Page:Report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs (1946).djvu/45

 scheme when no change is required for purely signposting purposes. The classification of roads is, we understand, reviewed annually, and while we do not suggest that two independent systems of numbering should be introduced, we recommend that if practicable, the alteration of route numbers for signposting purposes consequent on annual revisions of classification, should only be undertaken at intervals of, say, five years.

(c) At each periodic revision of route numbering, details of all alterations should be made known as widely as possible, e.g. by publication in the motoring and cycling journals. Consideration might also be given to the practicability of issuing through the Stationery Office a small pamphlet giving details of the alterations. By these means map owners would be enabled to keep their maps up to date. We understand that it is already the practice of the Department to circulate this information to H.M. Ordnance Survey, to commercial map publishing firms and to organisations of road users.

(d) A brief and simply worded statement (with diagrams) explaining what the route numbers mean, how to use them and how to read the signs on which they are shown, should be printed on maps, in future issues of the Highway Code, and in the various publications circulating among all those likely to-be concerned.

Classes of through direction signs

108. In items (i) to (iv) in paragraph 106 we have indicated the information which the road user should be able to obtain from a satisfactory system of through direction signs. The signs which meet the requirements of (i) and (ii) can be divided into three classes :

(a) Approach direction signs.

(b) Direction signs at junctions.

(c) Route identification signs.

Information about place names and mileages (items (iii) and (iv) in para- graph 106) can be given by the sign shown in diagram 77 and referred to in paragraph 104.

Approach direction signs

109. As the name suggests, approach direction signs are erected on the approach to the junction to which they relate, so that the driver when he enters the junction already knows in what direction his route lies and is able to concentrate his attention on traffic movement through the junction.

The signs consist basically of a number of panels, one for each road leading away from the junction, the direction of each road being shown by an arrow attached to the appropriate panel. Inside each panel is shown the route letter (A for Class I, B for Class II roads) and route number, together with the name of the next place of importance. Where a road is not of sufficient through traffic importance to justify classification, only the name of the place to which it leads is shown. The layout of the arrows and panels need not show an exact plan reproduction of the junction, but should give the driver an indication of the relative positions and directions of all the roads entering it. Where one of the roads is not of importance to through traffic, and it is desired to keep the size of the sign as small as possible, the relevant panel may be omitted, but the existence of the road should still be indicated by a short “stub” arm as shown in diagrams 80 and 81. Except in the special circumstances mentioned in paragraphs 113(iv), 115 and 116, not more than one panel should be shown for any one road.