§ 66. Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESasked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that highway authorities shall exercise their powers and duties under Section 48 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, in connection with the removal of traffic signs or other objects which resemble authorised traffic signs and which have been erected by owners or occupiers of land adjoining the highway?
§ Captain A. HUDSONThe attention of highway authorities has been drawn to these provisions on several occasions and in December last the Ministry of Transport again reminded them of the desirability of action without delay. In order further to emphasise the importance of action in this matter, my hon. Friend is circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a short extract from the report of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs in which reference was made to this question.
§ Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESHas the Minister any reason to believe that local highway authorities are not generally aware of the provisions of the Section?
§ Captain HUDSONI think the hon. Member had better put down a question.
Following is the extract:The Committee also recommend that highway authorities should exercise vigilantly the duty imposed upon them by subsection (4) of section 48 of the Road Traffic Act, to secure the removal from private land of unauthorised warning signs or signs which may reasonably be mistaken for traffic signs. Signs which tell the motorist to "STOP" or "SLOW DOWN" so that he may purchase some commodity a little further on are particularly objectionable. In some cases holiday resorts are advertised by direction posts at distances of a hundred miles or more. Advertisements of this kind in the form of traffic signs should be removed.