Traffic Signs Reform – Background and Objectives

Graham Hanson

Why undertake a traffic signs policy review?

• TSRGD outdated – drafted 1999

• Innovation – moving quicker than regulation

• Complexity – is there a better way?

• Burden on local authorities – 600 applications per annum for authorisation

• Legacy – the growth in the number of prescribed signs in TSRGD not sustainable

i) radical approach

ii) building on current traffic sign system

iii) informed by needs of users

iv) delivering flexibility and less regulation

Approach to the review

BPA Survey – national consistency

The present Regulations promote National consistency in the provision of signs and markings. How important is this?

0.00%

4.30%

1.40%

94.20%

Not Applicable

Very Important

Important

Not Important

BPA Survey: deregulate TSRGD

Is there an opportunity for deregulation of some of the requirements in the Traffic Signs Regulations and

General Directions2002?

5.80%

39.10%

55.10%

Not Applicable

Yes

No

BPA Survey: regs v guidance

Do you agree that the Regulations could be relaxed and substituted by Guidance and advice of Best

Practice?

1.40%

20.30%

20.30%

20.30%

29.00%

13.00%

Not Applicable

Strongly Agree

Agree

Agree or Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

BPA Survey – enforcement signing

In general, how easy is it to comply with TSRGD requirements for enforcement signing?

1.40%

14.50%

37.70%

39.10%

4.30%

2.90%

Not Applicable

Very Difficult

Difficult

Straight forward

Easy

Very Easy

Traffic Signs Policy Review

Key milestones

October 2008 Traffic Signs Policy Review

October 2011 Signing the Way

October 2011 National Authorisation

January 2012 Amendment Regulations to TSRGD

February 2012 Further National Authorisation (England)

March 2012 Further National Authorisation (England)

May 2013 Signing the Way Forward (peer review)

Feb-May 2014 Engaging with interested parties

Traffic Signs Peer Review

Summary

• DfT delivered already – but created a 2 tier system?

• New system emerging – more local discretion, more flexibility

• DfT focus on reducing traffic signs casework, particularly parking signs

• Greater emphasis on policy areas –reducing traffic sign clutter, promoting cycling.

The revised TSRGD – what has changed, what is new?

DfT Road Shows

Graham Hanson

This is not about new signs…..

Towards a new way of working

We are developing a new approach that will:• restructure TSRGD• retain only retain essential directions• remove regulation, provide more choice • reduce costs and remove barriers to implementation• remove requirement for authorisations• provide new measures to promote cycling • consolidate traffic sign regulation • prescribe traffic signs, not be a design guide

Revised structured

• Completely new way of working – reorganising the whole TSRGD

• Based on menus and inter-related tables• Far more flexibility – far less “direction”• Fewer Schedules – and fewer signs• Incorporate all regulations relating to traffic signs

Simplify TSRGD - A New Approach

Table Item 5 - Schedule 17, item 1

A New Approach to Warning Signs

Diagram 500

Menu approach

New approach to Directions

• remove most Directions

• local authority judgement

• retain those not directly related to placement

• repeater signs a matter for guidance

• remove most of the links between signs

DfT Circular:Foreword by Robert Goodwill MP

• Minister reinforced sign clutter policy • TSRGD gives freedom to reduce sign provision• Signs doubled in 20 years - unsustainable• Balance between what is & is not necessary• “…encouraged to see existing good practice - an

example being Northamptonshire County Council's 'one up / two down' approach. I am looking for other such innovations from traffic authorities to turn the tide of traffic sign clutter”.

Number of traffic signs

•Number of road signs more than doubled in 2 decades•Increase from 2.16m to 4.57m signs

– waiting/loading restrictions (554,300), up 25%– speed limits (441,400), up 96%, – parking regulations (337,900), up 842%

(Note warnings on data quality)

By category

Results by category in 000s

1993 2013 % diff

Direction 410 700 +70%Information 300 400 +33%Regulatory 1200 2350 +96%Warning 340 900 +270%

Relax directions - terminal signs

Repeater signs – Direction 11

• TSRGD 2011 relaxed – “At least one” repeater

• Short restriction thresholds – no repeaters at all

• No Direction 11 in revised TSRGD

• Repeater signs to be placed in accordance with TSM or following

Removed links between signs and markings – kerb blips

Permit holders only – no sign

Mandatory cycle lanes WITH upright signs

Directions on type of roads

Sign illumination - summary

Options for deregulation of direct sign lighting requirements

Sign Category = Direct lighting requirement removed Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Warning signs

20 mph speed limit signs & 20 mph zones

Regulatory cycle signs

Bus gate and tramway terminal signs

Lane closures & contra flow working at road works

Retro reflective self-righting bollard mounted signs.

Height-limit warning signs at low bridges.

Regulatory terminal signs including 'Give Way', 'No entry', speed limits, vehicle restrictions (including for low and narrow bridges) and banned manoeuvres.

Motorway entry, exit, gantry-mounted signs.

Remove regulation - sign illumination

More choice - parking signs

Revised TSRGD – parking signs

Prescribe basic building blocks – eg black border

Discretion on how text/symbols and combinations of signs applied.

New parking signs

Review of parking signs

Review of parking signs

Proposed parking bay

Contrasting bays

Historic Authorisations & Projections

2013 Authorisations By Category

Bus Lanes 14Cycling - General 26Parking 96Pedestrian Zones 4Red Routes 3Regulatory signs 4Road Markings 36Site Approval for "NO ENTRY" Signs and "NO ENTRY" Road Markings 2Tourist (Brown) Signs 2Traffic Signals - Direction Arrows 5Traffic Signals – Wig-Wags 1Variable Message Signs (VMS) 5Warning Signs 3

Box Junctions - Before and After

Key issues - consultation

The consultation is focusing on• the structure of the revised TSRGD• the new ways of working• the draft guidance• a number of outstanding technical issues

We have consulted many times on the scope of the review – this consultation is based on delivery!

Standardise Route Arm Widths

Removing the need for traffic Regulation Orders?

Lighting requirements within 20mph limits/zones?

Bus Gates & Bus Only Streets

Guildford rules – direction signing

In the meantime… more Guidance

• New circular with revised TSRGD(new structure/emphasis on supporting LAs decisions/risk analysis/building parking signs etc)

• Traffic Advisory Leaflets, includingReducing sign clutterVariable Message SignsTraffic BollardsCycle Route Branding

Traffic Signs Manual

• Priority – update TSM Chapters 3 and 5

• New Chapter 6 – Traffic Signals and Crossings

• We will seek to provide as much as we can to coincide with the new TSRGD.

What does this mean for local authorities?

• let the new TSRGD “bed in”• use the flexibility to reduce the number of traffic

signs• but make informed decision – based on risk

analysis and local knowledge• pool resources and consider• if in doubt…..• THIS IS NOT A COST-CUTTING EXERCISE

Questions