Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1999 and shall come into force on 28th April 1999.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations–

“build-out” means a work for narrowing a carriageway constructed on one side of that carriageway as an extension of or adjacent to the verge, footway or cycle track;

“chicane” means a series of two or more build-outs constructed on alternate sides of the carriageway and not opposite one another;

“gateway” means an object or structure constructed on the verge, footway or cycle track of a highway for the purpose of indicating the presence in a length of highway of traffic calming works of a description prescribed by these Regulations or specially authorised by the Secretary of State or of road humps;

“island” means a work without facilities for pedestrians constructed in a carriageway to reduce carriageway width or to deflect the flow of vehicular traffic;

“overrun area” means an area of carriageway so constructed of textured or coloured material as to appear to narrow that carriageway;

“pinch point” means build-outs constructed on both sides of a carriageway opposite one another;

“rumble device” means a part of the carriageway constructed of material intended to generate noise or vibration in a vehicle passing over it;

“traffic sign” has the same meaning as in section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(2); and

“20 miles per hour zone” means a zone comprising one or more roads in relation to which the following conditions are satisfied–

Works which are traffic calming works

3.  For the purpose of section 90G(1)(a) of the Highways Act 1980 build-outs, chicanes, gateways, islands, overrun areas, pinch-points, or rumble devices or any combination of such works are traffic calming works.

Consultation about traffic calming proposals

4.  Where a highway authority proposes to construct a traffic calming work in a highway they shall–

(a)consult the chief officer of police for the area in which the highway is situated; and

(b)consult such persons or organisations representing persons who use the highway or who are otherwise likely to be affected by the traffic calming work as the highway authority thinks fit.

Restriction on the construction of overrun areas

5.  Where an overrun area is constructed or maintained in a highway–

(a)no vertical face of any material forming that area shall exceed 6 millimetres measured vertically from top to bottom of that face;

(b)the slope of that area shall not exceed 15 degrees measured between an imaginary line extending the general line of the slope of that area to the surface of the carriageway and the surface of the carriageway where it is intersected by the imaginary line; and,

(c)that area shall not be so constructed or maintained that an imaginary vertical line measured from the base of any upstanding face intersects an imaginary line extending the general line of the slope of the area more than 15 millimetres above the base of that upstanding face.

Restriction on the construction of rumble devices

6.  Where a rumble device is constructed or maintained in a highway–

(a)no vertical face of any material forming that device shall exceed 6 millimetres measured vertically from top to bottom of that face; and,

(b)no part of the device shall be more than 15 millimetres above the surface of the carriageway.

Features which may be included in traffic calming works

7.—(1) A traffic calming work may include for a purpose referred to in sub-paragraph (2) below provision on it or any part of it or on the adjacent highway of –

(a)lighting,

(b)paving, grass or other covering,

(c)pillars, bollards, planters, walls, rails or fences,

(d)objects or structures spanning the highway, or

(e)trees, shrubs or other plants.

(2) The purposes referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are–

(a)making the traffic calming work conspicuous,

(b)enhancing the effect of the traffic calming work,

(c)promoting the safety of persons using the highway, or

(d)preserving or improving the environment through which the highway passes.

Placing of Traffic Signs

8.—(1) Where a build-out, chicane, island, pinch-point, rumble device or any combination of such works is constructed or maintained in a highway, the highway authority for that highway shall place and maintain traffic signs in such positions as the authority may consider requisite for the purpose of providing adequate warning of the presence of such traffic calming works, unless those traffic calming works are so constructed as themselves to provide adequate visual warning for persons using that highway.

(2) No traffic sign shall be required to warn of the presence of a traffic calming work on a highway which is in a 20 miles per hour zone.

Prohibition of certain works

9.  No traffic calming work shall be constructed or maintained in a carriageway so as to prevent the passage of any vehicle unless the passage of that vehicle is otherwise lawfully prohibited.

Revocation

10.  The Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1993(4) are hereby revoked.

Saving

11.  Traffic calming works constructed in compliance with the Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1993 shall be treated as being in compliance with these Regulations.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke the Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1993 and replace them with new provisions. The principal change is that no traffic signs will be required to warn of the presence of a traffic calming work which is in a 20mph zone.