Page:Report of the Traffic Signs Committee (1963).pdf/25

 77. Whilst dealing generally with speed limit signs we deal here with the minimum speed limit sign although it is mandatory, not prohibitory.

On certain high speed roads abroad traffic is prohibited by law from moving slower than a certain specified speed. Powers were taken in the Road Traffic Act 1962 to impose minimum speeds on all-purpose roads in this country and powers have previously existed to impose them upon motorways though none have hitherto been imposed under Road Traffic Acts. Should minimum speed limits be required we recommend the sign at figure 30. The end of a minimum speed limit should be indicated by the sign at figure 31.

The introduction of a minimum speed limit will be a considerable innovation and it is quite uncertain when it may take place. It may therefore be first used at a time when general publicity for symbolic signs has lost its impact. In this case it may be desirable to add the word 'Minimum' to the sign at least for an educational period.

78. In place of the sign at present used as prescribed by The Traffic Signs (School Crossing Patrols) Regulations 1953 we recommend the sign shown at figure 142 modified to show the words 'Stop. Children'.

79. The Protocol No overtaking sign is widely used on the Continent. Orders prohibiting overtaking are rare in this country but where they are in force we recommend the modified Protocol sign (figure 24) supplemented by the plate as illustrated at figure 70.

80. In busy roads it is becoming increasingly necessary to prohibit drivers from making a U-turn when they wish to go back. Where an Order forbids U-turns we recommend use of the sign at figure 11. Where the prohibition extends over a distance the sign should be used at the beginning with a plate as at figure 70 and at the end with a plate as at figure 26a.

81. In order to assist traffic flow at heavily used roundabouts experiments are being made by the Ministry of Transport in erecting traffic signs which require drivers entering a roundabout to give way to traffic from the right, i.e., to traffic already in the roundabout. If it is decided to enforce this permanently at certain roundabouts we consider that the sign at figure 8 should be used at each entry to the roundabout. Since traffic within the roundabout must be approaching the entering driver from the right we see no need for including the words 'To traffic from right' as on the present experimental signs. Should it ever become a general rule of roundabouts, as it is in some countries abroad, that entering traffic should give way to traffic already in the roundabout, it should be imposed by law or code and in this case traffic signs for this purpose would no longer be necessary.