Page:Report of the Traffic Signs Committee (1963).pdf/47

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

158. County boundary signs and those indicating a national border are also of interest and often of assistance in following a map. We recommend that they be prescribed as traffic signs in similar form to place name signs. Local highway authorities frequently display their own or national crests on place name and boundary signs and we recommend that this practice be permitted to continue.

Footpaths and bridleways

159. We have considered only those signs which are erected at the junction of footpaths with all-purpose roads.

We recommend retention of the existing public footpath signs (Regs. 466 and 467) which may be so varied as to make a clear distinction between 'Footpaths' and 'Bridleways'. Such distinction is important because legal definitions have placed limitations upon the classes of traffic which may use these routes. Present Regulations require all footpath and bridleway signs to indicate destination and mileage and we understand that complaints have been received because this information is not always given. We think it should be given as a rule, but there may be exceptions where no named destination is possible.

Roads used as public paths

160. Throughout the country there are many old roads which have fallen into disrepair and some have been signposted by highway authorities as footpaths or bridleways. In the main these are the roads indicated as 'roads used as public paths' on the latest Ordnance Survey maps. Whilst it is still legal for motor vehicles to use these roads, the footpath or bridleway signs tend to indicate that they are reserved for pedestrians or horse riders, who, we under stand, have sometimes expressed resentment at their use by motors. We therefore consider that black on white direction signs should be used on these roads, as no other minor roads, and we suggest that consideration be given to adding the words 'Cart track' to indicate their nature.

(b) Other informatory signs
End of20 m.p.h. limit (Regs. 401)

161. As recommended in paragraph 76 in connection with Regs. 327, the end of a speed limit should invariably be indicated by the sign at figure 28.

Cyclists only (Regs. 402)

162. Tracks provided specially for the use of cyclists should be indicated by the sign at figure 100. Nowhere in this country, so far as we know, has it yet been made compulsory, as it often is abroad, for cyclists to use a cycle track rather than the carriageway. If and when Orders are made to this effect, they should be expressed by a similar sign but in the mandatory form of a blue disc instead of a blue rectangle.

No through road (Regs. 403)
No through road for motor vehicles (Regs. 404)

163. We recommend that the sign at figure 101 should be erected at the entrance to a road from which there is no exit. If the absence of an exit affects

38