Bilingual work signs distract motorists

LETTER - I have noticed that many of the contractors undertaking road works in Shropshire and Cheshire are using bilingual traffic signs.

This would not be a problem if the first language was English, however, the majority have Welsh first, which is very distracting when one has to scan down the sign looking for the English version.

I did not believe that these signs could be legal so contacted the Department for Transport who replied as follows:

"Traffic signs placed in Great Britain must conform to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, or be authorised by the Secretary of State or appropriate devolved authority - our policy is to restrict the information on signs to the minimum so as to make it easier for the driver to read and not to distract them unnecessarily.

"The Welsh Language Act 1993 allows for both Welsh and English to be used on road signs placed in Wales only. Responsibility for specifying such bilingual signs is devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government.

"However, although this department is responsible for the regulations that prescribe traffic signs and road markings for the use by highway authorities, it is not responsible for ensuring that they comply with them and it is for individual authorities to decide how to carry out their statutory duty."

Both West Mercia and Cheshire Constabularies are keen to reduce road traffic collisions yet they and the local authorities seem to condone what would appear to be illegal signs that could distract motorists.

John Sinnott, Whitchurch