The new guidance from National Highways (NH) on signing to EV charging points from motorways and trunk roads is a welcome step forward. Whilst this mainly deals with motorways and other trunk roads, it contains a lot of detail that will be helpful to other authorities in setting their policies.
It focuses on facilities for ‘Hubs’ which it defines as having 12 or more 150kW charge points available 24 hours. But it also requires there to be toilets and hot food available making it, in effect, a mini service area. This latter point has caused some press criticism, but on trunk roads signing is necessarily only provided for major facilities to avoid sign clutter and overload. Equivalent amenities would be expected at a petrol filling station signed from a trunk road. The document does provide for discretion to be exercised by the NH Route Manager if appropriate.
Another welcome addition is the requirement, illustrated in Section 7 (reproduced below), for signing within all types of service areas to comply with TSRGD. Too many motorway service areas currently have non-compliant signs that are often confusing and frankly dangerous.
The revised NH document covering signing to all types of services is here: NH Roadside facilities signing guide. Section 6 on p 48 covers EV charging hub provisions.
Some of the signs the new document illustrates, produced by the Department for Transport using Causeway’s SignPlot software:
Written by Simon Morgan, MA, MSc, CEng, MICE, HonFIHE, FBCS, CITP, Principal Advisor, Causeway Technologies
Founder of Buchanan Computing (now part of Causeway Technologies), Simon uses his local government and subsequent experience to assist DfT, Transport Scotland, Welsh Government, National Highways, Traffic Penalty Tribunal and others with policy issues and training. He chairs the committees at both BSI and the Institute of Highway Engineers responsible for traffic signs, and is well known as an author and speaker on signing, traffic orders and improving road safety.
If you’re designing or checking signs and markings, Causeway's Signs & Lines suite takes care of the details. It helps you stay compliant with TSRGD, BIM and local standards. Get in touch to find out more.
