Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. The principal amendments are to –

(a) regulation 11 to permit the top and bottom panels of the sign shown in diagram 7008 to have proportions and form other than those shown in Schedule 13 (regulation 2(2));

(b) regulation 21(2)(b) to redefine the expression “bus lane” (regulation 2(3));

(c) transfer the sign in diagram 674.1 from Schedule 2 to Schedule 1 and re-number it as diagram 544.1A (regulation 2(4) and (5));

(d) the sign in diagram 784 by changing the dimensions and weight of vehicles to which it applies and by retaining its original vehicular application as a permitted variant (regulation 2(6));

(e) add the sign in diagram 881 to indicate a waterway (and bridge, if appropriate) (regulation 2(7));

(f) add a permitted variant to the signs in diagrams 958 and 959 to permit the use of with-flow bus lanes by motorcycles (regulation 2(8)(a) and (b));

(g) add a permitted variant to the sign in diagram 961 to permit a reference to the month of the year to be added (regulation 2(8)(c)); and

(h) add the sign in diagram 7008 to indicate the nature of street works, giving the names of the employer and contractor and an emergency telephone number (regulation 2(9)).

These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to Directive 98/34/EC of 22nd June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society Services (O.J. No. L204, 21.07.98, p. 37-48) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC of 20th July 1998 (O.J. No. L217, 05.08.98, p. 18-26). Copies of the Directives can be obtained from the Stationery Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.