Explanatory note

This instrument amends the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (“the 2002 instrument”) to permit the use of portable signal-controlled pedestrian facilities.

Part 1 consists of the Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations 2011. They amend the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002 (“the 2002 regulations”) which are in Part 1 of the 2002 instrument. The amendments permit the use of portable pedestrian facilities with the portable traffic signals prescribed by regulation 35 (currently the traffic signals prescribed by regulation 33 must be used). As for signal-controlled pedestrian facilities, pedestrian signals (red and green man) and a push button must be placed. A new warning sign is prescribed and must always be placed at a portable signal-controlled pedestrian facility. A white line and square marks may be placed at the facility. If it is a stand-alone facility (where all traffic is stopped only for pedestrians to cross), zig-zag lines may also be placed (but only with the white line and the square marks).

The amendments include updated references to standards to be complied with.

Part 2 consists of the Traffic Signs (Amendment) General Directions 2011. They amend the Traffic Signs General Directions 2002. The amendments provide for the placing and mounting of the new signs and signals. The new Schedule 2 provides for what must be placed at stand-alone portable pedestrian facilities (that is, where traffic is stopped only for pedestrians to cross).

The provisions include savings. Regulation 12 provides an indefinite saving for signs which were already placed at the time these amendments come into force. Regulation 13 ensures that the saving as to portable light signals in regulation 3(3) of the 2002 regulations is unaffected. That saving is needed because the saving in regulation 3(3) of the 2002 regulations protected portable traffic lights which were compliant on the coming into force of the 2002 instrument only from the amendments made by the 2002 instrument; it did not protect them from amendments made by later instruments. The other savings in the 2002 instrument are unaffected.

The provisions in this instrument were notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with directive 98/34/EC as amended by directive 98/48/EC. Copies of these directives may be obtained from The Stationery Office (http://www.tso.co.uk or http://www.tsoshop.co.uk). They are also available via the European Union website (http://europa.eu).

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available on the Department for Transport website (http://www.dft.gov.uk) and is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside the instrument onwww.legislation.gov.uk