316 When do traffic control devices comply substantially with the Road Rules
(1) A traffic sign complies substantially with the Road Rules if –
(a) it is a reasonable likeness of a diagram in Schedule 2 or 3 of that kind of traffic sign; or
(b) for a traffic sign of a kind for which there is not a diagram in Schedule 2 or 3 – it complies substantially with a description of that kind of traffic sign in the Rules and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in Schedule 4, the symbol on the sign is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
Note 1Traffic sign is defined in the dictionary.
Note 2 The diagrams of traffic signs in Schedules 2 and 3 are in alphabetical order.
(2) A road marking complies substantially with the Road Rules if it complies substantially with a description of that kind of road marking in the Rules and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in Schedule 4, the symbol in the road marking is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
NoteRoad marking is defined in the dictionary.
(3) A traffic control device (except a traffic sign or a road marking) complies substantially with the Road Rules if the device complies substantially with a description of that kind of traffic control device in the Rules and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in Schedule 4, the symbol on the device is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
Example 1 A children's crossing may have a red and white post missing temporarily. The missing post does not prevent the crossing from meeting the description of such a crossing that is set out in rule 80(6).
Example 2 A freeway may have several freeway signs missing. The missing signs do not prevent the area from still being considered to be a freeway.
(4) A traffic sign may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of traffic sign mentioned in the Road Rules even though –
(a) the dimensions of the sign, or of anything on the sign, are different; or
(b) the sign has additional information on or with it; or
(c) the number on the sign is different; or
(d) the sign has a different number of panels; or
(e) the sign is combined on a single panel with one or more other traffic signs; or
(f) for a parking control sign – words, figures, symbols, or anything else, on the sign are differently arranged; or
(g) for a bus lane sign, emergency stopping lane only sign, one-way sign or parking control sign – the sign has an arrow pointing in a different direction; or
(h) for a separated footpath sign or an end separated footpath sign – the pedestrian and bicycle symbols are reversed; or
(i) for a road access sign – information on or with the sign indicates (whether by different wording or in another way) that it applies to different or additional vehicles or persons; or
(j) there is a variation in shade or brightness between a colour on the sign and the equivalent colour in the diagram.
| | Example of subrule (4)(b) |
| | A speed-limit sign near a school may say that the sign has effect at certain times. This additional information does not prevent the sign being a reasonable likeness of the diagram of a speed-limit sign in Schedule 2. |
| | Example of subrule (4)(c) |
| | The diagram of the area speed-limit sign in Schedule 2 has the number ‘60’. A particular area speed-limit sign may have another number eg ‘50’. The different number on the sign does not prevent the sign being a reasonable likeness of the diagram. |
| | Examples of subrule (4)(d) |
| 1. | A school zone sign may have the indicated speed-limit, the words ‘school zone’, and the times of operation, on a single panel or separate panels. |
| 2. | An end bicycle path sign may have the word ‘end’ on a separate panel or on the same panel as the rest of the sign. |
| | Example of subrule (4)(e) |
| | A no parking sign that operates at certain times may be combined on a single panel with a permissive parking sign allowing pay parking at other times. |
| | Example of subrule (4)(f) |
| | A permissive parking sign limiting parking to 2 hours may have the time limit above, or below, the word ‘parking’. |
| | Example of subrule (4)(i) |
| | The diagram of the road access sign in Schedule 2 says ‘no pedestrians bicycles animals beyond this point’. The replacement of the word ‘bicycles’ by the word ‘tractors’ on a particular sign does not prevent the sign being a reasonable likeness of the diagram. |
NoteBicycle symbol, parking control sign, pedestrian symbol and with are defined in the dictionary.
(5) A variable illuminated message sign may also be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of traffic sign in Schedule 2 or 3 even though the colour of the sign, or of anything else on the sign, is different.
Note
Variable illuminated message sign is defined in the dictionary.
| Example of standard sign and variable illuminated message sign |
| Speed limit signs |
(6) A symbol on or in a traffic control device may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of symbol mentioned in the Road Rules even though the dimensions of the symbol, or of anything on the symbol, are different.
