The Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations and General Directions 2008

This Statutory Instrument has been printed in substitution of the SI of the same number and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.

Statutory Instruments

2008 No. 2177

Road Traffic

The Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations and General Directions 2008

Made

12th August 2008

Laid before Parliament

18th August 2008

Coming into force

15th September 2008

The Regulations contained in Part 1 of this Instrument are made in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 64(1), (2) and (3) and 85(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(1).

The Secretary of State has consulted with representative organisations in relation to those Regulations in accordance with section 134(2) of that Act.

The General Directions contained in Part 2 of this Instrument are given in exercise of the powers conferred by section 65(1) of that Act(2).

Accordingly the Secretary of State makes the Regulations and gives the General Directions contained respectively in Parts 1 and 2 of this Instrument.

PART 1 The Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations 2008

Citation and Commencement

1.  These Regulations—

(a) may be cited as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations 2008;

(b) together with the General Directions contained in Part 2 of this Instrument, may be cited as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations and General Directions 2008; and

(c) shall come into force on 15th September 2008.

Preliminary

2.  The Traffic Signs Regulations 2002(3) are amended as follows.

New traffic sign

3.—(1) In Schedule 4 after diagram 880 insert the diagram 880.1 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(2) In Schedule 17, item 4, column (2), insert “880.1” after “880”.

References to General Directions

4.—(1) In item 2 of the untitled table below diagram 671 in Schedule 2, after “11(5)” insert “, 11(6), 11(7)”.

(2) In item 2 of the untitled table below diagram 675 in Schedule 2, after “7” insert “, 8”.

(3) In item 2 of the untitled table below diagram 880 in Schedule 4, substitute “32, 18(1)” for “32(2)”.

(4) In item 3 of the untitled table below diagram 880 in Schedule 4, substitute “1065” for “None”.

(5) In item 3 of the untitled table below diagram 1065 in Schedule 6, after “674” insert “,880”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Jim Fitzpatrick

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Transport

12th August 2008

SCHEDULE Diagram to be inserted into Schedule 4 to the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002

PART 2 The Traffic Signs (Amendment) General Directions 2008

Citation and Commencement

1.  These General Directions—

(a) may be cited as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) General Directions 2008;

(b) together with the Regulations contained in Part 1 of this Instrument, may be cited as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations and General Directions 2008; and

(c) shall come into force on 15th September 2008.

Preliminary

2.  The Traffic Signs General Directions 2002(4) are amended as follows.

Beginning of a speed limit

3.  In direction 8(1) after “674” insert “, 675”.

4.  At the end of direction 10(2) after “begins” insert, “, except where the sign shown in diagram 675 with the permitted variation shown in item 4 of the table below that diagram is placed at that point.”.

Spacing of repeater signs

5.—(1) In direction 11(2) substitute “paragraphs (3), (4), and (7)” for “paragraphs (3) and (4)”.

(2) After direction 11(5) add—

“(6) Paragraph (7) applies if—

(a) direction 11(2) (in the case of the sign shown in diagram 670) or direction 11(5) (in the case of the sign shown in diagram 671) requires the sign shown in that diagram to be placed along a road at regular intervals; and

(b) an enforcement camera is from time to time in use along that road.

(7) Where this paragraph applies, an additional sign shown in diagram 670 or 671 respectively may be placed along the road at each approach to an enforcement camera, even if such an additional sign affects the regular intervals at which signs are placed along that road.”.

Additional road marking

6.  In item 18 of table 1 in direction 18(1), in column (3), substitute “, 674 or 880” for “, or 674”.

Enforcement camera signing

7.  Substitute the following for direction 32—

“(1) A sign shown in diagram 878, 879, 880 or 880.1 may be placed only in an area or along a route where enforcement cameras are from time to time in use.

(2) The sign shown in diagram 880 may be placed only on or near a road on which—

(a) there is provided a system of carriageway lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 183 metres apart in England and Wales or 185 metres apart in Scotland; and

(b) which is subject to a speed limit of 30 mph.

(3) The sign shown in diagram 880.1 may be placed only on or near a road on which—

(a) there is not a system of carriageway lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 183 metres apart in England and Wales or 185 metres apart in Scotland; and

(b) a national speed limit is in force.

(4) No more than two signs of the type shown in diagram 880 or 880.1 may be placed on any approach to an enforcement camera.”

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Jim Fitzpatrick

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Transport

12th August 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument)

This Instrument makes a number of amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002.

Part 1 is the Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations 2008 which amend the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002 (“the Principal Regulations”). Regulation 3 adds a new sign to Schedule 4 of the Principal Regulations that is similar to the sign in diagram 880 in that Schedule but containing a national speed limit roundel. Regulation 4 amends cross-references from the Principal Regulations to the Traffic Signs General Directions 2002 (“the Principal Directions”) to reflect the amendments made by Part 2 of this Instrument.

Part 2 is the Traffic Signs (Amendment) General Directions 2008 which amend the Principal Directions.

Direction 3 amends direction 8(1) of the Principal Directions to permit the sign shown in diagram 675 (end of a 20mph zone and notification of new speed limit) to be used to indicate the point where a speed limit (other than a national speed limit) begins.

Direction 4 amends direction 10(2) of the Principal Directions so that a sign shown in diagram 671 indicating the national speed limit is not required where a sign shown in diagram 675 is displayed as varied by the permitted variation shown in item 4 of the table below that diagram. The permitted variation is to replace the 30mph speed limit roundel with a national speed limit roundel.

Direction 5 amends direction 11 of the Principal Directions so that an additional sign shown in diagrams 670 or 671 may be placed on each approach to an enforcement camera, even if this affects the regular spacing of repeater signs.

Direction 6 extends direction 18 of the Principal Directions to enable road markings indicating the speed limit to be placed in conjunction with the diagram 880 sign.

Direction 7 amends direction 32 of the Principal Directions to clarify its applicability to both fixed and mobile enforcement cameras and to the new diagram 880.1 sign (which may only be placed on unlit roads subject to a national speed limit). An additional diagram 880 or 880.1 sign is also now permitted on each approach to an enforcement camera.

This Instrument was notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC (OJ No. L204, 21.7.98, p37) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC (OJ No. L217, 5.8.98, p18). Copies of the Directives can be obtained from the Stationery Office and may also be accessed at the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.

A full Impact Assessment of the effect this instrument will have on costs for the business and voluntary sectors has been produced and is available from the Speed Management Branch, Department for Transport, Zone 2/13 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR and may be accessed on the Department’s website at www.dft.gov.uk. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.

(1)

1984 c 27. By virtue of S.I. 1999/3143 the functions under section 64 which were exercisable by “the Ministers acting jointly” were transferred to the Secretary of State. Amendments relating to the exercise of powers under section 64 in relation to Wales and Scotland respectively were made by S.I. 1999/672 and 1750.

(2)

Section 65(1) was substituted by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c.22), Schedule 8, paragraph 48. By virtue of S.I. 1999/3143 the functions under section 65 which were exercisable by “the Ministers acting jointly” were transferred to the Secretary of State. Amendments relating to the exercise of powers under section 65(1) in relation to Wales and Scotland respectively were made by S.I. 1999/672 and 1750. Under section 65(3) the power to give general directions is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(3)

S.I. 2002/3113, Part 1. The relevant amendment is by S.I. 2005/1670.

(4)

S.I. 2002/3113, Part 2. The relevant amendments are by S.I. 2004/1275 and 2005/1670.