The Road Traffic Exemptions (Special Forces) (Variation and Amendment) Regulations 2011

Amendment of road traffic regulations

7.  In the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002(1)—

(a) in regulation 4 (interpretation-general) after the definition of “solo motor cycle” insert—

““special forces purposes”, in relation to the use of a vehicle, means the use where—

(a) the person driving the vehicle is a member of a unit of the armed forces of the Crown the maintenance of whose capabilities is the responsibility of the Director of Special Forces or which is for the time being subject to the operational command of that Director; and

(b) the vehicle is being driven—

(i) in response, or for practice in responding, to a national security emergency by a person who has been trained in driving vehicles at high speeds; or

(ii) for the purpose of training a person in driving vehicles at high speeds.”;

(b) in regulation 15 (sign shown in diagram 610 and its significance)—

(i) in paragraph (1) after “(2B)” insert “, (2C)”;

(ii) after paragraph (2B) insert—

“(2C) On an occasion where a vehicle is being used for special forces purposes the requirement conveyed by the sign in question shall be that the vehicle shall not proceed beyond that sign in such a manner or at such a time as to be likely to endanger any person.”;

(c) in regulation 26 (road markings shown in diagrams 1013.1, 1013.3 and 1013.4: double white lines) in paragraph (5)(b) after “ambulance” insert “, special forces”;

(d) in regulation 27 (road marking shown in diagram 1001.3: zig-zag lines-no stopping) in paragraph (3)(c) for “or ambulance” substitute “, ambulance or special forces”;

(e) in regulation 36 (significance of light signals prescribed by regulations 33 to 35) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in sub-paragraph (a) for “sub-paragraph (b) and sub-paragraph (ba) and sub-paragraph (bb)” substitute “sub-paragraphs (b) to (bc)”; and

(ii) after sub-paragraph (bb) insert—

“(bc) when a vehicle is being used for special forces purposes sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply to the vehicle and the red signal shall convey the prohibition that that vehicle shall not proceed beyond the stop line in a manner or at a time likely to endanger any person or to cause the driver of any vehicle proceeding in accordance with the indications of light signals operating in association with the signals displaying the red signal to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident;”;

(f) in regulation 38 (significance of the light signals prescribed by regulation 37(1)) in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) after “36(1)(b)” insert “or (bc)”; and

(g) in Schedule 19 (bus stop and bus stand clearways and box junctions) in Part 1 in paragraph 4 (other exceptions) in sub-paragraph (1)(a) after “ambulance” insert “, special forces”.

(1)

S.I. 2002/3113; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2004/3168, 2005/2929, S.S.I. 2005/344.