Temporary traffic lights

[gasman]

A long time ago I was told by someone that temporary traffic lights were advisory rather than compulsory. I don't treat them as such, but the question came up on another forum and I wondered whether anyone here could give an authoritative answer.

Thanks

[jacobyte]

Planning permission is not required, so therefore they are purely advisory. Of course, if you go through on red and have a shunt, you will be liable.

Don't be shy to go through a red one if you can see the other end if perfectly clear and there is zero risk of an incident.

[TripleS]

gasman said:

A long time ago I was told by someone that temporary traffic lights were advisory rather than compulsory. I don't treat them as such, but the question came up on another forum and I wondered whether anyone here could give an authoritative answer. Thanks

Yes I've often wondered about that. It can be a bit frustrating sitting at a red light when you can see the other end of the roadworks, and for some distance beyond, and everything is clear.

Apart from the odd occasion where I became convinced that the lights were faulty I have always respected the system, but I would be interested to know the legal situation.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[rodney59]

Its it also something to do with the fact that there is no white stop line either across the road?

[colonel_smith]

We had some by our work a few years back and one of the delivery drivers was fed up with getting stuck at them so went through on red behind the pack that had passed on green without realising there was a police car behind who followed him down our road and pulled him over..To there horror the delivery driver knew the law and they were only advisory lights and they had to let him go without being able to do anything...
I also remember watching tv programme following the traffic police around and one of them said that the temp speed limits through roadworks were not enforceable and just an advisory...Any truth in this???
I doubt it is now as they have speed cameras on most stretches of roadworks now...

[timsta]

colonel_smith said:

I also remember watching tv programme following the traffic police around and one of them said that the temp speed limits through roadworks were not enforceable and just an advisory...Any truth in this??? I doubt it is now as they have speed cameras on most stretches of roadworks now...

The ones on the A404 were They do need permission, just like the lights.

[outrider]

I knocked some temporary lights over a few years ago. I was driving HGVs at the time and the lights were placed such that I couldn't get my 40'trailer through. After a few attempts I gave up and dragged the bloody things down the road until they fell off

Also plastic bollards on those little traffic islands were good sport to. Cones I used to love cones. At 2am in the morning on some motorway I'd knock miles of the bloody things over - just like playing skittles.

[timsta]

outrider said:

Cones I used to love cones. At 2am in the morning on some motorway I'd knock miles of the bloody things over - just like playing skittles.

[miniandy]

outrider said:

Cones I used to love cones. At 2am in the morning on some motorway I'd knock miles of the bloody things over - just like playing skittles.

Until he got pulled over and done for DD!

[Dwight VanDriver]

gasman

Temporary or portable lights, providing they conform to standard shape, size and lights as sated in Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002 carry the same requirement to be complied with as standard lights. They are not advisory.

Permission has to be given in writing by local authority or in the case of urgency, oral permission backed up later by written permission from the Highways Authorty.

No stop line? Then this is defined as at the erd sign "Wait Here" or if that is missing then the post or structure on which the primary signal is mounted.

Question? Approaching site of Traffic Lights at red and there is Plod who waves you on and through on the red. What do you do.?

DVD

[BliarOut]

Dwight VanDriver said:

gasman Temporary or portable lights, providing they conform to standard shape, size and lights as sated in Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002 carry the same requirement to be complied with as standard lights. They are not advisory. Permission has to be given in writing by local authority or in the case of urgency, oral permission backed up later by written permission from the Highways Authorty. No stop line? Then this is defined as at the erd sign "Wait Here" or if that is missing then the post or structure on which the primary signal is mounted. Question? Approaching site of Traffic Lights at red and there is Plod who waves you on and through on the red. What do you do.? DVD

Instructions of a police officer override signage and signals IIRC.

[TripleS]

BliarOut said:

Dwight VanDriver said: gasman Temporary or portable lights, providing they conform to standard shape, size and lights as sated in Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002 carry the same requirement to be complied with as standard lights. They are not advisory. Permission has to be given in writing by local authority or in the case of urgency, oral permission backed up later by written permission from the Highways Authorty. No stop line? Then this is defined as at the erd sign "Wait Here" or if that is missing then the post or structure on which the primary signal is mounted. Question? Approaching site of Traffic Lights at red and there is Plod who waves you on and through on the red. What do you do.? DVD Instructions of a police officer override signage and signals IIRC.

...only if he is in uniform?

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[jacobyte]

Dwight VanDriver said:

Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002

Thanks for the update

[tvrgit]

Ordinary traffic lights do not require planning permission, and have not for at least 30 years. They require no notification or traffic order or legal procedure whatsoever - the highway authority can put them wherever they see fit, whenever they like.

Temporary traffic signals carry the same weighting as DVD says, as permanent ones - just that the signing is different.

[gone]

If you fail to stop at a red temporary traffic light, you will attract at least £60 deduction from bank account and addition of 3 points to licence!

[IOLAIRE]

Dwight VanDriver said:

gasman Temporary or portable lights, providing they conform to standard shape, size and lights as sated in Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002 carry the same requirement to be complied with as standard lights. They are not advisory. Permission has to be given in writing by local authority or in the case of urgency, oral permission backed up later by written permission from the Highways Authorty. No stop line? Then this is defined as at the erd sign "Wait Here" or if that is missing then the post or structure on which the primary signal is mounted. Question? Approaching site of Traffic Lights at red and there is Plod who waves you on and through on the red. What do you do.? DVD

Well you're not going to believe this DVD, but up here you need no permission whatever from anyone to erect a set of lights and create a contra-flow, except on the motorway obviously.
I have had numerous run-tos with utter brainless clowns who block main traffic routes to carry out renovation on somebody's house and leave it there for day after day creating colossal traffic problems and the police are powerless to do anything about it.
It would appear that the only parameter is that you have to be carrying out work that intrudes onto the road space.

[tvrgit]

IOLAIRE said:

Dwight VanDriver said: gasman Temporary or portable lights, providing they conform to standard shape, size and lights as sated in Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002 carry the same requirement to be complied with as standard lights. They are not advisory. Permission has to be given in writing by local authority or in the case of urgency, oral permission backed up later by written permission from the Highways Authorty. No stop line? Then this is defined as at the erd sign "Wait Here" or if that is missing then the post or structure on which the primary signal is mounted. Question? Approaching site of Traffic Lights at red and there is Plod who waves you on and through on the red. What do you do.? DVD Well you're not going to believe this DVD, but up here you need no permission whatever from anyone to erect a set of lights and create a contra-flow, except on the motorway obviously. I have had numerous run-tos with utter brainless clowns who block main traffic routes to carry out renovation on somebody's house and leave it there for day after day creating colossal traffic problems and the police are powerless to do anything about it. It would appear that the only parameter is that you have to be carrying out work that intrudes onto the road space.

Not quite. Anybody other that the roads authority needs an "Operations on Streets Permit" or a "Road Occupation Permit" (different councils have a different name for it) under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

>> Edited by tvrgit on Friday 13th May 18:41

[outrider]

miniandy said:

outrider said: Cones I used to love cones. At 2am in the morning on some motorway I'd knock miles of the bloody things over - just like playing skittles. Until he got pulled over and done for DD!

er no, never bin dun for anything, they have tried & tried but failed miserably so far.

[gasman]

DVD,

Thanks, I knew I could count on you for a definitive answer.

[IOLAIRE]

tvrgit said:

IOLAIRE said: Dwight VanDriver said: gasman Temporary or portable lights, providing they conform to standard shape, size and lights as sated in Traffic Signs and General Directions 2002 carry the same requirement to be complied with as standard lights. They are not advisory. Permission has to be given in writing by local authority or in the case of urgency, oral permission backed up later by written permission from the Highways Authorty. No stop line? Then this is defined as at the erd sign "Wait Here" or if that is missing then the post or structure on which the primary signal is mounted. Question? Approaching site of Traffic Lights at red and there is Plod who waves you on and through on the red. What do you do.? DVD Well you're not going to believe this DVD, but up here you need no permission whatever from anyone to erect a set of lights and create a contra-flow, except on the motorway obviously. I have had numerous run-tos with utter brainless clowns who block main traffic routes to carry out renovation on somebody's house and leave it there for day after day creating colossal traffic problems and the police are powerless to do anything about it. It would appear that the only parameter is that you have to be carrying out work that intrudes onto the road space. Not quite. Anybody other that the roads authority needs an "Operations on Streets Permit" or a "Road Occupation Permit" (different councils have a different name for it) under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. >> Edited by tvrgit on Friday 13th May 18:41

Would you do myself and the good people of Scotland a favour and tell me precisely what regulations this relates to, because I can't find it, and I have to tell you that off the top of my head right now I know of two coppers and numerous individuals who would be only to delighted to throw the book at certain companies who constantly cause serious disruption through setting up unnecessary contra-flows.
Before you do, my interpretation of the regs you quote, and also the current New Roads and Streetworks Act '91 is that they only apply to road works, i.e. actually carrying out work on the road or pavement or intruding into the road surface by tunnelling or boring.
If you are for example renovating a building and put a skip outside with a disposal chute on the road, you then have a statutory right to do so and set up temporary traffic lights.
This is very important that we get this right, because if you are right, and there is control over this, then it is flagrantly and regularly abused to the severe detriment of the public in the Glasgow area.