The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002

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This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Interpretation—general

4. In these Regulations unless the context otherwise requires—

“the 1984 Act” means the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;

“the 1988 Act” means the Road Traffic Act 1988;

“the 1981 Regulations” means the Traffic Signs Regulations 1981(1);

“the 1994 Regulations” means the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994;

“articulated vehicle” means a motor vehicle with a trailer so attached to it as to be partially superimposed upon it;

“automatic half-barrier level crossing” means a level crossing where barriers are installed to descend automatically across part of the road when a railway vehicle or tramcar approaches and the operation of the barriers is monitored remotely from the crossing;

“automatic barrier crossing (L)” means a level crossing where barriers are installed to descend automatically across part of the road when a railway vehicle or tramcar approaches and the driver of the railway vehicle or tramcar is required to monitor the operation of the barriers when the railway vehicle or tramcar is at or near the crossing;

“automatic open crossing (L)” means a level crossing without automatic barriers where light signals are so installed as to be operated automatically by a railway vehicle or tramcar approaching the crossing and the driver of the railway vehicle or tramcar is required to monitor the operation of the light signals when the railway vehicle or tramcar is at or near the crossing;

“automatic open crossing (R)” means a level crossing without automatic barriers where light signals are so installed as to be operated automatically by a railway vehicle or tramcar approaching the crossing and the operation of the light signals is monitored remotely from the crossing;

“automatic level crossing” means an automatic half-barrier level crossing, an automatic barrier crossing (L), an automatic open crossing (L) or an automatic open crossing (R);

“bus lane” has the meaning given in regulation 23;

“central reservation” means—

(a)

any land between the carriageways of a road comprising two carriageways; or

(b)

any permanent work (other than a traffic island) in the carriageway of a road,

which separates the carriageway or, as the case may be, the part of the carriageway which is to be used by traffic moving in one direction from the carriageway or part of the carriageway which is to be used (whether at all times or at particular times only) by traffic moving in the other direction;

“contra-flow” means a part of a carriageway of a road where—

(a)

traffic is authorised to proceed in the opposite direction to the usual direction of traffic on that part; or

(b)

a specified class of traffic is authorised to proceed in the opposite direction to other traffic on that carriageway;

“controlled parking zone” means either—

(a)

an area—

(i)

in which, except where parking places have been provided, every road has been marked with one or more of the road markings shown in diagrams 1017, 1018.1, 1019 and 1020.1; and

(ii)

into which each entrance for vehicular traffic has been indicated by the sign shown in diagram 663 or 663.1; or

(b)

an area—

(i)

in which at least one of the signs shown in diagram 640.2A has been placed on each side of every road; and

(ii)

into which each entrance for vehicular traffic has been indicated by the sign shown in diagram 665;

“cycle lane” means a part of the carriageway of a road which—

(a)

starts with the marking shown in diagram 1009; and

(b)

is separated from the rest of the carriageway—

(i)

if it may not be used by vehicles other than pedal cycles, by the marking shown in diagram 1049; or

(ii)

if it may be used by vehicles other than pedal cycles, by the marking shown in diagram 1004 or 1004.1;

“cycle track”, in relation to England and Wales, has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980(2) and, in relation to Scotland, as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984(3);

“dual carriageway road” means a road which comprises a central reservation and “all-purpose dual carriageway road” means a dual carriageway road which is not a motorway;

“EEA Agreement” means the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993(4);

“EEA Standard” means—

(a)

a standard or code of practice of a national standards body or equivalent body of any EEA State;

(b)

any international standard recognised for use as a standard or code of practice by any EEA State; or

(c)

a technical specification recognised for use as a standard by a public authority of any EEA State,

and a reference to a “corresponding EEA Standard”, in relation to a British or European Standard, is a reference to an EEA Standard which requires a level of performance equivalent to that required by the British or European Standard;

“EEA State” means a State which is a contracting Party to the EEA Agreement;

“enactment” includes any Act or subordinate legislation as defined in section 21(1) of the Interpretation Act 1978(5);

“equestrian crossing” means a place on the carriageway of a road—

(a)

where provision is made for equestrian traffic to cross the carriageway; and

(b)

whose presence is indicated by a combination of—

(i)

traffic light signals to control vehicular traffic of the kind prescribed by regulation 33;

(ii)

the signals shown in diagrams 4003.2 and 4003.3, or the signal shown in diagram 4003.4; and

(iii)

the road marking shown in diagram 1055.1 or 1055.2;

“ES compliant” in relation to signal heads shall be construed in accordance with regulation 33(5);

“excursion or tour” has the meaning given in section 137(1) of the Transport Act 1985(6);

“goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle or trailer constructed or adapted for use for the carriage or haulage of goods or burden of any description;

“hours of darkness” means the time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise;

“junction” means a road junction;

“level crossing” means a place where a road is crossed by a railway or a tramway on a reserved track on the same level;

“local bus” means a public service vehicle used for the provision of a local service not being an excursion or tour;

“local service” has the meaning given in section 2 of the Transport Act 1985;

“major road” means the road at a junction into which there emerges vehicular traffic from a minor road;

“manually operated” means a change from one sign to another or one signal aspect to another set in process by an operator;

“maximum gross weight” means—

(a)

in the case of a motor vehicle not drawing a trailer or in the case of a trailer, its maximum laden weight;

(b)

in the case of an articulated vehicle, its maximum laden weight (if it has one) and otherwise the aggregate maximum laden weight of all the individual vehicles forming part of that articulated vehicle; and

(c)

in the case of a motor vehicle (other than an articulated vehicle) drawing one or more trailers, the aggregate maximum laden weight of the motor vehicle and the trailer or trailers drawn by it;

“maximum laden weight” in relation to a vehicle (including a vehicle which is a trailer) means—

(a)

in the case of a vehicle as respects which a gross weight not to be exceeded in Great Britain is specified in construction and use requirements (as defined by section 41(8) of the 1988 Act), the weight so specified;

(b)

in the case of a vehicle as respects which no such weight is so specified, the weight which the vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when in normal use and travelling on a road laden;

“minor road” means a road on which, at its junction with another road, there is placed the sign shown in diagram 601.1 or 602 or the road marking shown in diagram 1003;

“mobile road works” means works on a road carried out by or from a vehicle or vehicles which move slowly along the road or which stop briefly from time to time along that road;

“motorway” means a special road which—

(a)

in England or Wales (save as otherwise provided by or under regulations made under, or having effect as if made under, section 17 of the 1984 Act(7)) can be used by traffic only of Class I or II as specified in Schedule 4 to the Highways Act 1980(8); or

(b)

in Scotland can be used by traffic only of Class I or Class II as specified in Schedule 3 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;

“mph” means miles per hour;

“non-primary route” means a route, not being a primary route or a motorway or part of a primary route or of a motorway;

“passenger vehicle” means a vehicle constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers and their effects;

“pedal cycle” means a unicycle, bicycle, tricycle, or cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case mechanically propelled unless it is an electrically assisted pedal cycle of such class as is to be treated as not being a motor vehicle for the purposes of the 1984 Act(9);

“pedestrian zone” means an area—

(a)

which has been laid out to improve amenity for pedestrians; and

(b)

to which the entry of vehicles is prohibited or restricted;

“plate” means a sign which by virtue of general directions given in exercise of the power conferred by section 65 of the 1984 Act may be placed only in combination or in conjunction with another sign and which is supplementary to that other sign;

“police vehicle” means a vehicle being used for police purposes or operating under the instructions of a chief officer of police;

“primary route” means a route, not being a route comprising any part of a motorway, in respect of which the Secretary of State—

(a)

in the case of a trunk road is of the opinion, and

(b)

in any other case after consultation with the traffic authority for the road comprised in the route is of the opinion,

that it provides the most satisfactory route for through traffic between places of traffic importance;

“primary signals” has the meaning given by regulation 43(5)(a);

“principal road” means a road for the time being classified as a principal road—

(a)

by virtue of section 12 of the Highways Act 1980 (whether as falling within subsection (1) or classified under subsection (3)), or

(b)

by the Secretary of State under section 11(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;

“public service vehicle” has the meaning given in section 1 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981(10);

“reflectorised” means illuminated by the use of retroreflecting material;

“retroreflecting material” means material which reflects a ray of light back towards the source of that light;

“road maintenance vehicle” means a vehicle which—

(a)

in England and Wales is specially designed or adapted for use on a road by or on behalf of a highway authority for the purposes of the Highways Act 1980 for the purposes of road maintenance; or

(b)

in Scotland is specially designed or adapted for use on a road by or on behalf of a roads authority for the purposes of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 for the purposes of road maintenance;

“road marking” means a traffic sign consisting of a line or mark or legend on a road;

“road works” means works for the improvement, alteration or maintenance of a road and includes, in relation to England and Wales, street works as defined by section 48(3) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and, in relation to Scotland, road works as defined by section 107(3) of that Act;

“route” includes any road comprised in a route;

“school crossing place” means a place in a road where children cross or seek to cross that road on their way to or from school or on their way from one part of a school to another;

“secondary signals” has the meaning given by regulation 43;

“sign” means a traffic sign;

“signal-controlled crossing facility” means—

(a)

an equestrian crossing;

(b)

a signal-controlled pedestrian facility; or

(c)

a Toucan crossing;

“signal-controlled pedestrian facility” means a place on the carriageway of a road—

(a)

which is not a “crossing” as defined by section 25(6) of the 1984 Act;

(b)

where provision is made for pedestrians to cross the carriageway; and

(c)

whose presence is indicated by a combination of—

(i)

traffic light signals to control vehicular traffic of the kind prescribed by regulation 33;

(ii)

the signals shown in diagrams 4002.1 and 4003, or the signal shown in diagram 4003.1; and

(iii)

the road marking shown in diagram 1055.1 or 1055.2;

“single carriageway road” means a road which is not a dual carriageway road;

“solo motor cycle” means a motor cycle without a side car and having two wheels;

“stop line” in relation to light signals for the control of vehicular traffic has the meaning given in regulation 43;

“stud” means a prefabricated device fixed or embedded as a mark in the carriageway of a road;

“taxi” means—

(a)

in England and Wales, a vehicle licensed under—

(i)

section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847(11); or

(ii)

section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869(12);

or under any similar enactment; and

(b)

in Scotland, a taxi licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982(13);

“taxi rank” means an area of carriageway reserved for use by taxis waiting to pick up passengers;

“telecommunications apparatus” has the meaning given by paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the Telecommunications Act 1984(14);

“temporary statutory provision” means—

(a)

a provision having effect under section 9 (experimental traffic orders) or section 14 (temporary restriction of traffic on roads) of the 1984 Act or under a provision referred to in section 66 (traffic signs for giving effect to local traffic regulations) of that Act;

(b)

a prohibition, restriction or requirement indicated by a traffic sign placed pursuant to section 67 (emergencies and temporary obstructions) of the 1984 Act(15); or

(c)

a provision having effect under section 62 (temporary prohibition or restriction of traffic etc. on roads for reasons of safety or public convenience) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;

“terminal sign” means a sign placed in accordance with direction 8 or 9 of the Traffic Signs General Directions 2002(16);

“Toucan crossing” means a place on the carriageway of a road—

(a)

where provision is made for both pedestrians and pedal cyclists to cross the carriageway; and

(b)

whose presence is indicated by a combination of—

(i)

traffic light signals to control vehicular traffic of the kind prescribed by regulation 33;

(ii)

the signals shown in diagrams 4003.5 and 4003.6, or the signal shown in diagram 4003.7; and

(iii)

the road marking shown in diagram 1055.1 or 1055.2;

“tourist destination” means a permanently established attraction or facility which—

(a)

attracts or is used by visitors to an area;

(b)

is open to the public without prior booking during its normal opening hours;

(c)

if located in Scotland, is recognised by VisitScotland; and

(d)

if located in Wales, is recognised by the Wales Tourist Board;

“Tourist Information Centre” means a staffed information service centre recognised and supported by the English or Wales Tourist Board or by VisitScotland;

“Tourist Information Point” means a display of tourist information approved by a regional, area or local tourist board;

“traffic calming features” means—

(a)

road humps constructed pursuant to section 90A of the Highways Act 1980(17) (“the 1980 Act”) or section 36 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984(18) (“the Scotland 1984 Act”) and in accordance with the Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999(19) or the Road Humps (Scotland) Regulations 1998(20); or

(b)

traffic calming works constructed in accordance with section 90G of the 1980 Act(21) or section 39A of the Scotland 1984 Act(22) and in accordance with the Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1999(23) or the Roads (Traffic Calming) (Scotland) Regulations 1994(24);

“traffic lane” means, in relation to a road, a part of the carriageway having, as a boundary which separates it from another such part, a road marking of the type shown in diagram 1004, 1004.1, 1005, 1005.1, 1008, 1008.1, 1010, 1013.1, 1013.3, 1013.4, 1040, 1040.2, 1041, 1041.1, 1042, 1042.1 or 1049;

“tramcar” has the meaning given in section 141A(4) of the 1984 Act(25);

“trolley vehicle” has the meaning given in section 141A(4) of the 1984 Act;

“trunk road” as respects England and Wales has the meaning given in section 329(1) of the Highways Act 1980 and as respects Scotland in section 151(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;

“unladen vehicle” has the meaning given in Schedule 18;

“variable message sign” has the meaning given in regulation 58(1);

“with-flow lane” means a traffic lane reserved for a specified class of traffic proceeding in the same direction as general traffic in an adjoining traffic lane;

“Zebra crossing” has the meaning given by regulation 3(1) of the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations 1997(26); and

“zig-zag line” means a road marking of the size, colour and type shown in diagram 1001.3 which has been placed along a length of carriageway adjacent to a signal-controlled crossing facility.

(1)

S.I. 1981/859, amended by S.I. 1982/1879, 1982/1880, 1983/1086, 1983/1088, 1984/966, 1986/1859, 1987/1706, 1989/2139, 1990/704.

(2)

1980 c. 66.

(3)

1984 c. 54.

(4)

Cmnd 2073 and 2183.

(5)

1978 c. 30.

(6)

1985 c. 67.

(7)

Section 17 was amended by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Schedule 8, paragraph 28 and Schedule 9 and by the Road Traffic Act 1991, Schedule 4, paragraph 25 and Schedule 8.

(8)

Schedule 4 was amended by the Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54), section 4 and Schedule 3, paragraph 21(3).

(9)

See section 140(1)(c).

(10)

1981 c. 14; section 1 was amended by the Transport Act 1985, section 139(3) and Schedule 8.

(11)

1847 c. 89; section 37 was amended by the Transport Act 1985 (c. 67) sections 16(a) and 139(3) and Schedule 8.

(12)

1869 c. 115; section 6 was amended by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16) and by the Transport Act 1976 (c. 16) and by the Transport Act 1981 sections 35(1) and 40(1) and Schedule 12 Part III.

(13)

1982 c. 45.

(14)

1984 c. 12.

(15)

Section 9 was amended by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Schedule 8, paragraph 23, by the Road Traffic Act 1991, Schedule 4, paragraph 24 and by the Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51), Schedule 4, paragraph 4(4). Section 14 was substituted by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991 (c. 26), Schedule 1 and amended by the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 10), Schedule 5, paragraph 11(1). Section 66 was amended by the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, Schedule 3, paragraph 25(4), by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Schedule 8, paragraph 49 and by the Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54), Schedule 3, paragraph 25(4). Section 67 was amended by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991, section 1(3), by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Schedule 8, paragraph 51, Schedule 9 and by the Road Traffic Regulation (Special Events) Act 1994 (c. 11), Schedule, paragraph 1.

(16)

Part II of this Instrument.

(17)

1980 c. 66. Section 90A was inserted by the Transport Act 1981 (c. 56), section 32(1), Schedule 10 Part I, paragraph 2.

(18)

Section 36 was amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991, Schedule 4, paragraph 38.

(19)

S.I. 1999/1025.

(20)

S.I. 1998/1448; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1999/1000.

(21)

Section 90G was inserted by the Traffic Calming Act 1992 (c. 30), section 1(2), Schedule 1.

(22)

Section 39A was inserted by the Traffic Calming Act 1992 (c. 30), Schedule 2.

(23)

S.I. 1999/1026.

(24)

S.I. 1994/2488; relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1999/1000.

(25)

Section 141A was inserted by the Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40), section 46 and was amended by the Schedule to the Road Traffic Regulation (Special Events) Act 1994 (c. 11).

(26)

Part I of S.I. 1997/2400, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

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