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Creating a Navigator’s Paradise in Sydney and beyondTHE VISION:In 20 years’ time, a Sydney metropolitan area that is easy to navigate even on busy roads with heavy, fast-moving traffic. At every intersection a motorist can easily see what suburb he is in, what street he is on, and where he is on that street. At intersections he can quickly and safely determine whether to turn right or left for the address he wants. If he overshoots his address, he will know at the very next intersection. Where practical, kerb numbers guide him smoothly in his final approach. Numbers clearly visible on the property itself (letterbox, house, business name sign, etc.) confirm he has reached his destination. By 2021, the emergency services have cut minutes from their response times of October 2001. All road users experience less stress and road rage is down. Accidents caused by driver hesitation are fewer. THE MEANS - THE LIFESAVER PLAN:All councils would embrace as standard practice:
Details of the six-part Plan follow. FAQs gives answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Gradually, metropolitan Sydney can become a Navigator’s Paradise. All that is needed is for councils to adopt a city-wide standard and begin using it now.
1. A LIFESAVER FORMAT FOR ANY NEW STREET NAME SIGNS INSTALLEDLifesaver signs show property numbers in wedge notation in large fonts. Instead of showing the range of numbers within a block, wedge notation shows the first number on both sides of the street and an incline or wedge symbol to indicate the direction the numbers in the street run. Parentheses enclose the number on the side of the street opposite the sign.
The Lifesaver I sign above is in front of 8 Abuklea Road, and 3 Abuklea Road is across the street. Numbers increase to the right and decrease to the left. One would go right to find 27; left to find 4. On the reverse side of the sign the numbers are the same but the wedge is flipped horizontally 180 degrees. More generally, the numbers are those first encountered at or beyond the posted sign, even if they are in a distant block. (See FAQ—Sign for greater detail.)
The Lifesaver II is an alternative format affording a shorter sign. The
numbers are approximately the same size as those used in Sydney's suburbs to
mark routes for bus drivers.
Lifesaver III: 200mm depth, numbers 70mm height
on separate plate Lifesaver III uses a slip-on plate for the property numbers. This method enables a council to convert its present signs to Lifesavers.
Lifesaver IV: 200mm depth, numbers 70mm height Lifesaver IV stacks the numbers like Lifesaver II but allows the street type designator to remain full size. Logos, fonts and colours would distinguish between councils. Country towns not needing suburb name could use a 150mm blade:
Lifesaver signs can save lives because they can:
In the Navigator’s Paradise proposed for Sydney and beyond, Lifesaver signs would eventually be used for all streets at every intersection. Property numbers in wedge notation would appear on every sign, except for cul-de-sacs numbered in a circular fashion where conventional "range" notation could be used if desired. In metropolitan areas, suburb name would appear on at least one sign on every pole. A council logo, if used, would be legible from the footpath but would not compromise space or detract from the navigational component of the sign (street name, suburb, property numbers). FAQ - Sign answers some Frequently Asked Questions about the Lifesaver sign. (Back to Plan)
2. NAMING BOTH STREETS AT (VIRTUALLY) ALL INTERSECTIONSOther first-world countries name both streets at all intersections but the Australian Standard states that it is not necessary to name the major street at all its intersections with minor streets. This practice is responsible for untold stress and frustration in road users, not to mention the loss of time, money and resources while they search for missing signs. Loss of life and property can result if the searchers are emergency service providers. With both streets named, drivers can pinpoint their location in their street directories by going no further than the nearest corner. As a first priority, councils should begin filling in the gaps at their corners, using Lifesaver signs. It does not matter that the new sign does not match the old. For economy, old signs should not be replaced before they wear out, or at least, until all corners have two signs. It will take 15-20 years for all signs to become Lifesavers, but that’s OK. The important thing is to start now. See also FAQ - Plan. (Back to Plan)
3. DISPLAYING BOTH SIGNS ON THE SAME POLEThis seems obvious, but some councils separate the signs at T junctions, putting the sign naming the stem street on one of the two corners and the sign naming the through road across the intersection at the top of the T. They perhaps confuse the function of a street name blade (G5 series signs in the Australian Standard) with that of larger G2 series signs used to name streets in advance of an intersection and at exits from large roundabouts. G2 signs, like the large green and white directional signs on arterial roads and motorways, are like display ads designed to hit the reader between the eyes. Street name blades are like the classifieds, unobtrusive but there when you need them. Road users expect to find them on a corner, and on the same pole. A sign posted on its own at the top of a T will not be seen by those travelling on the through road. Their attention will be fixed on the stem street’s sign presented to them at a right angle. The through road’s sign needs to be with the stem street’s, so drivers will see both in one glance. In older CBDs street names are sometimes posted on the sides of buildings. This practice may be suitable for pedestrians, but it is not suitable for drivers. Drivers cannot see around corners and have no time to look for multiple signs. When a street changes its name on the other side of an intersection, posting three signs (or four, if both streets change names) on the one post best informs the driver, though this is not always practical. If the streets are wide enough to warrant duplicate posting on the diagonal corner, economy may dictate two posts, each with different signs, rather than two posts with an identical three or four signs each. See also FAQ - Plan. (Back to Plan)
4. AT T JUNCTIONS, PLACING THE POLE ON ONE OF THE TWO CORNERS,
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 | a driver emerging from the stem street cannot see the stem street’s name |
| the stem street’s sign may protrude too close to the carriageway and be hit by passing traffic. |
Signs go on corners when two streets cross each other. In most circumstances, they should also go on corners when the streets meet to form a T.
See also FAQ - Plan.
Most councils endorse ratepayers putting their house number on the kerb in front of their properties. The value of these numbers is widely acknowledged, but their full potential as a powerful navigational aid will only be realised when every property is numbered. Used singly, a kerb number identifies a property after it is found. But used at every property, these numbers actually lead the searching driver to his destination.
The only way every property will be numbered is for councils to include kerb numbering in their services to ratepayers. Gold Coast Council in Queensland supplies numbers on a 4-year rolling program, renewing painted numbers for ¼ of urban and suburban properties each year. Rural properties are numbered using a special scheme endorsed by the emergency services.
Councils are invited to contact the suppliers of kerb numbers who have registered their details at Kerbs.
See also FAQ - Plan and Item 5 of Costs.
Feedback in the Epping trial indicated that elusive house numbers in both residential and commercial areas are as frustrating as missing street name signs. Displaying these numbers is the responsibility of property owners. Councils need to establish codes for the display of numbers on houses, letterboxes, shop fronts, business name signs, etc, and legislate, if necessary, to ensure compliance.
StreetSigns is compiling a list of suggestions for such a code to present to councils and to PlanningNSW. If you have any you would like to be included, please submit them at Contact Us.
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