Calderdale Council to spend extra cash on town’s 'faded' road markings after driving instructors brand them ‘non-existent’

Driving instructors in Halifax are backing a petition urging Calderdale Council to improve the area's road markings which they claimed were ‘non-existent.’

Nigel Codling, an instructor with over 15 years of experience, claimed the state of some of the signage on road surfaces in the town was so bad that learner drivers were struggling to pass their tests.

“It is a massive issue,” he said.

"For example, at Bull Green roundabout, there are two ‘keep clear’ signs on there but they are very faded and you can’t see them.

“Stop lines at traffic lights on Queen’s Road and down Gibbet Street - they are not there. They are non-existent.

“The box junction at the top of Brackenbed, where Pellon New Road meets Spring Hall Lane - there is supposed to be a white box you get into for when you turn right, it’s not there.

“It’s the same at Gibbet Street near Thrum Hall Lane and another one at the other end of Spring Hall Lane. The road markings just don’t exist.

“There are mini-roundabouts not painted in - one by the B&Q store in Halifax,” he added. “A lot of centre lines going into Wheatley - there are supposed to be two cycle lanes down there but you can’t see them neither.

“These are just a few examples. It is an absolute nightmare,” he said.

Mr Codling, of Halifax-based Pegasus Driving School, and his fellow driving instructor colleagues around the district believe the quality of the road markings is resulting in fewer learner drivers passing their driving test in Halifax and have recently backed a petition for Calderdale Council “to paint these lines.”

According to figures published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, only 45.6 per cent of candidates passed their driving test at the Halifax centre – based on Cross Street West, Pellon - between April 2021 and March 2022.

This was lower than the national pass average rate of 48.9 per cent for the same date range.

Mr Codling, who is an advanced driving instructor covering areas across Calderdale, Bradford and Kirklees, said: “The candidates can’t see the road markings when they go out on their tests even though we have told them where they are because obviously they are nervous when they go out on their test, so they can’t see them.

“It is so difficult for them because what happens is - because they can’t see the road markings - they end up failing and then the waiting list is about six months.

“So if they fail they are absolutely gutted for something that they can’t see. And then it’s the cost of the extra lessons and extra tests that they have to fork out for. It is a financial thing for them as well.

“The examiners just say there’s not a lot we can do about it. They know the markings are there, they expect us to tell our candidates that the markings are there - which we do - but once they are out on their test the nerves kick in and they can’t see them.

“I had one recently who couldn’t see the keep clear sign at King Cross by the doctor's surgery. At the traffic lights there’s a yellow box, then a pedestrian crossing and then there’s a keep clear sign. You can just about see it but it’s faded.

“I think there should be a law where the markings have to be there for people to see because it becomes more of an accident risk as well,” added Mr Codling, of Hipperholme.

“The petition was set up by a parent of someone who failed and is to get Calderdale Council to paint these lines so candidates don’t fail their test on something they wouldn’t normally fail on.”

The petition, which can be accessed on change.org, has been set up by Sarah Pickles “to help all drivers, but mainly new and learner drivers, within the Halifax and Calderdale area,” and claims that the road marking within the borough are “unacceptable.”

The petitioner goes on to say that it should be the council’s priority “to keep all road markings and signage on the roads up to an acceptable standard.”

Calderdale Council has insisted that they will take the issue “seriously” and that additional funding has been provided for “white lining upgrades.”

A spokesperson said: “The Council carries out regular highway inspections to locate defective road markings. However, as we are responsible for more than 1,000km of adopted highway, to help us with this mammoth task we also rely on members of the public informing us of lines that become faded where they live.

“This can be done on our website: https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/transport-and-streets/roads-and-highways-maintenance

“We understand the importance of clear road markings and their role in maintaining road safety. We take the issue of unclear lining seriously and any reports are investigated, and work prioritised accordingly.

“In recognition of the work required, an additional £100,000 has been allocated in this year’s programme for white lining upgrades, to help with traffic flow.”

The Government states that “road traffic signs, signals and road markings need to be simple and concise so people can understand them quickly,” and that the Department for Transport “produces regulations and guidance to make sure that traffic authorities use traffic signs and road markings correctly.”