New national regulations for traffic signs come into force from 22 April, providing councils with more flexibility but also raising fears of legal ‘uncertainties’ that could see authorities have to fight their corner in court.
Statutory instruments reforming the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) have been laid before parliament after a series of delays and consultations on the final reforms, which date back to at least the 2011 Signing the Way review.
The reforms provide more discretion about the design and placement of many signs, in many cases removing the requirement for upright signs and road markings to be placed together.
About fifty new signs have been added, the Institute of Highways Engineers (IHE) said, with more permitted variants for existing ones.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has previously said the changes include allowing parking bays that have no restrictions on their use to be placed without the need for a Traffic Regulation Order and a relaxation of sign lighting requirements - while retaining lighting for some safety critical and enforcement signs.
‘The new TSRGD provides an estimated benefit to local authorities of around £7m a year,’ DfT officials said in an impact assessment.
These benefits are derived mainly through relaxing the need to illuminate certain signs and reducing requirements for local engineers to apply for authorisation for signs from the DfT.
A DfT circular aimed at local authorities and practitioners explaining the new TSRGD will be made available once the reforms come into force.
Chair of the IHE signs panel, Simon Morgan, told Transport Network: ‘The IHE welcomes the new regulations, which provide greater flexibility, particularly in parking reducing the need for approval from the central government. It is also suitable that some signs no longer need illumination.'
He added: 'Over the past eight years, we’ve been working closely with DfT on the proposals by promoting discussion, checking drafts and proposing improvements.’
However Transport Network sources raised concerns about the legal uncertainty the reforms have created by giving councils so much discretion over signage, and the complexity of the new document, which was intended to streamline the process.
One source said: ‘There is a lot of uncertainty here, which will make enforcement very difficult and raises the prospect of more legal battles. Ultimately it will be for the courts or independent parking adjudicators to decide what is appropriate as there is no body for councils to approach to see if they have the right signage solution.’
They added that the most common appeal would likely be over parking issues.
