THERE is something wrong with North Yorkshire's road signs. But we don't know quite what.

Police say there are "specific problems". But they won't tell us what they are.

The county council admits it is undertaking an urgent review into discrepancies. But the details are kept secret.

Forget the information superhighway. We have been directed up a blind alley.

This is not right. Taxpayers pay for road signs to be made and installed. It will be taxpayers who fund the investigation team, including the bill of a QC. And we will pay out again for the new set of signs.

Yet we are not allowed to know why our money has been wasted or who is to blame.

The police and council believe they have a sure-fire excuse for their silence. If they give us any more details about the illegal signs, it might encourage irresponsible motorists to drive at dangerous speeds.

Unfortunately, that foolish minority have all the encouragement they need from the police's public admission that their ability to set up speed traps has been stymied.

A more likely reason for such secrecy is to save face.

And it might also prevent other motorists charged with speeding following the example of the two North Yorkshire officers acquitted in Cleveland. Their inside knowledge ensured they were cleared on a technicality.

The highways authorities must come clean and tell all road users what is wrong, and what they are doing to put it right.

Updated: 09:38 Tuesday, October 19, 2004