Organisation: Department for Transport
Date uploaded: 10th May 2016
Date published/launched: April 2016
Taking effect on 22 April, the new regulations replace those set in 2002. The new legislation follows a consultation on the issue which received 140 responses from 55 local authorities across Great Britain.
Under the new legislation, local authorities can now make their own decisions on how many speed limit signs are needed in order to ensure that drivers know what limits apply.
The Government says the new regulations give councils the powers to remove unnecessary road signs, on the back of figures which show that between 1993 and 2013 the number of road signs in England increased by 83% to 4.57m.
The new regulations also allow councils to install new eye-level cycle traffic lights, following trials of the concept.
Other changes include:
• A requirement for new road signs to carry imperial and metric measurements for height, width and length limits.
• The removal of the need for a Traffic Regulation Order for unrestricted parking bays.
• Signs must be retroreflective if street lighting is switched off during part of the hours of darkness.
• Directions that apply to the mounting and backing of permanent signs will also apply to portable and temporary variable message signs.
• The inclusion of the tunnel restriction code sign in the new Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.
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