Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 1957

1957 No. 13

TRAFFIC SIGNS

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 1957

7thJanuary 1957

8thFebruary 1957

1stMarch 1957

ARRANGEMENT

PART I.—TRAFFIC SIGNS REGULATIONS

SECTION I

Preliminary

 Regulation
                Citation 1
                Revocation 2
                Interpretation 3
                

SECTION II

Miscellaneous General Provisions

Authorisations by the Minister or Secretary of State 4
                Application of S. 49 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930 to signs 5
                Reflectors shown in certain diagrams 6
                Variations in dimensions shown in diagrams 7
                

SECTION III

Traffic Signs shown in First Schedule

Traffic signs to be of the sizes, colours and types shown in
                diagrams 8
                Permitted variants 9, 10 and 11
                Dimensions 12
                Proportions and form of letters and numerals 13
                Surmounting of signs 14
                Arrangement of multiple route and place signs 15 and 16
                Colour of signs 17
                Illumination of signs by lighting 18
                Illumination of signs by reflectors 19
                Permitted use of certain badges or devices 20
                

SECTION IV

Traffic Signs shown in Second Schedule

Carriageway markings 21
                Colour and height above carriageway of markings 22
                

SECTION V

Miscellaneous Traffic Signs

Certain temporary signs 23
                Flashing beacons 24 and 25
                Flags 26
                Light signals for vehicular traffic 27 and 28
                Portable light signals for vehicular traffic 29
                Significance of light signals 30
                Light signals for pedestrians 31
                

SCHEDULES

 Page
                 I. Part I—Warning signs 2015
                 Part II—Mandatory signs 2030
                 Part III—Prohibitory signs 2036
                 Part IV—Informatory signs 2042
                 II. Markings on the carriageway 2067
                 III. Incorporation of arrow in light signals for vehicular traffic 2073
                 IV. Proportions and form of letters and numerals to be used
                 in signs shown in First Schedule 2074
                

PART II.—GENERAL DIRECTIONS

PART III.—GENERAL CITATION AND COMMENCEMENT

The Secretary of State and the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (hereinafter referred to as "the Minister") acting jointly in exercise of their powers under sections 48 and 59 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930(a), as read with the Transfer of Functions (Roads, Bridges and Ferries) Order, 1955(b), section 35 of the Road Traffic Act, 1956(c), and of all other powers them enabling in that behalf hereby make the following Regulations and give the following Directions:—

PART I.—TRAFFIC SIGNS REGULATIONS

SECTION I

Preliminary

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as "The Traffic Signs Regulations, 1957".

Revocation

2.—(1) The Traffic Signs (Size, Colour and Type) Regulations, 1950(d) (hereinafter in these Regulations referred to as "the Regulations of 1950") are hereby revoked, without prejudice, however, to the validity of anything done thereunder or to any liability incurred in respect of any act or omission before the coming into operation of these Regulations.

(2) Any traffic sign situate on or near any road immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations, being a traffic sign shown in any diagram set out in Part I, Part II, or Part III of either the First Schedule or the Second Schedule to the Regulations of 1950 and then complying with the provisions relating thereto by virtue of those Regulations shall, subject as hereinafter provided in this Regulation, be treated as prescribed by these Regulations for so long as it continues to comply with the said provisions as if the same had not been revoked:

Provided that the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not apply—

(a) in the case of a sign shown in either of the diagrams Nos. 49 and 50 set out in the said Second Schedule,

(b) on and after the expiration of one year from the coming into operation of these Regulations in the case of a sign shown in diagram No. 74 in the said First Schedule unless the sign is illuminated in the same manner as that in which Regulations 18 and 19 of these Regulations provide for the illumination of the sign shown in diagram No. 204 in the First Schedule to these Regulations, or

(c) on and after the expiration of two years from the coming into operation of these Regulations in the case of a sign shown in diagram No. 71 in the First Schedule to the Regulations of 1950 or diagram No. 43 in the Second Schedule to the Regulations of 1950 unless the lettering, background and borders of the sign comply as to colour with such one of the signs shown in diagrams Nos. 316 and 320 in the First Schedule to these Regulations as is appropriate.

(3) On and after the expiration of two years from the coming into operation of these Regulations any traffic sign situate on or near a road, being a traffic sign giving the indication shown in any of the diagrams Nos. 110, 111, 147, 148, 151, 152 and 205 in the First Schedule to these Regulations but not complying with the size, colour and type of sign shown in any such diagram,

(a) 20 & 21 Geo. 5. c. 43.

(b) S.I. 1955/1955 (1955 I, p. 1205).

(c) 4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 67.

(d) S.I. 1950/953 (1950 II, p. 775).

shall notwithstanding that it complies as to size, colour and type with the relevant provisions of the Regulations of 1950 or of any authorisation by the Minister or the Secretary of State, as the case may be, under section 48 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, cease to be valid.

Interpretation

3.—(1) In these Regulations the expression "an approved Organisation" means the Royal Automobile Club, the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, the Automobile Association or the Cyclists Touring Club.

(2) The Interpretation Act, 1889(a), shall apply to the interpretation of these Regulations as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

(3) Any reference in these Regulations to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended by any subsequent enactment.

(4) Any reference in these Regulations to any sign shown in the First Schedule or Second Schedule to these Regulations shall be construed as including a reference to any such sign varied in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

SECTION II

Miscellaneous General Provisions

Authorisations by the Minister or the Secretary of State

4. Nothing in these Regulations shall be taken to limit the powers of the Minister or the Secretary of State, as the case may be, under section 48 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to authorise the erection or retention of traffic signs of a character not prescribed by these Regulations.

Application of s. 49 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to signs

5. Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, shall apply to signs of the type shown in any of the diagrams Nos. 204, 205, 206, 212, 213, 216, 217, 218 and 219 in the First Schedule to these Regulations and to the red signal when shown by the light signals prescribed either by Regulation 27, or by that Regulation as varied by Regulation 28, or by Regulation 29 of these Regulations.

Reflectors shown in certain diagrams

6. Small circles shown in any of the diagrams in the First Schedule to these Regulations indicate reflectors, but this indication by itself shall not be taken as a requirement that reflectors must form part of the sign or any attachment thereto to which that diagram relates.

Variations in dimensions shown in diagrams

7. Any variation in a dimension specified in any of the diagrams in the First, Second or Third Schedule to these Regulations shall be treated as permitted by these Regulations if the variation—

(a) in the case of a dimension so specified as over 12 inches, does not exceed 5% of that dimension;

(b) in the case of a dimension so specified as 2 inches or as over 2 inches but not as over 12 inches, does not exceed 10% of that dimension; or

(c) in the case of a dimension so specified as under 2 inches, does not exceed 15% of that dimension.

(a) 52 & 53 Vict. c. 63.

SECTION III

Traffic Signs shown in First Schedule

Signs to be of the sizes, colours and types shown in diagrams

8. Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, and except where the Minister or the Secretary of State, as the case may be, authorises the erection or retention of a traffic sign of another character, every traffic sign for conveying—

(a) to traffic a warning of the description specified in or under a diagram set out in Part I of the First Schedule to these Regulations (hereinafter referred to as "the First Schedule") shall be of the size, colour and type shown in the diagram relating to that warning;

(b) to vehicular traffic a requirement of the description specified in a diagram set out in Part II of the First Schedule shall be of the size, colour and type shown in the diagram relating to that requirement;

(c) to vehicular traffic a prohibition or restriction of the description specified in a diagram set out in Part III of the First Schedule shall be of the size, colour and type shown in the diagram relating to that prohibition or restriction; or

(d) to traffic information of the description specified in or under a diagram set out in Part IV of the First Schedule shall be of the size, colour and type shown in the diagram relating to that information.

Permitted variants

9.—(1) Where the circumstances so require the following indications given on the signs shown in the First Schedule shall be varied as follows:—

(a) in diagrams Nos. 112, 115, 118, 125, 126, 127, 128, 311, 313, 314, 315, 318, 320, 322, 324, 327, 401, 411, 412, 413, 414, 447 and 475 the numerals shall be varied to accord with the circumstances;

(b) in diagrams Nos. 308, 309, 311, 312, 314, 315, 318, 320 and 324 the wording shall be varied to accord with the prohibitions or restrictions imposed in relation to vehicular traffic;

(c) in diagrams Nos. 106, 107, 110 and 111 the symbols shall be reversed and in diagrams Nos. 205 and 206 the upper arm of the symbol shall be omitted, to accord with the circumstances;

(d) in diagrams Nos. 127, 142, 143, 144, 209, 210, 215, 317, 323, 406, 407, 476, 477, 478, 481, 482, 483, 484, 493 and 494 the direction of the arrows shall be varied to accord with the direction required to be indicated;

(e) in diagrams Nos. 126, 127, 411, 412 and 413 the distances shall be indicated in yards or...

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