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The Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1999

S.I. 1999/1026 · Made 30 March 1999

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

HIGHWAYS, ENGLAND AND WALES

Made 30th March 1999

Laid before Parliament 30th March 1999

Coming into force 28th April 1999

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, as respects England, and the Secretary of State for Wales, as respects Wales, make these Regulations in exercise of powers conferred by section 90H of the Highways Act 1980f1, and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf–

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1980 c. 66; sections 90G-I were added by the Traffic Calming Act 1992 (c. 30), Schedule 1.

Contents

  1. 1Citation and commencement
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Works which are traffic calming works
  4. 4Consultation about traffic calming proposals
  5. 5Restriction on the construction of overrun areas
  6. 6Restriction on the construction of rumble devices
  7. 7Features which may be included in traffic calming works
  8. 8Placing of Traffic Signs
  9. 9Prohibition of certain works
  10. 10Revocation
  11. 11Saving
  12. Signature
  13. Explanatory note

1Citation and commencement

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

2Interpretation

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 1984f1; and

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

    1. (a)

      a speed limit of 20 miles per hour applies to each road within the zone;

    2. (b)

      a traffic sign of the size, colour and type shown in diagram 674 of the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994f2 is placed at each entrance to the zone for vehicular traffic.

3Works which are traffic calming works

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.

4Consultation about traffic calming proposals

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.

5Restriction on the construction of overrun areas

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.

6Restriction on the construction of rumble devices

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.

7Features which may be included in traffic calming works

(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.

8Placing of Traffic Signs

(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.

9Prohibition of certain works

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.

10Revocation

The Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1993f1 are hereby revoked.

11Saving

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

Signature

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Larry Whitty

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Wales

Peter Hain

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Welsh Office

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.