Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. The principal amendments are to—

(a) prescribe revised requirements conveyed by the mini-roundabout sign shown in diagram 611.1 so as to make it clear that a vehicle must go around the centre of a mini-roundabout unless the size of the vehicle makes it impracticable to do so (regulation 2(4));

(b) amend regulation 33 (significance of light signals) to exempt fire brigade, ambulance and police vehicles from the prohibition conveyed by the red-with-amber and amber signals in addition to the red signal (regulation 2(5));

(c) substitute regulation 40 (school crossing patrol signs and warning lights) (regulation 2(6));

(d) amend regulation 43 to reduce the minimum height above the carriageway for blue flashing beacons and to remove the specified time limit between flashes (regulation 2(7));

(e) add “fire vehicles” to the permitted variants for the plate (diagram 618.1) indicating a prohibition on vehicles (regulation 2(9)(d));

(f) provide that the plate (diagram 648) showing a continuous prohibition on stopping on the footway applies to all roads and not only clearways (regulation 2(9)(e));

(g) delete the permitted variants in respect of the sign shown in diagram 773 (STOP when lights show) (regulation 2(10));

(h) add “bus lane” to the permitted variants for the sign (diagram 878) indicating the presence of cameras used for enforcement (regulation 2(11));

(i) add permitted variants to the signs (diagrams 958 and 959) indicating with-flow bus lanes to allow the signs to indicate a bus lane on the right-hand side (regulation 2(12)(a) and (b));

(j) delete the requirement to illuminate the road marking shown in diagram 1003.6 (regulation 2(13)(b) and (16));

(k) provide that the road markings shown in diagrams 1025 and 1025.1 (bus stop marking) may be used on hard shoulders as well as carriageways (regulation 2(13)(c) and (d));

(l) provide that the road markings shown in diagrams 1048 and 1049 may be used to indicate a lane reserved for fire vehicles as well as a bus lane (regulation 2(13)(e), (f) and (g));

(m) provide that the road marking shown in diagram 1050 (direction of possible traffic movements at the end of a bus lane) may be reversed in a mirror image (regulation 2(13)(h)); and

(n) clarify the permitted variants in respect of the sign shown in diagram 2716 (sign indicating an alternative route) (regulation 2(14)).

These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to Directive 98/34/EC of 22nd June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services (O.J. No. L204, 21.7.98, p. 37-48) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC of 20th July 1998 (O.J. No. L217. 5.8.98, p. 18-26). Copies of the Directives can be obtained from the Stationary Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.