§ 37. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Transport if he will require "Road Work Ahead" and similar signs to be removed as soon as the work in question is completed; and if he will require such signs to be covered up on Sundays and other days when work is not actually in progress provided they do not obstruct the road.
§ Mr. HayRemoval of these signs upon completion of road works is required by Direction 19 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 1957. Further guidance is given to highway authorities and statutory undertakers in the Traffic Safety Code for Road Works, 1958, which advocates that the signs should be covered up when no work is in progress and there is no obstruction to the highway.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs my hon. Friend aware that that guidance is not widely accepted? Will he take rather more strenuous steps to see that it is carried out?
§ Mr. HayThe guidance is very well known to highway authorities and to county councils in particular. The difficulty is that it appears that many contractors are not as fully aware of it as are the highway authorities. I will see whether there is anything more that we can do to bring the matter to their notice.
§ 38. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Transport if he will give instructions that a road sign showing "All Clear" should be erected at the end of an area covered by a "Road Work" sign, as is done on German roads and occasionally on M.1.
§ Mr. HayWe are at present considering the possibility of using such signs generally, as well as on M.1, but there may be disadvantages in using them on some all-purpose roads.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs the Minister aware that they are not always used even on the M.1 and that it would be admirable if they could be used on all such roads?