Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

67 Emergencies and temporary obstructions. E+W+S

(1) A constable, or a person acting under the instructions (whether general or specific) of the chief officer of police, may place on a [F1 road], or on any structure on a [F1 road], traffic signs (of any size, colour and type prescribed or authorised under section 64 of this Act), indicating prohibitions, restrictions or requirements relating to vehicular traffic, as may be necessary or expedient to prevent or mitigate congestion or obstruction of traffic, or danger to or from traffic, in consequence of extraordinary circumstances; and the power to place signs conferred by this subsection shall include power to maintain a sign for a period of 7 days or less from the time when it was placed, but no longer.

[F2 (1A) In subsection (1)—

(a) “extraordinary circumstances” includes terrorism or the prospect of terrorism within the meaning of section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11), and

(b) the reference to 7 days shall, in the application of the subsection in connection with terrorism or the prospect of terrorism, be taken as a reference to 28 days;

but this subsection does not apply to a power under subsection (1) in so far as exercisable by a traffic officer by virtue of section 7 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18).]

[F3 (1B) In the application of subsection (1) in connection with terrorism or the prospect of terrorism—

(a) the reference to vehicular traffic is to be read as a reference to any kind of traffic (including pedestrians), and

(b) the other references to traffic are to be read accordingly.]

(2) [F4 Section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988] (drivers to comply with traffic directions) shall apply to signs placed in the exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (1) above.

(3) Regulations under section 64 of this Act prescribing any type of object or device for warning traffic of a temporary obstruction may include provisions for authorising (subject to such conditions as may be specified in the regulations) persons not otherwise authorised to do so to place an object or device of that type on or near roads, or on or near any description of road so specified, in such circumstances and for such periods as may be so specified.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 67(1) substituted (S.) by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 128(1), Sch. 9 para. 93(24) and substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para.50; S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3,Sch.

F2 S. 67(1A) inserted (19.1.2005) by Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (c. 36), ss. 32, 34, Sch. 2 Pt. 3 para. 16(3); S.I. 2004/3281, art. 2(3)(4)

F3 S. 67(1B) inserted (12.4.2019) by Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 (c. 3), ss. 15(10), 27(3)

F4 Words substituted by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. 3 para. 25(5)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 67 applied (with modifications) (6.3.1992) by Aberdeen Harbour Order Confirmation Act 1992 (c. ii), s. 1, Sch. s. 3(2).

S. 67 excluded (S.) (4.1.1995) by 1994 c. 39, s. 150(1); S.I. 1994/2850, art. 3a, Sch. 2

S. 67 extended (1.7.2005) by 2002 (c. 30), Sch. 4 para. 13A(1) (as inserted by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 122, 178, Sch. 8 para. 11; S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(i)

C2 S. 67(1)(2) extended (E.W.) (4.10.2004 for E. and 1.5.2009 for W.) by Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18), ss. 7, 99 (with s. 38); S.I. 2004/2380, art. 2(a); S.I. 2009/1095, art. 2(a)