Page:Report of the Traffic Signs Committee (1963).pdf/99

 The back of the sign and its bracing should be neat and unobtrusive (paragraph 282).

The ease with which some signs are twisted and bent suggests that standards are inadequate or are not complied with. Compliance with British Standard No. 873 should be made a condition of purchase (paragraph 283).

Further trials should be made to test the qualities of vitreous enamel in sign construction. There should also be trials of plastics and laminated glass fibre. Tubular steel posts have advantages for the mounting of signs (paragraph 284).

To accept the lowest tender for the supply of traffic signs is not always economic since higher first costs may be justified by savings on maintenance (paragraph 285).

The maintenance of signs should be improved. They should be regularly cleaned and painted. Lower mounted signs will need more frequent cleaning (paragraph 286).

Traffic signals and sign lighting equipment should be checked by specialist staff and inspected at night (paragraph 287).

Carriageway markings require constant inspection and renewal (paragraph 288).

Trees and hedges liable to obscure signs should be kept cut (paragraph 289).

The tidying up of urban streets can result in traffic signs becoming more visible. Planning authorities should ensure that traffic signs are not obscured or impaired by advertisements.

New signs should be well arranged and those superseded should be removed (paragraphs 291 and 292).

It is most important that there should be greater uniformity in traffic signing (paragraph 298).

Complete centralisation is not practical. Local highway authorities should continue to be responsible for the initiative in and execution of the signing of their own roads within the framework of Departmental Regulations. But central authorisation of Stop signs and pedestrian crossings should continue (paragraph 299).