THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether road authorities could be pressed to insert in their contracts for road works a penalty clause for all cases where notices fail to be taken down instantaneously when the particular operation causing them has been completed, in view of the tremendous danger to motorists and the general public from the loss of respect for Authority inevitably consequent on notices such as "Diversion", "Road Works", "One-way traffic", "Traffic lights ahead", "Road narrows", "Beware of Ramp", and many other such being found in practice ad nauseam all over the country to be outdated, causing exasperation which is quite inadequately compensated for by the very courteous apologies which are thereafter received from county surveyors or police who are, in most cases, not the offending bodies.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy right honourable friend, the Minister of Transport, has on a number of occasions drawn the attention of those concerned to the importance he attaches to the removal of warning signs as soon as they have served their purpose. The Traffic 115WA Safety Codes for Road Works, which give advice and guidance as to the measures necessary in the interest of traffic and public safety during the road works, emphasise this point. My right honourable friend requires compliance with these Codes in contracts which he lets for the execution of roadworks and 116WA has recommended to other highway authorities that they should consider taking similar action in contracts which they let. He is advised that a penalty clause would not be enforceable in law.
House adjourned at three minutes past eight o'clock.