§ 55. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister of Transport if he has now decided on some form of road sign other than the"slow" sign at those road junctions in the country where there are strong local opinions that the existing form of"slow" sign is proving inadequate in preventing accidents.
§ Mr. MarplesI agree with the recommendation in the Worboys Report on road traffic signs which is being published today that"Slow" signs should be replaced by the more definite mandatory"Give Way" signs, supplemented where necessary by new and more emphatic carriageway markings. I feel sure that the new traffic signs will be an improvement and will help to reduce accidents at road junctions, but comprehensive new regulations will be needed before they can be erected generally, and this will inevitably take some time.
§ 65. Mr. Goodhartasked the Minister of Transport whether he has now studied the report of the Worboys Committee on traffic signs; and what conclusions he has reached.
§ Mr. MarplesThe Secretary of State for Scotland and I have studied the Report, which will be published this afternoon, and we agree generally with its recommendations. There will be an exhibition of the new signs tomorrow in the Upper Waiting Hall of this House for the information of hon. Members; it will be open for a week. There will be another exhibition in London for the public. In addition, on certain roads in Birmingham new signs will by tomorrow permanently replace the old as a demonstration of their actual use. Our aim is to change over to the new signs as quickly as possible. New regulations will be needed to give effect to the agreed recommendations. We are already at work on these. They will be laid as soon as we have completed the necessary consultations with the local authority associations and other interests concerned.