Road Traffic Act 1991

Priority routes E+W+S

50 Designation of priority routes. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may by order (“a priority route order”) designate any road in London as a priority route.

(2) The Secretary of State shall exercise his powers under subsection (1) above so as to provide for a network of priority routes in London (“the priority route network”) with a view to improving the movement of traffic.

(3) Before making a priority route order, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the London authority within whose area the proposed priority route is;

(b) the relevant Commissioner or, if appropriate, both Commissioners; and

(c) London Regional Transport.

(4) Where it appears to the Secretary of State that the designation of any road as a priority route is likely to affect a road within the area of—

(a) a London authority other than that consulted under subsection (3)(a) above; or

(b) a county council,

he shall also consult that other London authority, or that county council, before making the proposed priority route order.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 50 wholly in force at 01.10.1991 see s.84(2) and S.I. 1991/2054, art. 3, Sch.

51 The Secretary of State’s traffic management guidance. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State shall issue to the London authorities and the Director guidance (“the Secretary of State’s traffic management guidance”) with respect to the management of traffic in London, and in particular with respect to priority routes and the priority route network.

(2) Any such guidance may—

(a) include provision—

(i) setting out the Secretary of State’s objectives in designating priority routes; and

(ii) with respect to the role of the Director; and

(b) be varied at any time by the Secretary of State.

(3) Before issuing or varying any such guidance, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) such associations of London authorities (if any) as he thinks appropriate;

(b) the two Commissioners;

(c) the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; and

(d) London Regional Transport.

(4) In preparing any such guidance, the Secretary of State shall have regard to the needs of people with a disability.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 51 wholly in force at 01.10.1991 see s. 84(2) and S.I. 1991/2054, art. 3, Sch.

52 The Traffic Director for London. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State shall appoint a person to be known as the Traffic Director for London (in this Act referred to as “the Director”).

(2) Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Director.

(3) In addition to the specific duties imposed on him by this or any other enactment, the Director shall have the general duty—

(a) of co-ordinating the introduction and maintenance of traffic management measures taken by highway authorities in relation to priority routes established under this Part of this Act; and

(b) of monitoring the operation of those measures.

(4) The Director shall keep under review the manner in which the London authorities exercise their functions under Part III of the M1 New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 in relation to priority routes or roads which, in his opinion, are likely to affect traffic using any priority route.

(5) The Secretary of State shall set objectives which he expects the Director to meet in exercising his functions.

(6) The Secretary of State shall publish, in such manner as he considers appropriate, any objectives which he sets under subsection (5) above.

(7) The Director shall exercise his functions—

(a) so as to meet any such objectives, so far as it is reasonably practicable for him to do so; and

(b) in accordance with any directions which the Secretary of State may from time to time see fit to give him.

(8) Any objectives set for the Director under subsection (5) above and any directions given to him under subsection (7) above may be specific or general.

(9) The Secretary of State shall publish, in such manner as he considers appropriate, any directions which he gives to the Director under subsection (7) above.

Commencement Information

I3 s. 52 wholly in force at 01.10.1991 see s.84(2) and S.I.1991/2054, art. 3, Sch.

Marginal Citations

M1 1991 c. 22.

53 The Director’s network plan. E+W+S

(1) As soon as is reasonably practicable after first receiving a copy of the Secretary of State’s traffic management guidance, the Director shall prepare and submit to him, and to each of the London authorities, his plans for the design and operation of the priority route network (“the network plan”).

(2) The Director may divide the network plan into such parts as he considers appropriate and prepare and submit those parts separately.

(3) In preparing the network plan, or any part of it, the Director shall have regard to the Secretary of State’s traffic management guidance and to the needs of people with a disability.

(4) Before submitting the network plan, or any part of it, the Director shall consult—

(a) the Secretary of State;

(b) the relevant Commissioner or, if appropriate, both Commissioners;

(c) any London authority within whose area there is any road which, in the opinion of the Director, is likely to be affected;

(d) such county councils (if any) as he thinks appropriate;

(e) such associations of London authorities (if any) as he thinks appropriate; and

(f) London Regional Transport.

(5) The network plan shall, in particular, include provision with respect to—

(a) the Director’s overall objectives for particular priority routes;

(b) the traffic management measures which he expects to see taken in relation to priority routes in general or particular priority routes;

(c) the Director’s requirements as to the timetable for the phased introduction of the priority route network; and

(d) the operation and maintenance of traffic management measures taken in respect of priority routes.

(6) The Director may from time to time vary the network plan, but before doing so he shall consult the persons mentioned in subsection (4) above.

(7) In preparing any variation, the Director shall have regard to the Secretary of State’s traffic management guidance and to the needs of people with a disability.

(8) After varying the network plan, the Director shall submit it to the Secretary of State and to each of the London authorities.

(9) The Director shall—

(a) keep the network plan under review; and

(b) have regard to the desirability of varying it, particularly in the light of any further guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 51 of this Act.

Commencement Information

I4 S. 53 wholly in force at 01.10.1991 see s.84(2) and S.I.1991/2054, art. 3, Sch.