Page:Report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs (1946).djvu/35

 (C) PROHIBITORY SIGNS

Meaning of term

73. Under this heading are included all traffic signs which indicate that the use of a highway by all, or any particular class of, vehicular traffic is prohibited, or is subject to some restriction such as a limitation of speed or weight, or prohibition of travel in a specified direction. Prohibitions and restrictions of this kind may be imposed by legislation, or by Orders made by highway authorities and confirmed by the Minister of War Transport, or alternatively, in some urban areas, by Orders made by the local authority under genera! or local Acts, which Orders may or may not require confirmation by a central Department. Prohibitory signs cannot properly be erected unless some statutory power to restrict the use of a highway has first been exercised by the appropriate authority.

Signs adopted by Geneva 1931 Conference

74. We have already mentioned that the Geneva 1931 Conference agreed the general principle that prohibitory signs should be circular in shape and that the colour red should predominate. The signs adopted by the Conference in accordance with this principle consist of a red ring surrounding a symbol indicating the nature of the prohibition or restriction, except in the case of the “No Entry” sign which consists of a red disc with a horizontal white bar.

The signs used in this country to give notice of prohibition or restriction of waiting (diagram 60) and to define areas subject to a 30 m.p.h. speed limit (diagram 53) are similar to the corresponding signs adopted by the Geneva 1931 Conference. In paragraph 78 we recommend the adoption of a new ‘“No Entry” sign (diagram 48) formed by superimposing the words “No Entry” on the sign agreed by the Conference. As far as the other prohibitory signs agreed by the Conference are concerned, we share the view of the 1933 Committee that they are not appropriate for use in this country, where Orders commonly apply prohibitions or restrictions to more than one class of vehicle and may make exceptions for access to land or premises served by the roads in question.

Red disc

75. Prohibition of the use of highways by vehicles of various classes is indicated in Great Britain by a red disc surmounting a rectangular plate on which the nature of the prohibition is shown in black letters on a white ground. We recommend the retention of this form of sign as shown In diagram 52.

Red ring

76. Where, under statutory powers, some restriction (not amounting to prohibition) is imposed on the use of highways by all vehicles, or by specified classes of vehicles, e.g. a restriction on speed (other than the 30 m.p.h. speed limit imposed under the Road Traffic Act, 1934), the sign used consists of a hollow red ring surmounting a rectangular plate on which the nature of the restriction is shown in black letters on a white ground. We recommend the retention of this form of sign as shown in diagrams 56 and 58.

Detailed review of prohibitory signs

77. Diagrams 47 to 61 in Appendix VI illustrate prohibitory signs at present authorised, and new or amended prohibitory signs which we recommend for adoption. These signs are reviewed in detail in paragraphs 78 to 83.