The Private Crossings (Signs and Barriers) Regulations 2023

Regulation 10

Schedule 3 Barriers other than gates

1.—(1) Where a barrier, other than a gate, is placed, it must when lowered across the relevant road be long enough to extend either—

(a) across the full width of the relevant road, or

(b) subject to paragraph (2), from the left-hand side of the relevant road (as seen from a vehicle approaching the crossing) to a point as close as possible to the centre of the relevant road.

(2) In a case falling within paragraph (1)(b), there must be a minimum distance of 3 metres from the tip or, as the case may be, vertical edge of the barrier to the other side of the relevant road to allow clear passage.

2.  When a barrier is lowered its top surface must be a minimum height of 900 millimetres above the road surface at the centre of the relevant road.

3.  The underclearance between the barrier when lowered and the road surface must not exceed 1000 millimetres.

4.  A barrier must have means to raise it, and hold it in the raised position. It must also have means to release the hold and allow the barrier to return to a horizontal position.

5.  A barrier may be linked with another barrier at the crossing to allow all the barriers to be raised or lowered simultaneously from either side of the crossing.

6.  The pivot post of a barrier must be covered to avoid injury to persons using it.

7.  A barrier must have on both front and rear faces alternate red and white bands each approximately 600 millimetres wide (measured horizontally across the face of the barrier) and to the full depth of the barrier measured vertically on the full face of the barrier when horizontal. A strip of retroreflecting material not less than 50 millimetres deep, in a colour matching that of the bands must be attached along the full width of each band.

8.  A barrier may be fitted with a skirt which fills the space between the barrier and the road surface. Any skirt must be light in colour.

9.  Electric lights may be fitted to a barrier and each light must show a red light, when illuminated, in each direction along the relevant road.

10.  A barrier, with or without a skirt if fitted, must be as lightweight as possible but nevertheless—

(a) a barrier must be strong enough to withstand distortion or breakage, and

(b) a skirt fitted to a barrier must be capable of withstanding damage

caused by wind pressure or by a farm animal.