Protection at level crossings
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• More protection for lorry drivers at halfbarrier level crossings is demanded by the Road Haulage Assocation in observations on proposals for traffic signs regulations by the Ministry of Transport. One sign is intended to warn drivers of large or slow vehicles that they must phone and get permission to cross. Inquiries among the drivers of RHA members have shown that the sign does not clearly indicate what categories of vehicles are affected. It is suggested that the wording should be modified to meet this point.
The RHA has reminded the Ministry that failure to telephone is now one of the "totting-up" offences which could lead to a driver's disqualification. It is recommended by the RHA that the regulations should be amended to require a signalman to give the driver who telephones a reference number which he can record on his log sheet.
The traffic sign regulations also provide for a sign reading "stop-weight check-. As a safeguard against the unauthorized use of the sign, particularly as part of an attempt to hi-jack the vehicle, the RNA suggests that the regulations should include an embargo on the display of the sign "in a lonely or deserted part of the country-.