12REGULATORY SIGNS
INTRODUCTION
12.1 The design of regulatory roundel signs is covered by the "P" series of working drawings. This section deals with those signs that are designed to be used with specific traffic regulation orders. The most common type of sign is the waiting and/or loading restriction time plate.
12.2 The following rules cover some of the designs permitted by the Regulations. The signs to which these rules are applicable are listed in the table at Appendix E . Further design details can be found on the working drawings available at [[ http:www.gov.uk/working-drawings-for-traffic-signs www.gov.uk/working-drawings-for-traffic-signs] (see para 1.6).
12.3 The design rules in this section supplement those given in section 2. Particular attention is drawn to para 2.10 and figure 2-2 which deal with horizontal spacing of abbreviated words.
12.4 The alphabet used is the Transport Heavy alphabet, all characters being black. Signs, or parts of signs, indicating waiting restrictions and the prohibition of stopping have yellow backgrounds. Those signs, or parts of signs, indicating no loading or types of parking, such as pay and display, have white backgrounds.
TIME OF DAY
12.5 Times are expressed in hours and minutes and as either "am" or "pm". The 24 hour clock is not used. Where the sign indicates a 24 hour restriction or prohibition, the time period is either omitted or expressed as "At any time" (or "at any time" as shown in diagram 638). Schedule 16, item 38 of the Regulations lists those signs that may use the expression "At any time" or "at any time".
12.6 A time period is shown as a start and end time separated by a hyphen. Where both the start and end times are whole hours, minutes are not shown (e.g. 8 am). However, where the start time for a particular period is not immediately followed by "am" or "pm" and either the start or end time shows minutes (e.g. 7.30) then the other time should also show minutes even though this may be zero (e.g. 9.00). Examples of time periods are "7.30-9.00am", "7-9am", "7am-6pm" and "7am-6.30 pm". Examples of combinations that are not recommended are "7-9.30am" and "7.30-9am". Where two time periods are shown on the same sign, one period may be expressed in hours only and the other in hours and minutes as appropriate.
12.7 If the time period covers only "am" or "pm", but not both, then "am" or “pm”, as appropriate, should be shown only against the end time.
12.8 12 noon and 12 midnight should be expressed as “Noon” (or “Midday”) and "Midnight" (or "M’night") respectively. Where a time period spans midnight, it should be expressed as two separate time periods, the first commencing at midnight and the second ending at midnight, unless the same time period applies on every day of the week.
12.9 Figure 12-1 shows the various combinations of time periods and the appropriate horizontal spacing. Where more than one time period is shown, the tiles of each are butted vertically. On some signs a single time period may be shown on two lines.
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