Page:Report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs (1946).djvu/34

 Aircraft and Troops

68. A few signs have been authorised under peace-time conditions warning traffic of danger arising from the proximity of troops or aircraft. We do not consider it appropriate that signs should be erected for this purpose. It is our view that where there is potential danger from such a cause, the responsibility for ensuring that adequate steps (not involving the erection of signs) are taken to safeguard road users on public highways must rest with the Military Authorities or with the persons responsible for the operation of the aircraft.

Signs for entrances to private premises

69. We share the view of the 1933 Committee that signs should not be erected on or near the highway for the purpose of indicating to road users the proximity of entrances to works or other premises abutting on the highway, and that it is the duty of the owners of such premises to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that persons or vehicles leaving them are not themselves endangered and do not endanger other users of the highway.

Three signs not warning signs

70. We are of opinion that three signs which are at present generaliy authorised as warning signs, viz. “Hospital” (diagram 104), “Keep to nearside lane except when overtaking” (diagram 105) and “No through road” (diagram 106) should properly be regarded as informative signs. We therefore recommend (paragraphs 129, 130 and 131) that they should not be surmounted by the red triangle.

Flashing beacons

71. The 1933 Provisional Regulations authorised the use of two types of “flashing” beacon warning signs—temporary beacons of the type used by the Metropolitan Police, and permanent beacons placed centrally at dangerous junctions. The temporary beacons serve a useful purpose and we recommend their continued authorisation, but permanent flashing beacons have not proved satisfactory in use and we recommend that authorisation of them should be withdrawn.

General principles governing design of warning signs

72. In the preceding paragraphs we have reviewed warning signs in some detail but we appreciate that signs other than those we have mentioned have been and will be required from time to time. We therefore think it desirable to make the following observations as to the principles which should normally govern the design of any additional signs which may be required.

(a) Warning signs (other than portable temporary signs), whether authorised for general use or for use at specific sites only, should be surmounted by the standard red triangle.

(b) The red triangle is the recognised symbol giving warning of potential danger, and the word “Danger” should never appear on a traffic sign.

(c) Special signs designed to meet special requirements should conform as closely as possible to the pattern laid down for standard signs with respect to a symbol (if appropriate) and the size of letters. New symbol signs should not be introduced unless their meaning can be understood at a glance. Where no symbol is used, or where some additional warning is added on a plate underneath a standard sign, the letters should be not less than 3 in. or more than 4 in. high.