HC Deb 27 November 1957 vol 578 c122W
67. Mr. L. Thomas

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals he has for the modification of the present system of road markings in this country.

Mr. Watkinson

After studying the experiments with new road markings on the Portsmouth and Folkestone—Dover Roads, I have come to the conclusion that the best system for this country will be to employ three types of longitudinal marking: short dotted lines with long gaps between the dots, to indicate traffic lanes; longer broken lines with short gaps between the lines, to warn of a hazard ahead; and double lines where a prohibition on crossing from one side or the other is necessary. The present single continuous line will eventually disappear.

It is my intention to introduce a strict prohibition on crossing or straddling the continuous line, where the double marking is used, but it would not be practicable to do this until the new system has become familiar throughout the country.

The new system will be consistent with the practice of other European countries.