2. 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• TSRGD outdated – drafted 1999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
3. 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
4. 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
5. BPA Survey: deregulate TSRGD
Is there an opportunity for deregulation of some of
the requirements in the Traffic Signs Regulations and
General Directions
2002?
5.80%
39.10%
55.10%
Not Applicable
Yes
No
6. 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
7. 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
9. 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
11. 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.
12. The revised TSRGD – what has
changed, what is new?
DfT Road Shows
Graham Hanson
14. 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
15. 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
16. Simplify TSRGD - A New Approach
Table Item 5 - Schedule 17, item 1
19. 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
20. 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”.
21. 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)
22. 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%
24. 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
43. 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!
49. 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, including
Reducing sign clutter
Variable Message Signs
Traffic Bollards
Cycle Route Branding
50. 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.
51. 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
