Road Direction Signs (Hansard, 1 March 1988)

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, the report of a review by officials of direction signs was published on 18th December 1987 and is now with interested organisations for their comments. The review concludes that the present system is basically sound and relevant to today's traffic conditions but there is scope for improving the practical application of these principles. Her Majesty's Government have already begun revising the traffic signs manual and related advice.

§ Lord Nugent of Guildford
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer and his admission that there is scope for improvement in the existing situation of traffic signs. Is he aware that I asked a similar Question about five years ago and received a similar emollient answer and that no great improvement has yet appeared? Is he further aware that the Government should match their splendid programme of road building by giving grants to local 93 authorities to improve their traffic signing, both in towns and in the country? Only by giving a generous measure of grant will they ever get this work done.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I hope my noble friend will feel slightly more optimistic after I have answered his question. I am sure he will be interested to learn that the Department of Transport is making arrangements for a demonstration project to be held at Guildford. Guildford has been chosen because, as I am sure my noble friend knows, it has a challenging range of traffic and environmental problems. The project will show what good signing techniques can achieve. The cost, as I am sure my noble friend will be happy to hear, will be shared by the department and Surrey County Council.

§ Lord Nugent of Guildford
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that more than emollient and very solid answer. Speaking as I do as an honorary freeman of Guildford, perhaps I may ask my noble friend whether he is aware that the one-way traffic system at Guildford is such that even the natives find difficulty in getting through it. Certainly for Guildford this small contribution will be very welcome.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I hope that in a year's time my noble friend will see that many improvements are taking place.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, in expressing appreciation of this excellent review and report and the intention of the Government to proceed with the new signs manual, perhaps I may ask whether the Government accept the implications of paragraph 28 of the report. This indicates a vast saving on an adequate signposting system but also points out the cost that will fall on highway authorities. Can we be assured that highway authorities will be reimbursed for the costs of re-signing? Perhaps I may also draw the attention of the Minister to paragraph—

Noble Lords
Order! Question!

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, this is only my second question. I am only asking two questions, which I believe I am permitted.

§ Lord Denham
My Lords, the noble Lord should ask his question.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, if the noble Lord the Chief Whip had let me ask it, I would have finished the question by now. Is the Minister aware that paragraph 3 of the introduction emphasises that once a nameplate has appeared on a sign it should be continued until the destination is reached? Does the Minister appreciate that this is a problem which is met by numerous people when they are meeting T-junctions from a minor road?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am not sure that I can remember the first question, but I can remember the second. I agree that paragraph 3 says that once a placename has appeared on a sign it should be shown on all subsequent signs until the destination is reached. I am sure all your Lordships will agree with 94 that. As regards the cost of the changes, the review report estimated an extra £1 million a year over 10 years for local authority expenditure. On the other hand, the benefits have been estimated as at least £1.9 million a year.

§ Lord Elwyn-Jones
My Lords, is it not the case that if the noble Lord, Lord Nugent of Guildford, were to come to Wales, not only would he receive a welcome in the valleys but he would observe that the road signs are abundantly available in both the Welsh and the English languages?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I believe it is entirely appropriate that the noble and learned Lord should ask a supplementary question on this day of all days.

§ Lord Grimond
My Lords, when the Minister is looking into this matter will he encourage the relevant authorities to put up the names of streets more frequently than they do? Has it been noticed that not only has Guildford been picked out for favour—as it should be, no doubt—but that this somewhat remote and eccentric town is constantly picked out by signs in the middle of London pointing to how one is to get there? The signs do not indicate Manchester or Birmingham, but Guildford seems to be the main destination from London.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords. I agree that Guildford is very fortunate on this occasion. I am sure that what is learnt from Guildford will find its way into all parts of the country in due course.

§ Lord Leatherland
My Lords, will the Minister consider having larger lettering on many of these signs? At the moment a driver has to slow down in order to read the small print on the signs. When he slows down, the driver behind does not.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, that point is covered in the report, which I am sure the noble Lord would like to read.

§ Lord Rugby
My Lords, does the Minister agree that when scaffolding is erected those responsible should make sure that the name of the road is clearly seen and not concealed behind the scaffolding?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I believe that is another question.