Skip to: Navigation | Content | Footer

Readable roads

Updated: 16 November 2009

'Readable roads' enable drivers to see, think about and make good decisions on travelling at a safe speed for the conditions and an appropriate position on the road. They have easily seen and understood signs and markings that give drivers clear guidance to using the state highways safely and complement information from the natural road environment.

Features of readable roads

Signs and markings include:

  • destination signs, which indicate the general direction that drivers should take
  • warning signs, which alert drivers to particular features that need special care, such as curves that they need to slow down for
  • signs that require drivers to take particular actions, such as stopping at intersections with poor visibility
  • road markings, which guide drivers along the way and indicate the layout of the road ahead, showing the lanes that can be used and showing the shapes of curves and hollows. Yellow lines indicate actions that are prohibited in places, such as overtaking.

We use the latest technology and strict maintenance programmes to ensure that these signs and markings are clearly visible day and night and in all weather conditions.

When deciding on whether to create additional or new signs, we consider:

  • how bends combine with hills
  • how well the edge of the road is defined
  • whether there are any misleading signals or signs that could be misinterpreted
  • whether the road ahead is similar to the rest of that part of the network.

Learn about what we're doing to make state highways safer for all road users by: