The Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

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) insert definitions for EEA Agreement, EEA Standard, EEA State, equestrian crossing, signal-controlled crossing facility, signal-controlled pedestrian facility, Toucan crossing and zig-zag line (regulation 2(2));

(b) prescribe a new permitted variant for the sign shown in diagram 671.1 indicating that the national speed limits apply (regulation 2(8)(c));

(c) prescribe a new road marking shown in diagram 1001.3 for use at a signal-controlled crossing facility to indicate a part of the road where vehicles are prohibited from stopping or overtaking in certain circumstances (regulation 2(5) and (10)(b));

(d) prescribe the new road marking shown in diagram 1001.3 for the purposes of Article 50 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (signs whose indication it is an offence to contravene) and for the purposes of column (5) of the entry in Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (signs whose contravention is an offence involving discretionary disqualification) (regulation 2(3));

(e) remove the restriction on the use of certain light signals at Pelican crossings (regulation 2(6) and (11)(a));

(f) re-prescribe the light signals for use at equestrian crossings and prescribe the light signals for use at a Toucan crossing (regulation 2(7));

(g) substitute a new diagram, 1055.1, (and the words immediately below it) for the road markings shown in diagram 1055 and insert a new diagram, 1055.2, showing the road markings shown in diagram 1055.1 with an additional crossing point for equestrians (regulation 2(10)(d)); and

(h) prescribe new light signals as shown in diagrams 4003.4, 4003.5, 4003.6, 4003.7 and 4003A for use at signal-controlled crossing facilities (regulation 2(12)(f)).

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) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC of 20th July 1998 (O.J. No. L217, 05.08.98, p. 18). Copies of the Directives can be obtained from The Stationery Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.

Copies of the European Standard EN 12368: 2000, referred to in regulation 2(7), may be obtained from the British Standards Institution, Customer Services Department, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL and also from The Stationery Office.