The Traffic Signs (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021

Statutory Instruments

2021 No. 75

Road Traffic, England

The Traffic Signs (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021

Made

25th January 2021

Laid before Parliament

28th January 2021

Coming into force

19th February 2021

The Secretary of State, as the relevant authority, makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 64(1), (2), (3) and (5) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(1) (“the 1984 Act”).

In accordance with section 134(2) of the 1984 Act(2), the Secretary of State has consulted with such representative organisations as he thought fit.

In respect of the exercise of powers under section 64 of the 1984 Act the Secretary of State has, in accordance with section 134(3A) and (3B)(3), consulted with the Welsh Ministers and Scottish Ministers.

Citation, commencement and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Traffic Signs (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021 and come into force on 19th February 2021.

(2) These Regulations apply to England only.

Amendment of the Traffic Signs Regulations 2016

2.—(1) The Traffic Signs Regulations 2016(4) are amended as follows.

(2) In the table in Schedule 1 (definitions)—

(a) in the meaning of “bus lane”, after “pedal cycles,” insert “electric scooters being used in a trial,”;

(b) in the meaning of “cycle lane”, for paragraph (a) substitute—

“(a) if it may not be used by vehicles other than electric scooters being used in a trial and pedal cycles—

(i) by the marking provided for at item 7 of the sign table in Part 6 of Schedule 9; or

(ii) by a barrier provided in accordance with section 4 of the Cycle Tracks Act 1984(5), in the case of a way that would be a cycle track but for it being accessible, under a temporary statutory provision, by electric scooters being used in a trial;”.

(3) In Part 2 of Schedule 3 (circular signs and supplementary plates including regulatory requirements), in column (2) of the table (description), in items 12 and 20 after “prohibited” insert “, except for electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(4) In Part 3 of Schedule 3 (legends for plates associated with circular signs)—

(a) in paragraph 3(1) for “and (4)” substitute “, (4) and (5)”;

(b) after paragraph 3(4) insert—

“(5) The use of the word “cycles” also represents, where relevant, electric scooters being used in a trial.”;

(c) for paragraph 11 substitute—

“11.— (1) “Except” and “trams”, “buses”, “local buses”, “cycles”, “buses and cycles” or “local buses and cycles”; “and” may be varied to “&”.

(2) The use of the word “cycles” also represents, where relevant, electric scooters being used in a trial.”.

(5) In Part 5 of Schedule 4 (symbols to be used with Part 4 symbols on a white panel), in column (2) of the table (description)—

(a) in items 1 and 6, after “motor cycles” insert “other than electric scooters being used in a trial”;

(b) in item 7 after “electric vehicles” insert “other than electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(6) In Part 1 of Schedule 5 (parking place signs and plates), in column (2) of the table (description) in paragraph 2, in item 2 after “motor cycles” insert “other than electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(7) In Part 2 of Schedule 6 (symbols and legends used on a bottom panel), in column (2) of the table (description) —

(a) in items 4 and 9 after “motor cycles” insert “other than electric scooters being used in a trial”;

(b) in item 10 after “electric vehicles” insert “other than electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(8) In Part 2 of Schedule 8 (signs indicating pedestrian and pedestrian and cycle zones), in column (2) of the table (sign description), in item 2 after “restricted” insert “for motor vehicles, other than electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(9) In Part 4 of Schedule 9 (other regulatory signs), in item 10 of the table in column (2) (description), for “and pedal cycles” substitute “, pedal cycles and electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(10) In Part 7 of Schedule 9 (the significance of particular signs in Schedule 9), at the end of paragraph 7(d) insert “; and for the purposes of this paragraph a reference to “a cycle track” includes a reference to a way that would be a cycle track but for it being accessible, under a temporary statutory provision, by electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(11) In Part 2 of Schedule 11 (advisory signs), in column (2) of the table (description) —

(a) in item 35 for “or cycle track crossing road” substitute “or, if applicable, a cycle track crossing road, or a way that would be a cycle track but for it being accessible, under a temporary statutory provision, by electric scooters being used in a trial,”;

(b) in item 37—

(i) after “pedal cycles” insert “, electric scooters being used in a trial”, and

(ii) after “operation” insert “and where the pedal cycle symbol represents, where relevant, electric scooters being used in a trial”;

(c) in item 41, after “cycle lane” insert “or, if applicable, cycle track, or a way that would be a cycle track but for it being accessible, under a temporary statutory provision, by electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(12) In Part 4 of Schedule 11 (advisory road markings), in column (2) of the table (description) —

(a) in item 9 after “cycle track” insert “, or a way that would be a cycle track but for it being accessible, under a temporary statutory provision, by electric scooters being used in a trial,”;

(b) in items 28, 30 and 32 for “or route” substitute “, route, or a way that would be a cycle track but for it being accessible, under a temporary statutory provision, by electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(13) In Part 20 of Schedule 12 (warning and regulatory symbols that may be incorporated on directional signs), in column (2) of the table (description), in items 23 and 31 after “prohibited” insert “, except for electric scooters being used in a trial”.

(14) In Part 1 of Schedule 14 (provisions applying to signs in Parts 2 and 3) in paragraph 25 (general provision about crossings placed across cycle tracks), after sub-paragraph (3) add—

“(4) A reference in this paragraph to “a cycle track” includes a reference to a way that would be a cycle track but for it being accessible, under a temporary statutory provision, by electric scooters being used in a trial.”.

(15) In Part 2 of Schedule 14 (light signals, signs and road markings for the control of traffic), in column (2) of the table (description), in item 45 after “sign” insert “. Where the word ‘cycles’ is used on the sign, this also represents, where relevant, electric scooters being used in a trial”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Rachel Maclean

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Transport

25th January 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The amendments made by these Regulations are to further refine the traffic sign and marking requirements for roads in local areas hosting electric scooter trials, to assist the smooth running of trials of electric scooters and therefore to inform assessment of their suitability for use on roads in the future.

Regulation 2(2) makes amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations 2016 to amend the meanings, in Schedule 1 of “cycle lane” and “bus lane” for electric scooter trials. Supplementary amendments have been made to other Schedules to those Regulations to clarify that signs relating to pedal cycles, also apply to electric scooters being used in a trial, and also to distinguish, where required, how a sign may apply differently to a solo motor cycle and electric scooter being used in a trial. Further amendments have been made to clarify the road markings required for a way that would be a cycle track, but for being subject to an order under section 9 or 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

A targeted consultation was carried out with trialling areas to inform the amendments made by these Regulations.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been published alongside this instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.

(1)

1984 c. 27; s.64(1) and (2) were amended by the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), Part 2, s.26(4) and the Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), Part 4, s.41(3). For the definition of “relevant authority” see s.64(6A) (inserted by the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), Part 2. s. 26(4)).

(2)

1984 c. 27; s.134(2) was amended by the Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), Schedule 2, Part 1, paragraph (12).

(3)

1984 c. 27; s.134(3A) was amended by the Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), Schedule 2, Part 1, paragraph (12); s.134(3B) was amended by the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), Schedule 6, Part 3, paragraph (43).

(4)

Part 1 of S.I. 2016/362, amended by S.I. 2017/1086 and S.I. 2020/663.

(5)

1984 c. 38.