Panel AB5 of advertisement of STOP

The panel AB5 of advertisement of STOP is a advanced signal announcing the panel STOP AB4.

Use

In open country

In open country, advanced panel AB5 is obligatorily set up.

Exceptionally, if the local constraints require a reinforcement of the perception of the mode of priority, advanced panel AB5 can be supplemented by a Feu of beaconing and alarm of R1 category.

In agglomeration

In Agglomeration, in particular when speed is limited to 50 km/h or with a lower value, on the branch of road on which the “STOP is essential”, it is possible not to establish panel AB5 of advanced indication.

At the intersections arranged with island with direction signs, it happens that a direction of circulation is divided into two separated branches, both nonpriority, but matched one of the rule “YIELD the PASSAGE”, the other of the obligation “STOP”. The advanced panels of each one of these modes should then be located on the branch common to little distance one of the other.

In this case, one establishes only one advanced panel: panel AB5.

History

In the original version of the convention on the road signs concluded in Vienna on November 8th, 1968, that France ratified on December 9th, 1971, it is known as that the advance sign of the signal B2 STOP (corresponding to French signal AB4) is done using the same supplemented signal of a sign announcing the distance.

France issued a reserve on this contrary provision with those already adopted in France. In the new version of the convention of Vienna amended by amendment of November 30th, 1995, it is from now on known as that advanced indication is made using the signal B1 (equivalent of the yield-the-passage) supplemented by a rectangular panel which will carry the symbol “STOP” and a figure indicating to which distance is the B2 signal.

Gallery of the evolution of the standards

Dimensions

There exist five ranges of dimensions of panels AB5.

In the most general case, it is the normal range which is used.

The panels of the great range are normally employed on the roads with more than two ways and on certain two-track trunk roads indicated for this purpose by decision of the Minister for the Equipment.

The panels of the small range are used when there are difficulties for the establishment of panels of the normal range (line of trees close to the roadway, mountain road, verges reduced, in narrow tunnels, pavements, etc).

Establishment

Longitudinal distance

In open country

The usual distance from establishment of advanced panels AB5 is of approximately 150 m. This distance can however vary according to the layout of the premises, the speed of circulation or in the cases indicated to the chapters hereafter. It can reach 400 m on the roads with very good visibility traversed by a fast circulation.

Only exceptional circumstances (two successive intersections very brought closer or required to several successive advanced panels) can justify a distance from establishment lower than 100 Mr.

When one of these panels is placed at more than 200 m of an intersection, it must be repeated with midistance approximately of this one and the two panels must be supplemented by a sign of distance.

Panel AB5 always comprises a sign indicating the distance. This one is round to the 50 m closest if it is higher than 100 Mr. Between 50 and 100 m, it is round to 50,75 or 100 Mr.

When a crossroads comprises an advance sign carried out using panels diagrammatic D42 or D43 placed at 150m of the intersection, the control panel advanced of intersection is placed after the D42 panel generally with 100m before the crossroads

In agglomeration

The distances between the successive intersections being very variable, the distances from establishment of the advanced panels are themselves very variable, the panels having to be placed between the intersection and that which precedes it.

The indication of the distances on the signs of panels AB5 is done as in open country. When the distance is lower than 50 m, it is round to the 10 m closest.

Side distance

Except constraint of site, the distance between the balance of the end of the panel located on the side of the roadway and the bank close to this end should not be lower than 0,70 Mr.

In open country, the panels are placed apart from the zone located in edge of roadway and treated in such way that the users can engage there an operation of redirection or braking known as “zone of recovery”, or their support at least to 2 m of the edge close to the roadway, unless particular circumstances are opposed to it (narrow verges, presence of a plantation, a cycle track, a railway, etc).

In agglomeration the panels are established so that the support obstructs the least possible the circulation of the pedestrians.

The support of a signal can also be established on a property bordering or anchored to a frontage after agreement of the owner or by application if that is possible Order in Council of October 30th, 1935 and decree 57180 of February 16th, 1957.

Height above the ground

In open country

The lawful height is fixed in theory at 1 m (if several panels are placed on the same support, this height is that of the lower panel), height generally ensuring the best visibility of the panels struck by fires of the vehicles.

It can be modified taking into account the local circumstances:

either to ensure a better visibility of the panels,
or to prevent that they mask circulation.

In agglomeration

In the agglomerations profiting from a public lighting, the panels can be placed at a height going up to 2,30 m to hold account in particular vehicles which can mask them, as well as need for obstructing only at least the circulation of the pedestrians.

Above the roadway

When the panels are on gantry, bracket or high-mast above the roadway, they are fixed at a minimal height corresponding to the gauge of the road to which is added a revenge of 0,1 m for the maintenance of the roadway and a revenge of 0,50 m for the protection of indication.

Position of the face

The plan of front face of a panel established on verge or pavement must be slightly tilted 3 with 5° towards the outside of the road in order to avoid the phenomenon of specular reflection which can, of night, to make the panel illegible during a few seconds.

Back of the panel.

The back of the panel should not draw attention. The colors of back, the edge fallen and from against listel from manufacture must be neutral and not take again those used in road signs.

Back can comprise only one marking of lawful certification (see hereafter), other than any other inscription or any publicity.

On the back of the panel the attachment units are reproduced on the support. They are in general stuck rails:

2 rails for panels 400,600,800 and 1000 mm (with 2 mounting flanges),
3 rails for the panel 1200 mm (with 3 mounting flanges).

Visibility of night

The panels and signs of indication must be visible and keep the same aspect of night like day. The signals all of priority are rétroréfléchissants or possibly enlightened.

The coatings rétroréfléchissants must have been the object, either of a homologation, or of an authorization of employment on an experimental basis. The retroreflectorisation relates to all the surface of the panels and signs except for the black or gray parts.

Class 2

Class 2 is obligatory for all the panels and signs:

established with more than two meters of height,
established on highways and whatever their height, primary distributers.
In agglomeration, established in the sections where speed is recorded to 70 km/h.

This technology has a coefficient of Rétroréflexion three times superior with class 1, which allows a detection much more effective and increases the distance from legibility from 15 to 20% in a new state. The comparison at the end of five or ten years shows an advantage even more important for class 2.

Class 1

Class 1 is obligatory for all the panels located zones where class 2 is not it.

Homologation and certification

Since 1978, the ministerial homologation of the equipment of the road is obligatory on the whole of the French road ways. Certification NF replaces the homologation gradually. Thus, since 1995, certification is worth homologation for the equipment of road signs.

For the whole of the control panels permanent and thus in particular for the control panels of danger, certification NF - Equipment of the Road is obligatory. Marking THIS (European standard) is planned for the end of the year 2007.

With the back of the panel must thus obligatorily appear the marks of certification namely:

the number of admission of the product: category of product (SP in this case, for indication of police force), and sequence number.
identification of the site of manufacture of the product (in light),
identification of the holder (optional)
the year of manufacture (the last two digits)

Random links: