National Safety Congress
Page 72
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Delegates Divided on Value of Hand Signals
Precedence at Roundabouts Discussed for Third Year in Succession
TS the driver's hand signal outdated 1 under present-day road conditions and ready to be superseded by automatic indicators? This question prompted considerable argument at Bridlington last week, during the annual National Safety Congress of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. But no decision was reached, because the Congress was equally divided on the Problem.
Chief Insp. W. Spray, North Midland Accident Prevention Federation, put forward the proposal that on vehicles other than cycles and motorcycles there should be compulsory direction indicators of a standard specification.
He claimed that the correct place for a driver's hands when approaching a hazard was on the controls of his vehicle, and not out of the window. In poorlylit areas it was virtually impossible to see any signals given at night.
The Unseen Signal
Chief Insp. Spray was supported by Cllr. Mrs. D. Ashley, Clowne R.D.C., who made special reference to the difficulty of picking out lorry drivers' signals at night due to the dark overalls they usually wore.
Opposing the motion, Mr. F. Longley, Cyclists' Touring Club, said hand signals, even if they were misinterpreted, were an indication that something was about to happen, so consequently other road users were alerted.
Another speaker, Mr. E. W. Limes, West London Road Safety Committee, pointed out that mechanical indicators could not convey the sense of urgency which could be put into a hand signal.
Replying, Mr., J. W. B. Armstrong, principal of the Ministry of Transport's Vehicle Regulation Taxation Department, said although a good hand signal was hard to beat, the Ministry were considering the problem of standardizing flashertype indicators, taking into account their colour, intensity and position. The Ministry were also studying the controversial overtakin.g signal which was frequently misinterpreted.
For the third successive year the question of precedence at roundabouts and " Y " junctions was discussed. It was brought up by Mr. F. G. Parry, West Bromwich road safety organizer, who submitted that precedence should be given to vehicles on the right. The Highway Code gave no clear indication on the matter, and the rule which he suggested had worked well in other countries would soon become accepted here.
Mr. D. F. Allen, assistant secretary of the Ministry's Road Traffic Division, pointed out that the proposal was based on an old theme. With a touch of humour he suggested that statistics showed the bigger vehicle had priority at a roundabout.
B38 To this, Mr. Parry replied that although the Ministry had been considering the problem for some time they had still taken no action. This remark was greeted with cheers, and the resolution was passed unanimously, A proposal by the South Wales and Monmouthshire Accident Prevention Federation that the present system of lane marking on three-lane carriageways be abolished, was carried by a large majority.
Supt. K. G. Bowen, Glamorgan, said statistics of accidents on three-lane roads were not available, but there was evidence that such accidents often had fatal results. He described the overtaking lane as an "invitation to disaster." which pro moted congestion and irritation. The double white line system should be adopted throughout the country and its violation made an offence, he added.
Mr. Allen replied that between 400 and 500 miles of road had now been converted to the double white line system and the law would soon be amended.
A General Speed Limit?
A maximum speed Of 50 m.p.h." on all derestricted roads other than dual carriageways and motorways was put forward by the North Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland Accident Prevention Federation. Mr. G. N. C. Swift, clerk to Cumberland County Council, pointed to the maximum speeds of up to 70 m.p.h. imposed on all American roads and suggested that Britain should follow suit. Accidents caused by skidding had increased substantially in the past three years.
In opposition, Ald. G. C. Adams said only 38 per cent. of all accidents occurred on unrestricted roads and a 50 m.p.h. maximum would promote congestion and greatly affect traffic economy.
Mr. Allen said it would not be in the interests of road safety to impose a maximum speed limit which, in any case, would be difficult to enforce.
The motion was defeated by a large majority.
The final proposal was that punishment for sortie road. traffic offences should be altered to indlude, in certain cases, attendance at a re-education Centre for training in road behaviour. It was submitted by Mr. B. N. Bebbington, Chief Constable of Cambridge, for the Eastern Accident Prevention Federation.
Opposing the motion, another Chief Constable, Mr. G. Goodman, Halifax, said an offender's licence should be revoked and re-issued only after a test.
Mr. R. Lloyd, .principal of the Home Office Police Division, replied that most convicted drivers were not necessarily incompetent and they would be able to pass a test .without any .further tuition.
The resolution was defeated.
Statistics show that although the provision of modern street lighting increases traffic speeds by 2 to 3 per cent., road accidents at night are reduced by up to 30 per cent. This was stated by Mr. Granville Berry, Coventry's engineer and surveyor, and president of the Association of Public Lighting Engineers.
The Cost of Accidents
He pointed out that the total yearly cost of traffic accidents to the country was £175m., or £550 for every accident in a built-up area. A 30 per cent. accident reduction would be financially equal to the cost of installing lights on all main traffic roads.
The provision of good lighting was the biggest single contribution for keeping death off the roads. Referring to the new motorways now under construction, Mr. Berry said that continuous lighting should be installed along their entire length.
He claimed that the cost would be an insignificant figure amounting to only 1-2 per cent. of the road itself.
Mr. J. W. Peter Blenkin, chief constable of the East Riding, said he would like to see more signs written actually on the road, rather than at its side. He disliked, too, the confusion caused by advertisement posters and neon lights,
Mr. R. M. Peak, transport manager of the 1,600-strong fleet of G. and T. Earle, Ltd., Hull, spoke of the importance attached to careful driver selection among commercial-vehicle operators. Selection should be based on the results of an interview, medical examination, oral test and driving test.
Mr. peak was, strongly in favour of competitions and awards for good driving. Apart from making a driver safety conscious, such awards were a passport for getting a good job.