TSRGD 2015: Changes affecting parking and civil enforcement Parking Forum 8 August 2014 Simon Morgan What s changing Radical new structure Fewer complete signs shown (none for on-street parking control) Choose symbols and text from different tables More flexibility: Use in any appropriate combination. May include or. Fewer specific Regulations and Directions, but those still applying are in tables close by. Incorporates Pedestrian Crossings Regs, area-wide authorisations (currently only for England) and other frequently authorised signs. 2014 Buchanan Computing 1
What s not changing Existing signs can remain indefinitely Most existing prescribed signs & markings can still be used The appearance of most signs does not change Traffic Signs Manual (rather than TSRGD) should be the first reference used and will become even more important Innovations Only legally need a single terminal sign (but authority must decide) Parking bays can be any size and almost any type of white dotted or solid line, or can be coloured surfacing or edged with distinctive (flush or raised) pavers. No traffic order for single and double yellow lines, school keep clear or contraflow cycle measures. Reduced legal need for electrical illumination. No DfT permission needed for Stop signs. 2014 Buchanan Computing 2
Traffic sign authorisations for England DfT Moratorium on most authorisations for England from 17 June 2013 Restructuring TSRGD DfT expects the new approach to: provide more flexibility consolidate traffic sign regulation reduce the prescription/number of traffic signs simplify the structure more user-friendly remove requirement for authorisations only retain essential directions prescribe traffic signs, not be a design guide 2014 Buchanan Computing 3
Relaxing the need for a TRO BPA suggestions to DfT Local consultation needed (possibly only with frontagers) Rural clearway No consultation needed unless marking extends across other frontagers land. Just put the signs up! Short lengths of yellow line and lines at corners, crossovers and other obstructive positions Physical or structural constraints of the highway Pavement parking bans but preferably without the signs, using national legislation Relaxing the need for a TRO DfT proposal No requirement to make a TRO for any of these measures. Local consultation recommended (but not mandatory) Any lengths of single and double yellow lines (but not loading bans). Mandatory school entrance clearways. 2014 Buchanan Computing 4
Relaxing the need for DfT approval No requirement to consult anyone (not even the police) or obtain DfT approval when placing Stop signs for the first time. Could lead to proliferation, causing safety and enforcement problems. Combining parking plates Option From to Traffic combine Signs Manual plates into Chapter a single 3 assembly. 2014 Buchanan Computing 5
to specify parking plates Table 10 Indication of waiting, loading and parking controls applying to a length of road or parking place, varied in accordance with Tables 12 and 13 Options to add or omit panels and to place any of a wide range of prescribed symbols and legends in any position to specify parking plates Table 12 Symbols and legends used in combination with panels 1 and 3 2014 Buchanan Computing 6
to specify parking plates Table 13 Symbols and legends used in combination with panels 2 and 4 to specify parking plates Table 13 Symbols and legends used in combination with panels 2 and 4 2014 Buchanan Computing 7
So these becomes legal: So do these: 2014 Buchanan Computing 8
Specifying times & dates Schedule 9 Part 1 Permitted expressions of time periods and dates Allowing these: 2014 Buchanan Computing 9
to specify markings Table 24: Road markings for stopping, waiting, loading and parking controls to indicate bays Table 24: Road markings for stopping, waiting, loading and parking controls 2014 Buchanan Computing 10
to indicate bays No legal link between parking plates and markings: one or the other is sufficient, subject to guidance and common sense. Bays can be marked with almost any solid or intermittent white line. Bays can be indicated with coloured surfacing, flush or raised pavers, etc. Bays can be any size (except for blue badge) Reducing clutter Vertical signing may be omitted for simple 24/7 restrictions. But difficult to maintain markings perfectly. 2014 Buchanan Computing 11
to indicate bays Bay markings delineated with surfacing or paving contrasting in colour or appearance with the surrounding carriageway. to indicate bays 2014 Buchanan Computing 12
New options for PPAs Pavement parking ban zones Zone exit Zone entry 300 mm repeater 2014 Buchanan Computing 13
London, W Midlands & Durham signs available anywhere New TSRGD: Benefits to authorities Fewer signs will be needed, so cost and clutter reduced. Initial cost and energy requirement reduced for the signs no longer to need electrical illumination. New TSRGD intended to make it less easy for motorists to get out of parking tickets and moving traffic offences on technical grounds. More flexibility, so fewer signs need individual authorisation, allowing schemes to be implemented quicker and with less work. Possibly less page turning needed to specify a sign (but still some cross referencing to tables on other pages is required). 2014 Buchanan Computing 14
Concerns Authorities have less certainly over whether new signs they erect will be enforceable or whether the parking adjudicators/ magistrates will find some problem with them. Some authorities will be tempted to go for the minimum cost option, even when drivers need more than one sign or need a sign to be illuminated. Some conscientious engineers fear being over-ruled by their chief officers or elected members on these points. The inherent flexibility will cause some regional variation to occur, making signing less consistent across the country. The complicated cross-references in the 2015 TSRGD are almost certain to contain some minor errors that are missed in proof reading. As a worst case, this could make certain signs unenforceable until amendment regulations were published. 2014 Buchanan Computing 15