§ 21. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that the departmental committee on traffic signs recommended that all traffic notices, sign posts, and signs should be displayed at the eye level of the motorist and in conspicuous type of lettering, what steps he proposes to take to carry this safeguard into effect?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAHighway authorities have been instructed to have regard to the recommendations of the Committee to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but I would remind him that the Committee did not recommend that signs should in all cases be erected at eye level, regardless of circumstances. If he would bring to my notice any case where signs have been erected otherwise than in accordance with the Committee's recommendations, I will have inquiries made.
§ Captain STRICKLANDIs it not a fact that the Committee recommended that the ideal height for the statuory traffic sign is at the normal eye level, and is the hon. Member aware from actual experience of driving on the roads that the new 30-miles speed limit signs are placed at such a height that unless the motorist has his headlights on at full they cannot be seen, because there is no reflection, and will he see that the instruction he has already given apparently to the highway authorities to follow the instructions of the Departmental Committee are enforced by him?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI think my hon. and gallant Friend is wrong in attributing that view to the Committee. It recommends that in towns and other places, where signs erected at a height of 3 feet 6 inches are liable to be obscured or to cause an obstruction, a clearance of 6 feet 9 inches should be allowed.
§ 27. Colonel ROPNERasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that paragraph 2 of the traffic-sign directions issued by him under the Road Traffic Act, 1934, to the effect that the de-restriction sign shall be erected on each lamp-post along a de-restricted road, is not being complied with on the Barnet and Croydon by-pass roads; and what steps he is taking to remedy this without delay?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWhile de-restriction signs have not yet been erected on every lamp-post on the roads in question, I am advised that the remainder will be in position in the course of a few days.
§ Sir W. BRASSHow does my hon. Friend reconcile that statement with the undertaking he gave when the Prayer was being discussed on a recent night?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI do Hot think that I gave any undertaking covering this point. This refers to signs on every lamp-post.
§ Sir W. BRASSDid my hon. Friend give an undertaking during the Debate on the Prayer that there would be a de-restriction sign on every lamp-post and in every area?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHASo there will be.
§ Sir W. BRASSBut they are not there.