to see in the warmer months.

Just 8% say obscured signs are not a problem on roads near them.

A quarter (26%) of respondents also reported that they had missed important information that compromised their safety someone else’s, while 28% claimed to have missed a turn and nearly one-in-10 (8%) said they ended up driving in the wrong direction.

Of particular concern was the finding that ‘red circle’ signs, which tell drivers what they must do, seem to be the ones most often hidden by untrimmed trees and bushes.

More than half (52%) of drivers said 30mph signs were the most obscured by foliage, where a further four-in-10 (39%) said 40mph signs were hardest to see and 16% said 20mph signs were overgrown.

After speed limits, two-thirds (66%) of drivers said signs that provide directions and information or indicate an upcoming motorway junction were the hardest to spot.

A further 42% felt other ‘red triangle’ signs, that warn of changes in road layout and hazards such as junctions, dual carriageways ending and school crossings, were either partially or fully obscured, while 35% said ‘give way’ signs were difficult to detect.

The RAC’s research also revealed that most drivers (92%) only realised signs had been obscured when passing them, by which point it may be too late to react to upcoming hazards.

Four-in-10 (38%) said they had to rely on local knowledge, as they knew where the sign was but couldn’t see it. 

However, nearly a fifth (18%) said they only realised a sign was obscured after noticing a speed limit repeater.

These signs could be placed as far as 450 metres after the first ‘terminal’ sign on a single or dual carriageway that indicates the start of a restriction or requirement – suggesting drivers might be unknowingly speeding as a consequence of overgrown foliage.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “It’s especially concerning that speed limit signs are often the hardest to detect and drivers are left guessing what the legal limit is before they spot a smaller repeater sign.

“Any amount of excessive speeding puts everyone on the roads at grave danger, especially on minor and local roads where there’s a greater number of pedestrians.”

Safety implications

The RAC’s research also found that unkempt vegetation isn’t just causing issues for road sign visibility – it is also creating danger for motorists at junctions or roundabouts.

Of those who notice road signs are obscured, four-in-five (81%) drivers said too much foliage makes it difficult to pull out of a junction or roundabout safely.

As a result, more than half (58%) of drivers questioned felt strongly that foliage should not be allowed to grow out of control as it compromises road safety.

An additional 28% said they expect foliage to be cut back considering how much they pay in council tax.

One-in-10 (9%) understood that council budgets are tight and cutbacks must be made, while just 3% don’t think obscured signs cause any problems for road users.

Simpson concluded: “Drivers shouldn’t be left to rely on their local knowledge and navigation apps to know if there’s a change in speed limit or if a junction is approaching. And new in-car systems that normally detect road signs and display them on the dashboard are redundant if a sign isn’t visible.

“While we realise local councils are under enormous pressure financially, we nonetheless ask them to inspect all the signs on their networks and do everything in their power to ensure they are clear and visible to drivers, as it’s these signs that can save lives.”