Page:Report of the Traffic Signs Committee (1963).pdf/26

 82. Where short sections of road are reduced to single lane working by road works or some other obstruction or where a narrow bridge has to be crossed and where there are no light signals we recommend use of the sign at figure 23. This conveys the message 'priority to be given to vehicles coming from the opposite direction'. At the other end of the single lane section, the informatory sign at figure 132 should invariably be used (see paragraph 198).

83. With the rising volume of road traffic it becomes increasingly necessary to combat urban congestion, and also to prevent stopping on fast through routes in rural areas, by placing legal prohibitions or restrictions upon the occupation of streets and roads by standing vehicles. Orders to this effect made by the Minister and local authorities are at present evidenced by four different kinds of prohibitory signs:—

(i) No waiting signs. These have a black legend upon a yellow ground within a red circle, the hours of the restriction, including those on loading and unloading, being written, also in black letters, usually on the face of the sign, though sometimes below it on a separate rectangular plate.

(ii) Limited waiting signs. These have a white legend on a blue ground within a red circle, the duration of the waiting period being normally written on the face of the sign, for instance, '20 mins. in any hour'.

(iii) Clearway signs. The majority of clearways are on fast rural roads and restrictions on these have no time limitation, and are in operation at all hours of the day and night. A few, however, are in urban areas. These are termed peak-hour clearways and are in operation only during the most heavily trafficked periods of the morning and evening, between which periods waiting restrictions are likely to be in operation. Both types of clearway restrictions are indicated by signs having the clearway symbol (a split arrow) and the word 'Clearway' (or 'Peak-hour clearway' if appropriate) in white on a black ground within a red circle. On peak hour clearways the signs are further supplemented at intervals by No waiting signs in the form of (i) above indicating on the face both the restrictions which apply in off-peak hours and the word 'Clearway' with the times and days of its operation.

(iv) Limited parking signs. These have a white capital P on a blue rectangular ground with a plate below indicating that it is not permitted to leave a vehicle for more than a stated period.

84. The investigation made for the Road Research Laboratory by the social survey unit of the Central Office of Information showed that a considerable proportion of drivers in this country do not appreciate the colour difference between No waiting and Limited waiting signs. Nor is there at present any generally accepted colour distinction abroad between these two classes of restriction. The Protocol states that 'the sign to indicate restricted stopping or waiting' (figure 25) may be supplemented by a plate underneath it indicating either the hours during which the waiting prohibition applies or the duration of authorised waiting, or both. It will thus be noticed that the same sign on the Continent is stated to restrict both waiting and stopping, whereas in this country exceptions are invariably made in no waiting Orders to permit stopping, that