The DfT has announced plans to radically overhaul the central legislation governing traffic sign design and use, with revised legislation to come into force in March 2015 (transport-network.co.uk).
Local traffic and transport officers will be given the chance to respond to the reforms through a peer review process delivered by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) and the Institute of Highways Engineers (IHE).
Among the proposals are plans to significantly reduce regulations on the use of ‘repeater signs’, meaning local authorities could have sole discretion over signing such measures as a speed limit change rather than having to repeat the signs at ‘regular’ intervals.
Another proposal would give highway authorities sole discretion over sign lighting by removing the mandatory requirement for direct lighting on certain signs altogether.
Announcing the proposals at Traffex 2013 today, Graham Hanson, head of traffic signs policy at the DfT, said: “By prescribing less, by providing less regulation we are saying we trust in the skills and judgement of the local authority and sign designer to make appropriate decisions for their area.”
Delegates at the conference questioned Mr Hanson on the possible legal implications of the proposals, with some local practitioners expressing concern over possible increases in legal challenges against councils.
Mr Hanson emphasised that engineers and sign designers would have to take responsibility for how they interpreted the changes and capitalised on any new freedoms.
The 20’s Plenty campaign welcomed the announcment, describing it as a ‘triumph of comon sesne’.
Rod King, 20’s Plenty founder, said: “This is a triumph of common sense. It would cut 20mph limit costs.
"With recent more flexible mixing of zones and limits, easing of Traffic Regulation Order red tape and recommendations within latest guidance on wide-area 20mph limits, we expect near universal adoption of 20mph limits for residential roads."
Click here to read the full ‘transport-network.co.uk’ report.
This is a long time overdue, there needs to be more rationalisation of materials and relaxation of lighting on some signs. Since the regs came into force we have all moved on and the TSRGD have not kept up.
Olly, Lancs
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Idris’s comment is starting to sound more like a UKIP party political broadcast rather than a discussion on road safety matters… I’m not sure we need a debate on the Eurozone on Road Safety GB!
Dave, Leeds
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As virtually nothing happens in this country any more without the EU in the background giving orders to its Westminster puppets, and as the EU now has overall control of road safety, can anyone confirm that the Government is in fact acting under orders on this issue as on so many. And daytime running lights of course, which the DfT did not want but had to agree to.
As HMG is invariably reluctant to admit how much – sorry, how little – power it now has, I am confident that this too will turn out to be another step towards “harmonisation” that in another form, the euro, is even now making Greece and Cyprus destitute.
Idris Francis Fight Back With Facts Petersfield
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