Section 53 of the same Act the police can also erect any signs for the control of traffic in order to give effect to Orders made under the various Police Acts, provided the signs accord with Regulation 23. There is no time limit on these signs.
In practice we find that a number of signs provided by the police do not conform with Regulation 23. A particular example is the rectangular sign having the legend 'Police notice—Radar speed meters in use' , which we observe is tending to increase. As the use of radar becomes more common we hope that no further need will be felt by the police for this sign and that any necessary warning will be given by general publicity.
There appear to be numerous varieties of police signs to indicate waiting restrictions and many do not conform with the Regulations. We think it important that the fewest possible types be used so that drivers can recognise them immediately and we think a blue pyramidal sign with white or silver lettering the most suitable portable sign for this purpose. We favour this shape because it presents a flat surface for the legend and it can easily be stacked. These traffic pyramids, like the traffic cones to which we refer in paragraph 214, should be so constructed as to be rigid and stable in wind or airstream caused by passing traffic. They should be between 2 feet and 2 feet 6 inches in height. When a fixed sign is required for longer periods a rectangular blue plate with white lettering may be used on lamp posts as is now done by some police forces.
Two signs, Police stop (Regs. 221) and Police slow (Regs. 222), are prescribed. We recommend that they be replaced by the signs at figures 142 and 143 which should be of a size convenient for carrying in patrol cars. Where it is more convenient to use one double-sided sign than two separate signs the Stop police sign may be placed on the reverse of the Police slow sign, in which case that part of the plate which is outside the circular red border should be coloured white and should not be reflectorised.
A temporary flashing beacon with a blue light is at present used by the police at the scene of accidents . This flashing blue light is combined with the Police stop or Police slow signs mentioned above. We recommend that the use of this type of beacon should be permitted.
206. Highway authorities sometimes need to erect temporary signs, the most common being signs to indicate traffic diversions. We recommend that in future these diversion signs be in the form of direction signs with black lower-case lettering on a white background but including the word 'Diversion'. Care should be taken to ensure continuity of signing throughout the entire length of the diversion.
Where the authority provides a temporary mandatory or prohibitory sign pending the erection of a permanent sign, this should be in the form of the intended permanent sign.
Where the carriageway is slippery because it has been fouled by, for example, agricultural or industrial operations, every effort should of course be made to remove the danger quickly. But until this is done we recommend use of the sign at figure 53. We refer in greater detail to this sign in paragraph 123.
Any temporary warning signs should follow the Protocol. For example, warning of flood should be given by the sign at figure 60 with the word ' Flood' in black lower-case letters instead of the word 'Ford' within the red triangle.
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