Page:Report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs (1946).djvu/38

 average driver may well hesitate while making up his mind whether the date is odd or even, and may thus cause delay and even danger to other traffic. In our view, signs intended to convey restrictions of this nature should read “No waiting this side to-day” (see diagram 60), and should be made movable and exhibited only on the side of the road to which the restriction applies. If additional signs are required to give notice of restriction of waiting on the side not subject to total prohibition, they also should be made movable and exhibited on the particular side of the road to which they apply. We recommend that where the use of the movable type of sign is not appropriate and where the necessary information cannot be displayed within the blue disc in letters of not less than 1¼ in. high so as to be readily legible from the driving seat of a motor vehicle, only the words “Waiting Restricted” should be shown on the disc and the details of the restrictions set out on a plate underneath the disc.

Signs controlling vehicular access to roads

83. Diagram 61 shows a sign “No reversing into street” which has been authorised for use in the County of London where the County Council have imposed a condition to that effect in giving consent under the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act, 1935, to the formation of a vehicle access to a public highway, or in giving consent to the establishment of a petrol filling station. It is intended to be displayed inside the premises to which access is given. Signs of the same form, reading “In Only” and “Out Only” have also been authorised for use in similar circumstances. In place of the latter signs we suggest the authorisation of two signs of the same type worded as follows :

(a) On one side the word “In” and on the reverse side the words “No Exit.”

(b) On one side the word “Out” and on the reverse side the words “No Entry.”

We see no objection to the extension of these authorisations to permit of the use of the signs where any competent authority makes consent to the formation of access conditional on their display.

Signs of prohibitory type not backed by statutory Order or Regulation

84. Signs surmounted by a red ring or triangle and worded “Drivers must not overtake” or “No overtaking on bridge,” have been authorised in the absence of a statutory Order or Regulation. In our view such cases should be dealt with only by an appropriate Order or Regulation and by the erection of standard signs. If statutory prohibition is not justified and standard signs (e.g. “Narrow Bridge” “Hump Bridge” or solid white line) are not considered to meet the requirements of the case, the signs used should be of a warning or informative character, and not prohibitory.

Signs indicating that parking is prohibited 

85. Although the public enjoy a right of passage over highways, we understand that there is no common law or general statutory right of parking on highways. Local authorities, however, have powers by Order to authorise the use of parts of particular roads or streets as parking places. We therefore share the view expressed by the 1933 Committee that it should be assumed that parking on the highway is prohibited in the absence of a sign to the contrary, and that consequently it would be undesirable to authorise a sign prohibiting parking.