Page:Report of the Traffic Signs Committee (1963).pdf/46

 All mileages should be shown by means of figures alone; we do not think that the letter 'm' or the word 'miles' is necessary.

Confirmatory signs should be of the same colour combination and letter height as direction signs. Wherever possible they should be placed at eye level and as far as possible at points where drivers will have time and opportunity to absorb their message, but they should normally not be less than 75 yards nor more than 150 yards beyond the junction.

We advocate that route confirmatory signs should be used after any junction at which traffic volume is sufficient to justify a main (as distinct from local) advance direction sign.

155. Continuity of ring roads is not always obvious and we recommend that the sign shown in figure 96 should be mounted at frequent intervals along them, the frequency depending on the course of the route. We recommend this sign in the absence of any internationally agreed sign for this purpose.

156. Road junctions are quite frequently known by special names. These may be nationally known such as 'Scotch Corner' or only locally known such as 'Staples' Corner' on the London North Circular Road. It has been urged that these should be marked. We agree and suggest that this be done by the addition of a suitably designed rectangular plate to the upper edge of the advance direction signs before the junction. We think it must be left to the highway authority to decide at what point a local junction name becomes sufficiently well known to justify marking in this way. If there is any doubt, it should be omitted in the interest of keeping signs as simple and clear as possible.

When junction names are used they should be in capital letters, as are the legends on place names signs (see paragraph 157), and should be in the same colour combination as the rest of the sign.

157. The names of towns and villages are at present widely indicated by informatory signs with black capitals on a white rectangular plate. These signs are useful, they conform with the Protocol, and for economic reasons we recommend no immediate change. We advocate, however, that when new signs are needed or existing signs require to be renewed the form of lettering shown at figure 4 should be used, the letter height being that of the initial capitals of the direction signs on the same road. New signs should not include mileages and forward destinations as is now sometimes done (Regs. 462). When the place named is part of a town and it is desired to show the name of the town as well, this should be in smaller letters above the place name but not underlined as at present (Regs. 463). Place name signs should be sited at the beginning of the built-up area and not on the boundary of the borough, urban or rural district, or parish as this may often be some distance from the town or village itself and can cause confusion.

In urban areas it is often found more convenient for the place name of a suburb to be displayed on a plate above an advance direction sign on or near the boundary of the district. If so the plate should take the same form as that used for local junction names (see paragraph 156).