The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994

Signs shown in diagrams 601.1, 602, 778, 778.1 and 784 and their significance

16.—(1) The requirements conveyed to vehicular traffic on roads by a sign shown in the diagram specified in column (2) of an item in the Table are specified in column (3) of that item.

Table

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Diagram number	Requirements
1.	601.1	(a) Every vehicle shall stop before crossing the transverse line shown in diagram 1002.1 or, if that line is not clearly visible, before entering the major road in respect of which the sign shown in diagram 601.1 has been provided; and (b) no vehicle shall cross the transverse line shown in diagram 1002.1 or, if that line is not clearly visible, enter the major road in respect of which the sign shown in diagram 601.1 has been provided, so as to be likely to endanger the driver of or any passenger in any other vehicle or to cause that driver to change the speed or course of his vehicle in order to avoid an accident.
2.	602	No vehicle shall cross the transverse line shown in diagram 1003 nearer to the major road at the side of which that line is placed, or if that line is not clearly visible, enter that major road, so as to be likely to endanger the driver of or any passenger in any other vehicle or to cause that driver to change the speed or course of his vehicle in order to avoid an accident.
3.	602 when placed in combination with 778 or 778.1	No vehicle shall cross the transverse line shown in diagram 1003 nearer to the level crossing at the side of which that line is placed, or if that line is not clearly visible, enter that level crossing, so as to be likely to endanger the driver of or any passenger in any railway vehicle or tramcar or to cause that driver to change the speed of his vehicle in order to avoid an accident.
4.	784	No abnormal transport unit shall proceed onto or over an automatic half-barrier level crossing or an automatic open crossing (R) unless— (a) the driver of the unit has used a telephone provided at or near the crossing for the purpose of obtaining from a person, authorised in that behalf by the railway or tramway authority, permission for the unit to proceed; (b) that permission has been obtained before the unit proceeds; and (c) the unit proceeds in accordance with any terms attached to that permission. Provided that sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) above shall not apply if— (i) on the use by the driver of the telephone placed at or near the crossing he receives an indication for not less than two minutes that the telephone at the other end of the telephone line is being called, but no duly authorised person answers it, or he receives no indication at all due to a fault or malfunction of the telephone; and (ii) the driver then drives the unit on to the crossing with the reasonable expectation of crossing it within times specified in a railway or tramway notice at that telephone as being times between which railway vehicles or tramcars do not normally travel over that crossing.

(2) In this regulation—

“abnormal transport unit” means—

(a)

a motor vehicle or a vehicle combination

(i)

the overall length of which, inclusive of the load (if any) on the vehicle or the combination, exceeds 55 feet; or

(ii)

the overall width of which, inclusive of the load (if any) on the vehicle or the combination, exceeds 9 feet 6 inches; or

(iii)

the maximum gross weight of which exceeds 38 tonnes; or

(b)

a motor vehicle, or a vehicle combination, which in either case is incapable of proceeding, or is unlikely to proceed, over an automatic railway level crossing at a speed exceeding 5 miles per hour;

“driver” in relation to an abnormal transport unit, means where that unit is a single motor vehicle the driver of that vehicle and, where that unit is a vehicle combination, the driver of the only or the foremost motor vehicle forming part of that combination; and

“vehicle combination” means a combination of vehicles made up of one or more motor vehicles and one or more trailers all of which are linked together when travelling.