Page:Report of the Traffic Signs Committee (1963).pdf/64

 238. We are aware that in the European Agreement on Road Markings the principle is stated that road markings may be either white or yellow, but that whatever colour is adopted for central markings, the other should be used for marking the edge of carriageways. Since in this country we use, and should in our view continue to use, white for central road markings, and since yellow is, we hope, to be reserved to indicate waiting restrictions, we recommend that the edge of carriageway markings be also in white rather than yellow as is in fact already predominently the case. Use of a broken yellow line to divide a clearway from its lay-bys, as is at present the practice, should be discontinued. Lay-bys on clearways, as on other roads, should be divided from the main carriageway by the broken white line to which we have referred in paragraph 229 above.

239. We believe that new methods of producing coloured carriageway markings should continue to be closely investigated. The use of coloured road surfaces is being developed abroad to indicate traffic lanes or the approach to junctions. This should also be carefully looked into bearing in mind particularly the need to reduce accidents at junctions.

240. All carriageway markings should have a skid-resistant surface.

The use of stainless steel plates as carriageway markings should be discontinued because of their tendency to cause skidding. They should be replaced by white lines.

Our remarks about steel studs at pedestrian crossings (paragraph 253) apply equally to those used for other purposes, such as to mark taxi ranks and parking bays.

241. There are still many miles of road without lane lines and warning lines. With the increase in traffic volume these markings are becoming very much more necessary and in our view they should be more extensively used in rural areas where the roads have a width of over 18 feet. They should also be used in urban areas except where the width of a street is inadequate and also where, as in residential districts, roads are used by purely local traffic.

242. In our view the most effective type of reflector is the 'catseye' reflecting road stud. This has been employed very successfully for many years. There is also scope for greater use of the white line reflectorised with glass beads (ballotini). This is much more visible by night than the unreflectorised line except when covered with water. Although detailed guidance is given by the Departments on the use of various road markings, it is left at present to the discretion of highway authorities to decide when reflectorised or unreflectorised white lines should be used and also where to employ 'catseyes'.

We are aware that 'catseyes' are much more generally used in this country than in many countries abroad. Nevertheless we think that in view of the increasing need for safety measures and guidance at night, reflectorised white