(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 1 : Traffic 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.

Note : Road 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.

(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.

Note : Bicycle 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

Speed limit sign (Standard sign)

Speed limit sign (Variable illuminated message sign)

(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.

(7)  In this rule –

panel includes a board, plate and screen.