road works traffic lights- are they legal?
Discussion
I was waiting at some road works in the town where I live for ages. When they eventually turned green the cars in front of me moved off, as I did.
When I got to the lights, they changed as I approached them. As there was a particularly long section of roadworks to the other side of the lights, I stupidly tagged on to the last car through, knowing I would have plenty of time to get though the section before the turned to green at the other end.
Ooops! 3 cars behind me was Mr Plod. I made his day and he gave me a fixed penalty. Now I know I was a bit naughty, but somewhere in the back of my mind there is a story that tempory traffic lights such as these are not legal as they have to conform to some regulation or other.
If they are legal, well fair enough, I was a bad lad, but if they are not legal, I could do without the points....
When I got to the lights, they changed as I approached them. As there was a particularly long section of roadworks to the other side of the lights, I stupidly tagged on to the last car through, knowing I would have plenty of time to get though the section before the turned to green at the other end.
Ooops! 3 cars behind me was Mr Plod. I made his day and he gave me a fixed penalty. Now I know I was a bit naughty, but somewhere in the back of my mind there is a story that tempory traffic lights such as these are not legal as they have to conform to some regulation or other.
If they are legal, well fair enough, I was a bad lad, but if they are not legal, I could do without the points....
RichBurley said:
Gosh they're clever, wish I had known that...
tvrgit said:
RichBurley said:
Gosh they're clever, wish I had known that...
well now you do
RichBurley said:
swaterall98 said:
I was under the impression that temporary lights by roadworks are not legally enforcable, unless they are on a motorway, but I may be wrong.
Anyone got any ideas?
Anyone got any ideas?
Temporary roadworks traffic lights on a motorway - that sounds like an unusual phenomenon...
Not on the M25
cen said:
Just so long as they comply with type approval. Remember also that a fixed power supply is associated with the type approval whereas, a generator owing to its windings don't satisfy type approval.
That's interesting. Maybe the OP should go back armed with a camera and take a look.
Boosted.
andygo said:
Where can I find out info about that act please?
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/20023113.htm
It's an SI, not an Act - it's enacted in RTRA/RTA - happy reading.
Just been back to have a look at the setup. Apart from anything else, its a Health and safety nightmare. Unshielded cables running accross gthe raod and pavements from a huge genny thats dripping diesel out onto the tarmac.
The lights therefore are not hard wired in anywhere. Got the photos as well.
As they apparently do not conform to type approval, I suppose I had better trot off to see a brief.
The lights therefore are not hard wired in anywhere. Got the photos as well.
As they apparently do not conform to type approval, I suppose I had better trot off to see a brief.
cen said:
Just so long as they comply with type approval. Remember also that a fixed power supply is associated with the type approval whereas, a generator owing to its windings don't satisfy type approval.
Type approval for fixed signal controllers s is different from temporary signals. You're right - a fixed permanent signal controller must have a permanent compliant power supply.
A temporary signal controller has a different type approval and temporary supplies are permitted (in fact the generator and controller are usually built into the one unit by the side of the road).
andygo said:
Just been back to have a look at the setup. Apart from anything else, its a Health and safety nightmare. Unshielded cables running accross gthe raod and pavements from a huge genny thats dripping diesel out onto the tarmac.
The lights therefore are not hard wired in anywhere. Got the photos as well.
As they apparently do not conform to type approval, I suppose I had better trot off to see a brief.
The lights therefore are not hard wired in anywhere. Got the photos as well.
As they apparently do not conform to type approval, I suppose I had better trot off to see a brief.
Furthermore, there are no stop lines on the road.
andygo said:
andygo said:
Just been back to have a look at the setup. Apart from anything else, its a Health and safety nightmare. Unshielded cables running accross gthe raod and pavements from a huge genny thats dripping diesel out onto the tarmac.
The lights therefore are not hard wired in anywhere. Got the photos as well.
As they apparently do not conform to type approval, I suppose I had better trot off to see a brief.
The lights therefore are not hard wired in anywhere. Got the photos as well.
As they apparently do not conform to type approval, I suppose I had better trot off to see a brief.
Furthermore, there are no stop lines on the road.
In temporary installations, the red signal is the "sign" - a stop line is not required. Instead there is a red/white sign "When red light shows stop here". Those are the TSRGD signs for temporary installations (and I'm not even sure if the "when red light shows" is a statutory legal requirement - the signal head may be the only sign legally required)
Definitely no stop line required though.
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff