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

Amendment of road traffic regulations

6.  In the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations 1997(1)—

(a) in regulation 3 (interpretation) in paragraph (1) after the definition of “secondary signal” insert—

““special forces purposes” means, in relation to the use of a vehicle, 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 12 (significance of vehicular light signals at pelican crossings) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) for “sub-paragraph (e) and sub-paragraph (ea) and sub-paragraph (eb)” substitute “sub-paragraphs (e) to (ec)”;

(ii) at the end of sub-paragraphs (e), (ea) and (eb) omit “and”; and

(iii) after sub-paragraph (eb) insert—

“(ec) when a vehicle is being used for special forces purposes, sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) shall not apply to the vehicle, and the steady amber and the red signal shall each convey the information that the vehicle may proceed beyond the stop-line if the driver—

(i) accords precedence to any pedestrian who is on that part of the carriageway which lies within the limits of the crossing or on the central reservation which lies between two crossings which do not form part of a system of staggered crossings; and

(ii) does not proceed in a manner or at a time likely to endanger any person or any vehicle approaching or waiting at the crossing, or to cause the driver of any such vehicle to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident; and”;

(c) in regulation 13 (significance of vehicular light signals at puffin crossings) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) for “sub-paragraph (f) and sub-paragraph (g) and sub-paragraph (h)” substitute “sub-paragraphs (f) to (i)”;

(ii) at the end of sub-paragraph (h) add—

“; and

(i)

when a vehicle is being used for special forces purposes sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) shall not apply to the vehicle and the red signal, red-with-amber and amber signals shall each convey the information that the vehicle may proceed beyond the stop line if the driver—

(aa)

accords precedence to any pedestrian who is on that part of the carriageway which lies within the limits of the crossing or on a central reservation which lies between two crossings which do not form part of a system of staggered crossings; and

(ii)

does not proceed in a manner or at a time likely to endanger any person or any vehicle approaching or waiting at the crossing, or to cause the driver of any such vehicle to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident”; and

(d) in regulation 21 (exceptions to regulation 20) in paragraph (c) for “or ambulance” substitute “, ambulance or special forces”.

(1)

S.I. 1997/2400; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2004/3168, 2005/2929, S.S.I. 2005/344.