Page:Report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs (1946).djvu/43

 the Geneva Red Cross) in a white square on a dark ground, the whole being surrounded by a narrow white border. It seemed to us that the Geneva Red Cross would be an appropriate symbol for use on traffic signs indicating the proximity of any first-aid post or hospital, but we are advised that unless it were specifically sanctioned by the Army Council, such use would be an infringement of the Geneva Convention Act, 1911, and that in view of the terms of the Geneva Conventions of 1906 and 1929, to which this country subscribed, the Army Council is unable to sanction the general use of the Geneva Red Cross symbol on traffic signs. We understand that in peacetime the use of the Geneva Red Cross might be permitted on traffic signs indicating first-aid posts organised by one of the recognised voluntary aid societies (i.e. the British Red Cross Society, St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association and the Order of St. John) and reserved exclusively for free treatment of the wounded and sick, but would not be permitted on any other traffic sign. If there should be a desire for it, we see no objection to the authorisation of a suitably worded sign, bearing the Geneva Red Cross, for use in these circumstances. A “Hospital” sign is recommended in paragraph 129.

(iv) A rectangular sign bearing the name of the town or village close to which it is displayed. Any colour combination may be adopted provided red does not predominate.‘The signs used in this country are similar. (See paragraph 104.)

(v) A direction sign in the form of a rectangle with an arrow-head at one end, bearing one or more place names with or without distances. Any colour combination may be adopted provided red does not predominate. The signs recommended in paragraph 122 are of this form.

Parking place signs

103. Diagram 74 in Appendix VI shows the sign at present authorised to indicate an official parking place, i.e. one which is owned by, or under the control of, a local authority or other public body. If use of the parking place is subject to limiting conditions, these should be displayed on a notice fixed below the parking sign. We do not recommend any change.

The sign shown in diagram 75 may be used to indicate the way to an official parking place. We recommend no change.

Place name signs

104. Diagram 76 shows the place name sign authorised on the reconmendation of the 1933 Committee. Subsequently another form of place name sign, illustrated in diagram 77, was also authorised. In addition to the place name in the centre of the sign, it bears at the top the name and distance of the next place of importance ahead, and at the bottom the name and distance of the last place of importance behind. The latter sign is more widely used than the former, but we recommend the continued authorisation of both signs. The mileage distances shown should be those between the centres of the places named on the sign, not the distances measured from the site of the sign.

A few specially designed place name signs of an ornamental character have been authorised. We see no objection to the special authorisation of further signs of this character provided their form is not such as might lead to confusion with standard traffic signs.