Information signs must use certain font, colour, and mounting rules from AS 1742.15. These rules help make traffic signs clear and the same everywhere in Australia. Information signs use a special typeface and colour to make them easy to read. Following these rules helps keep people safe and makes sure all drivers get the same message. Information signs are different from regulatory or warning signs. They give guidance or information but do not make rules.

To learn more about how AS 1742 standards shape traffic signage across the country, read our blog: Understanding AS 1742: The Foundation of Australian Traffic Sign Regulations.

Ключевые выводы

• Use the AS 1744 Transport Series typeface. Make sure the letter size, интервал, and capitalisation are correct. This helps people read and understand the signs easily.
• Pick blue backgrounds with white text for standard signs. This gives strong contrast and makes signs easy to see in any light.
• Put signs at the right height and in the right place. Drivers should see them easily without anything blocking or distracting them.
• Check signs often for damage, угасание, or things blocking them. This keeps roads clear and safe for everyone using them.
• Always use the AS 1742.15 checklist carefully. This helps avoid mistakes and keeps information signs safe and the same on all roads.

Information Signs: Шрифт

Typeface

КАК 1742.15 says all information signs must use the AS 1744 Transport Series typeface. This typeface helps drivers read signs fast and easily. The rules say only this typeface is clear enough for road users. Designers cannot use other fonts for the legend on these signs. The Transport Series typeface has clear letters and good spacing. This helps the road sign face layout and lets drivers see the message quickly. The letter shapes and sizes fit different roads and speeds.

Size and Hierarchy

The rules give clear steps for letter size and order on direction signs. Main routes or places use bigger letters. Extra details, like facility names, use smaller letters. This helps drivers see the most important legend first. The sign face layout rules show how to set out the legend so the main route stands out. Letter size depends on road speed and how far away drivers read the sign. Bigger letters help on highways or fast roads. Smaller letters work for local streets or small roads. The rules also explain using different letter types and sizes for each legend part.

Примечание: Always use the sign face layout rules to get the right order and design for every legend.

Capitalisation

КАК 1742.15 gives clear rules for using capital letters on direction signs. Main routes and place names use all capital letters for the legend. Facility types or extra details often use both big and small letters. This makes the legend easier to read and scan. The rules help designers pick the right capital letters for each legend part. Using the right capitalisation helps the design and lets drivers spot key route details fast.

Spacing and Legibility

Good spacing between letters, words, and lines is very important for reading. The rules set the smallest gaps to stop letters from crowding. Good spacing helps drivers read the legend on signs from far away and at speed. The sign face layout rules show how much space to leave around the legend and between lines. Designers must check the legend does not touch the sign edge. This clear space makes the design better and helps the legend stand out. Good spacing also helps drivers follow the route without getting mixed up.

• Key points for spacing:
  • Leave enough space between each letter.
  • Keep a clear gap between lines of legend.
  • Make sure the legend does not touch the sign edge.

Following these rules makes every legend on direction signs easy to read and understand. This helps keep travel safe and lets drivers find their way with confidence.

Colour and Contrast

Background and Text

Information signs have a blue background with white text. This makes them easy for drivers to see. It also stops people from mixing them up with other road signs. The blue colour stands out in most places, so the legend is clear. Tourist and cultural signs sometimes use brown backgrounds with white text. These are special cases. The background should always be one solid colour. There should not be any patterns. This keeps the message easy to read.

It is important that the text and background are very different. This is called contrast. Contrast ratio shows how much the text stands out. For normal text, the ratio should be at least 4.5 к 1. Large text can have a lower ratio of 3 к 1. The best ratio is 7 к 1 for everyone to see well. The table below shows the right contrast ratios for different text sizes:

Designers need to check the contrast before finishing a sign. This makes sure the legend is easy to read in any light. Good contrast helps people who cannot see colours well or have low vision.

Отражательная способность

Отражательная способность helps traffic signs show up at night or in bad weather. AS/NZS 1906.1 gives the rules for retroreflective materials. These materials have tiny glass beads or micro-prisms. They bounce light from car headlights back to the driver. This makes the sign look bright and clear, even in the dark or fog.

There are different types of reflective material for different roads. The table below shows the main types:

Сорт 3 materials are the brightest and last the longest. Signs with these materials can be seen from far away. Это дает водителям больше времени для реагирования. Signs should be checked often to make sure they still reflect light well. This helps keep roads safe.

Prohibited Combinations

КАК 1742.15 bans some colour combinations for information signs. Например, you cannot use white text on a green background for community information signs. This stops confusion with route guidance signs, which use green. Designers should not use colours that look like regulatory or warning signs. Red or yellow backgrounds are not allowed. Using the wrong colours can confuse drivers or make the sign less useful.

In short, using the right background, text colour, and reflectivity makes signs easy to see and understand. Good design helps everyone, even people with vision problems, find their way safely.

Mounting

Высота

КАК 1742.15 gives rules for how high to put signs. Most information signs should have their bottom edge between 1.5 и 2.0 metres above the ground. This height helps drivers see the sign easily as they drive. If a sign is on a breakaway post, it must be at least 2.2 metres high. This extra height keeps people safer if a car hits the post. Signs that are too low can be blocked by parked cars or things by the road. Signs that are too high are hard to read, especially for people in small cars. These rules help keep every route safe and simple to follow.

Lateral Placement

Signs must be put in the right place from the side of the road. This keeps them easy to see and away from traffic. Designers need to follow rules for how far signs are from the road edge. Signs should not block other signs or traffic lights. Here are the main points for where to put signs:

• Overhead signs above paths must have at least 2.03 metres of space under them.
• Post-mounted signs with leading edges between 685 mm and 2.03 metres high cannot stick out more than 305 mm into the path.
• The 305 mm rule also counts for space between posts, except for sloping handrails.
• Signs with leading edges below 685 mm or above 2.03 metres can stick out any amount from posts or pylons.

These rules help keep the way clear and safe for everyone.

Orientation and Obstructions

Each sign must face the traffic coming towards it. This helps drivers read the legend without turning their heads. Designers should look for trees, поляки, or benches that might block the sign. Signs must not be hidden by parked cars or other things. For advance exit signs on big roads, signs may need to hang over the road. Сюда, all drivers in every lane can see them and get ready for the next turn.

Structural Requirements

Signs need strong posts or supports to stay up. The structure must hold the sign steady in wind and bad weather. All posts and supports must follow the rules in AS 1742.15. The pole colour should not take attention from the legend or blend in with the background. Most poles are grey or silver to match the road area. Designers must check that the sign structure meets safety rules for the road. Regular checks help keep the sign safe and easy to see.

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Compliance Issues

Common Mistakes

Many teams make similar errors when installing or designing information signs for a route. These mistakes can reduce safety and make it hard for drivers to follow the correct route. Some of the most common problems include:

• Using the wrong colour for a sign, such as red or yellow, which can confuse drivers about the type of sign on a route.
• Placing signs too close to intersections, which can block sight lines and make it hard to see the route ahead.
• Failing to check signs regularly, so faded or damaged signs stay in place and reduce the clarity of the route.
• Not removing or fixing broken signs quickly, which can lead to confusion along the route.
• Allowing signs to be blocked by trees, equipment, or parked vehicles, making the route less clear.
• Using the wrong size or type of sign, which can make the letter size too small or too large for the route.
• Missing signs at key points, so drivers lose track of the route.
• Putting signs too high or too low, which makes the letter hard to read and the route harder to follow.
• Using outdated information, which can send drivers on the wrong route.
• Not following the rules for letter spacing, which can make the legend hard to read.

How to Avoid Errors

Practitioners can use several strategies to avoid these mistakes and keep every route clear and safe. The following steps help ensure each letter and sign meets the standard:

1. Provide regular training for all staff so they understand the rules for letter size, интервал, and placement on every route.
2. Check all signs on a route often to spot faded letters, blocked views, or outdated information.
3. Use clear and simple legends, with each letter spaced well, to help drivers read the route quickly.
4. Spread signs out along the route to avoid clusters that can overwhelm drivers and hide important letters.
5. Keep a checklist for each route to make sure every letter, colour, and mounting rule is followed.
6. Remove or fix any sign with a damaged letter or unclear legend as soon as possible.
7. Place signs at the right height and distance from the road so every letter is easy to see along the route.
8. Update signs when the route changes, so the information stays correct and every letter matches the new route.
9. Avoid using colours or symbols that look like regulatory or warning signs, so the route stays clear.
10. Test new signs on the route to make sure drivers can read every letter and follow the route without confusion.

Кончик: Regular refresher training and inspections help teams spot problems early and keep every route safe for all road users.

Checklist

Шрифт

• Use the AS 1744 Transport Series typeface for all direction signs.
• Check that the main legend uses larger letter sizes for key destinations on the route.
• Place supplementary information in smaller letter sizes below the main legend.
• Write main destinations in capital letters. Use mixed case for facility types or extra details.
• Ensure each letter has enough space from the next letter and from the edge of the sign.
• Avoid crowding the legend. Good spacing helps drivers read the legend quickly on any route.
• Confirm that the legend stands out clearly on all direction signs along the route.
• Review the sign face layout to keep the legend easy to scan at speed.
• Test the legend for legibility at the typical viewing distance for the route.
• Update the legend if the route changes or if the letter size does not match the road speed.

Кончик: A clear legend with the right letter size and spacing helps every driver follow the route with confidence.

Цвет

• Use a blue background with white legend for standard direction signs on a route.
• For tourist or cultural sites, use a brown background with white legend.
• Never use red, yellow, or green backgrounds for community information on a route.
• Check that the legend and background have strong contrast. The 2025 ICC A117.1 standard requires a minimum 65% contrast ratio between the legend and the background.
• Calculate contrast using the formula: Contrast = [(B1 – B2) / B1] х 100, where B1 is the light reflectance value of the lighter surface and B2 is the value for the darker surface.
• Document the contrast ratio through manufacturer data, lab testing, or field measurement.
• For exempted sign types, follow the rule: light legend on a dark background or dark legend on a light background.
• Make sure the legend remains visible in all lighting conditions along the route.
• Avoid colour combinations that could confuse the legend with regulatory or warning signs.
• Inspect the legend regularly to ensure colours do not fade and the route stays clear.

Mounting

1. Set the bottom edge of direction signs between 1.5 и 2.0 metres above ground level on the route.
2. For breakaway posts, raise the sign to at least 2.2 metres for safety.
3. Place each sign at the correct lateral distance from the road so the legend is not blocked.
4. Face the legend towards oncoming traffic along the route for best visibility.
5. Check for trees, поляки, or parked vehicles that might hide the legend on the route.
6. Use strong posts or supports that meet AS 1742.15 for all direction signs.
7. Choose pole colours that do not distract from the legend or blend into the background.
8. For advance exit direction signs, use cantilever mounting if needed so every lane sees the legend.
9. Inspect the mounting regularly to keep the legend stable and clear on the route.
10. Replace or repair any sign where the legend or letter is damaged or hard to read.

Примечание: Proper mounting keeps the legend visible and the route safe for all road users.

Using the right font, colour, and mounting makes signs easy to see and safe to use.

1. Mounting signs at the correct height helps people with low vision read them better.
2. The style and size of the font change how fast drivers notice signs.
3. Signs are easier to read for everyone when there is strong contrast and good light.

People who design signs should always follow the checklist and check AS 1742.15 for every job. This standard gives clear steps for making and putting up information signs. It helps keep all roads safe and signs the same everywhere.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

What typeface does AS 1742.15 require for information signs?

КАК 1742.15 says to use the AS 1744 Transport Series typeface for all information signs. This typeface makes it easy for drivers to read messages fast. Other fonts are not allowed on these signs.

Why do information signs use blue backgrounds?

Blue backgrounds with white text help drivers see information signs quickly. This colour mix stands out and does not look like warning or regulatory signs. Tourist and cultural signs can have brown backgrounds instead.

How high should information signs be mounted?

Most signs should have their bottom edge between 1.5 и 2.0 metres above the ground. Signs on breakaway posts must be at least 2.2 metres high. This keeps the signs easy to see and safe for everyone.

What are common mistakes when installing information signs?

Sometimes teams use the wrong colours or put signs too low. Trees might block the sign, or the font size could be wrong. Teams may also forget to check for faded signs. Checking signs often helps stop these problems.