HL Deb 05 December 1962 vol 245 cc233-5

2.47 p.m.

LORD BOSSOM

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will, with the object of adding another safety element to road travel, require all road signs to be absolutely uniform in form, shape, size and colour; and require all sign replacements or new signs to conform to this standardisation: also require all hand and sound signals to be uniform throughout the British Isles and to be put under the control of one authority, or, if they are still to remain under the control of local authorities, require these to get approval of all signs from one controlling body.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)

My Lords, Traffic Signs Regulations already prescribe the form, shape, size and colour of signs. A number of variations have recently been authorised by way of experiment. As I informed the noble Lord on August 1 last, all aspects of traffic signs on roads other than motorways are at present under consideration by the Committee on Traffic Signs, under the chairmanship of Sir Walter Worboys. I know that they have in mind the importance of uniformity and will be considering what administrative arrangements are necessary to achieve it. Her Majesty's Government would naturally wish to await this Committee's Report before making any changes in the present requirements.

The only official hand signals are those prescribed in the Highway Code. With sound signals, there is no evidence to suggest that the present diversity would justify the issue of further regulations.

LORD BOSSOM

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, I would ask: would it not be desirable, from the point of view of saving life, to try to see that uniformity exists all over the country as quickly as possible? We look in the paper every day and see reports of accidents, as I am sure my noble friend is aware. Look at yesterday's condition. Will my noble friend do his utmost to try to help in this matter?

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, yes. As I have told your Lordships before, Her Majesty's Government are aware of the importance of uniformity. That is precisely why the present inquiry is being carried out, in order to make quite sure that we are proceeding in the best way and have the best type of signs, and that they will achieve precisely the object that my noble friend has in mind. Exactly what signs are desirable in conditions of practically nil visibility will, I think, need a little further thought.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether, at the same time as this Committee which he has mentioned are giving attention to the points which the noble Lord, Lord Bossom, has raised, he will ask them to take this further point into consideration? Under present conditions, when the dire necessity is for every driver of a motor vehicle to keep his eyes fixed firmly on the road in front of him, all signs should be at a height at which a driver of a motor car or motor vehicle can see them, without having to stop to look up and thereby endanger the traffic that is following.

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I do not think there is the slightest need for the Committee concerned to be reminded of that point. But if there turned out to be any need, I would certainly do so.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, if the noble Lord thinks that, would he object to my saying that he is not aware of the facts? Because quite recently I have measured direction signs and other signs giving information to drivers of motor vehicles, and they have been over 14 feet from the ground. That, in my view, is a dangerous height for any sign to be placed.

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I was aware of that. It was that awareness which prompted my answer.

LORD BOSSOM

Will my noble friend use his own offices, and those of his Ministry, to try to get this urged on as quickly as possible? Yesterday was not the first day on which we had a fog; and on every other day you have the same trouble on the roads.

LORD CHESHAM

What I endeavoured to point out to my noble friend was that in a thick fog it is very difficult to see any signs at all. But this matter is going forward, and it is expected that the results of the Committee's work will be presented to my right honourable friend in March next year.