UPDATE- 22/07/2016- There hasn't been any progress on the Exit Numbering System in Sydney since May, which is disappointing.
Exit numbering involves the allocation of a number to an exit on a freeway. Drivers simply need to remember the exit number rather than the road name when navigating a freeway. This system is present across the world including the United States, and is also currently operational in Queensland and Victoria.
For sure, this system would be a great addition to the NSW system, especially considering the length of the urban freeway network.
In May 2016, the RMS begun implementation of exit numbering along the M31 Hume Motorway from the M7 at Prestons to the Old Hume Highway (B73) at Aylmerton. It is believed that this implementation is a trial, to eventually be succeeded by the roll-out of the system across the entire city. The above map can also be viewed here.
Personally, I believe the system does not need to be rolled out on such highways as the remainder of the Hume Highway and the Pacific Highway, since these highways are used primarily as through routes with focal points clearly signed. As our system develop this may change.
However implementation on the following freeways would be beneficial to drivers;
For example, exit 11 on the above map would be exit 108 under the distance system, as it is around 108km from Sydney.
The RMS appears to have chosen sequential numbering, which Victoria uses, unlike Queensland. While naturally numbers will be smaller, this can cause trouble too if a new interchange is added.
Hopefully the roll-out of the system addresses any confusion and, essentially, works.
Images of the trial can be accessed here, taken by someone else on Flickr.
The images below have not been taken by me. These compare different exit numbering systems from around Australia and the world.
Exit numbering involves the allocation of a number to an exit on a freeway. Drivers simply need to remember the exit number rather than the road name when navigating a freeway. This system is present across the world including the United States, and is also currently operational in Queensland and Victoria.
For sure, this system would be a great addition to the NSW system, especially considering the length of the urban freeway network.
In May 2016, the RMS begun implementation of exit numbering along the M31 Hume Motorway from the M7 at Prestons to the Old Hume Highway (B73) at Aylmerton. It is believed that this implementation is a trial, to eventually be succeeded by the roll-out of the system across the entire city. The above map can also be viewed here.
Personally, I believe the system does not need to be rolled out on such highways as the remainder of the Hume Highway and the Pacific Highway, since these highways are used primarily as through routes with focal points clearly signed. As our system develop this may change.
However implementation on the following freeways would be beneficial to drivers;
- M4 Western Motorway
- M5 South-Western & East Motorways
- M2 Hills Motorway
- M7 Westlink
- M1;
- Gore Hill Freeway
- Warringah Freeway
- Sydney Harbour Tunnel
- Eastern Distributor
- Southern Cross Drive
- General Holmes Drive
- M1 Pacific Motorway (former F3)
- M1 Princes Motorway (former F6)
For example, exit 11 on the above map would be exit 108 under the distance system, as it is around 108km from Sydney.
The RMS appears to have chosen sequential numbering, which Victoria uses, unlike Queensland. While naturally numbers will be smaller, this can cause trouble too if a new interchange is added.
Hopefully the roll-out of the system addresses any confusion and, essentially, works.
Images of the trial can be accessed here, taken by someone else on Flickr.
The images below have not been taken by me. These compare different exit numbering systems from around Australia and the world.
Sydney This is a sign on the Hume Motorway for the Picton Road exit as part of the trial. The patch seems very similar to the QLD system, however note that this is at the bottom and on the sign, not at the top as a topknot. Compare this to rest of the images in this slideshow. Courtesy of ''mubd1234''; Flickr |
Queensland This image is taken on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Nerang on the Gold Coast. Exit numbers are placed on a topknot, which is easier to see. Also, numbers are distance based, not sequential, which has its benefits. Queensland has stuffed up a lot of things on their roads, but certainly not exit numbers. Courtesy of expressway.paulrands.com |
Victoria On the Monash Freeway in Melbourne. Personally I think this design needs a little work; the numbers are really small, and the E (eastbound) and W (westbound) doesn't seem necessary (just more to say when giving directions). I'm unsure to what extent this system has been rolled out around Melbourne, but I know that this is sequential numbering. NSW is at least designing theirs better than this. |
New Zealand Due to the apparent lack of road geeks in New Zealand I took this snapshot out of Google Maps on the Northern Motorway approaching Oteha Valley Road. The Kiwis beat Sydney to it in 2005; using a topknot and distance based numbering. Note that the 25 looks like a National Route 25 marker of Australia. |
USA
This sign is located in Washington DC, United States (click here to view the location, I couldn't work it out exactly though) on Interstate 395. This is an example of sequential numbering, which would have more benefits here since the exits are too close together for distance-based numbering. However the USA for the most part uses distance-based numbering. |
Great Britain On the M1 approaching the A6192 in Central Britain, UK. In Britain a sequential numbering system is used; they use miles not kilometres on motorways, which would cause confusion if distances were used. It is located either in the bottom or top left of the sign, in a black box with a white outline. When a new interchange is made as is the case here a letter is usually added (here between exit 29 and 30, hence the 29A). |
Take a vote to decide which sign is best at displaying the exit number. Leave any comments underneath
Results
Sydney and Queensland appear to be the highest, but Queensland edges just ahead of Sydney as the most preferred example of exit signage. I have to say that both Sydney and Queensland are fairly similar, but using a topknot, which is more noticeable, is certainly advantageous. On another note, as of August 2017 little progress has been made on exit numbering other than some signs on the Eastern Distributor near the CBD. It remains to be seen whether a roll-out is imminent in Sydney, but it would certainly be beneficial and welcomed.
Sydney and Queensland appear to be the highest, but Queensland edges just ahead of Sydney as the most preferred example of exit signage. I have to say that both Sydney and Queensland are fairly similar, but using a topknot, which is more noticeable, is certainly advantageous. On another note, as of August 2017 little progress has been made on exit numbering other than some signs on the Eastern Distributor near the CBD. It remains to be seen whether a roll-out is imminent in Sydney, but it would certainly be beneficial and welcomed.