New road signs rolling out across the UK after law changes to warn motorists of road dangers

The simple road signs are designed to protect small animals and boost safety, as well as give more allowances to local authorities to install wildlife warning signs.

Changes made by the Department for Transport now mean that local authorities can install road signs in the areas where they are needed the most.

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Signs have now started appearing around the country as data suggests the UK's hedgehog population has plummeted from 36 million in the 1960s compared to just one million in 2024.

Kingston Council in south-west London unveiled four crossing signs in Old Malden last month, making use of the new powers handed out by the Government.

Mike Massimi, the local Liberal Democrat councillor for the area, said the hedgehog warning signs will set a "precedent" for drivers, The Telegraph reported.

The councillor, who also represented the Liberal Democrats in Coventry East in July's General Election, added: "This area has a lot of large gardens and big green spaces... it is very rich in biodiversity. We have a lot of hedgehogs.

“The signs are something that people can relate to. We all drive, we all walk by. I was very pleased when the senior officer said yes."

Under previous rules, local authorities were required to apply to the Department for Transport on a case-by-case basis to get the signs approved and installed.

Traffic has been identified as a major factor for the decline in Hedgehog numbers, dropping by between 30 per cent and 75 per cent in rural areas since 2000.

The signs were first introduced in 2019 to make drivers more aware of animal activity in the area, with the signs depicting a hedgehog. Many of which also have the "hedgehogs crossing" identifier.

Speaking at the time, Transport Secretary Mark Harper praised the development of the signs and the greater powers for local authorities to make motorists more aware of surrounding wildlife.

He added: "These common-sense changes will lead to more small animal signs across the country, cutting down on bureaucracy to help protect both drivers and small animals, improving safety on our roads and making sure fewer casualties are checked into wildlife hospitals like these."

Similarly, Colin Stocker, CEO at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire, said the new rules were "welcome" to make road signs easier to roll out.

He said: "A lot of the 14,000 animals admitted to us every year come in due to road traffic accidents and making motorists more aware of their presence, and encouraging them to be more cautious is a great step towards helping British wildlife.

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"We hope this policy change will result in more signage that, in turn, will remind motorists to be mindful of British wildlife when out and about."