Page:Report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs (1946).djvu/50

 Diagram 99 shows a route identification sign to indicate that the road on which it is erected leads to the classified road or roads shown under the chequer marking. Where the road leads to more than one classified road, two or more panels may be arranged vertically under the one chequer marking. If erected on a classified road, the chequer route identification sign (diagram 99) would be placed vertically below a route indentification sign (diagram 98) bearing the route number of that road.

As a general rule, no place names should appear on the signs shown in diagrams 98 and 99, but if in exceptional cases it is desired to include the name of the “next place of importance” (which should be the same place as appears on adjacent approach signs), it should be shown below the route number in letters not less than 2 in. nor more than 3 in. high.

If place names or the chequer marking are used, care should be taken to site the signs so that they face traffic proceeding in the appropriate direction.

Diagram 100 shows a route identification sign to be used where two classified roads are merged in one road over a certain length.

Local direction signposting

124. At present the standard direction sign for “local” signposting is the fingerpost type of sign shown in diagram 101. We recommend its retention, but consider that it should be supplemented by a local approach sign wherever the traffic volume justifies that course. It seems to us that the requirement that the driver should be given “clear information in good time as to his proper route at places where he might otherwise be in doubt” (paragraph 106(i)) applies to local signposting no less than to through signposting. The driver who hesitates by reason of doubt as to his route at a junction is a possible source of danger to other traffic.

We therefore recommend the adoption of the local approach sign shown in diagram 102. The number of panels and the direction of the arrows will be varied to suit particular junctions. The number of place names on each panel will also depend on site requirements, but we suggest that normally not more than three names should appear on one panel. The sign must not be used to supplant the through direction signs shown in diagrams 78 to 92 nor should the name of a “place of importance” to through traffic (see paragraph 111) appear on it if it is erected on a through route.

We believe that this sign will be found useful in both urban and rural areas, but more especially in the former. In paragraph 121 we have referred to the need for a coloured surround on approach direction signs in town areas. The local approach sign is on the same principle as, and therefore bears some resemblance to, the through approach sign shown in diagram 92, and in order to avoid the possibility of confusion between the two signs in town areas, we recommend that the background colour surrounding the panels on the local sign (diagram 102) should be “traffic blue” on signs erected at or near junctions satisfying the conditions laid down in sections (a) and (b) of paragraph 121. Elsewhere the sign should be in black and white only.

Once a place name appears on a local direction sign (whether “fingerpost” or “approach” type), it should be repeated on each intermediate sign until that place is reached.

We do not recommend the continued authorisation of internally illuminated fingerpost signs having white lettering on a blue ground.

Footpath direction signs

125. We think it desirable that there should be a standard direction sign for use at points where public footpaths leave public roads and for this purpose we recommend the sign shown in diagram 103. We recommend white letters