Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

14 Temporary prohibition or restriction of traffic on roads.E+W+S

[F1(1)If the traffic authority for a road are satisfied that traffic on the road should be restricted or prohibited—

(a)by reason that works are being or are proposed to be executed on or near the road, or

(b)by reason of the likelihood of danger to the public or of serious damage to the road,

the authority may by order restrict or prohibit temporarily the use of the road, or any part of it, by vehicles, or by vehicles of any class, or by pedestrians, to such extent and subject to such conditions or exceptions as they may consider necessary.

(2)A traffic authority when considering the question of the making of an order under subsection (1) shall have regard to the existence of alternative routes suitable for the traffic which will be affected by the order.]

[F2(3)The traffic authority for a road may at any time by notice restrict or prohibit temporarily the use of the road, or any part of it, by vehicles, or by vehicles of any class, or by pedestrians, where, owing to the likelihood of danger to the public or of serious damage to the road, it appears to them necessary that such a restriction or prohibition should come into force without delay.]

[F3(3A)Subject to the following provisions of this section and to sections 15 and 16 of this Act, a [F4traffic authority] may also make an order under subsection (1) or issue a notice under subsection (3) above where the authority is satisfied or (as the case may be) where it appears to the authority that traffic on the [F5road] should be restricted or prohibited for the purpose of enabling the duty imposed by subsection (1)(a) or (2) of section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (litter clearing and cleaning) to be discharged.]

(4)The provision that may be made by an order under subsection (1) or a notice under subsection (3) above is—

(a)any such provision as is mentioned in any of subsections (1) to (3) of section 2 of this Act, or

(b)any provision restricting the speed of vehicles;

but no such order or notice shall be made or issued with respect to any road which would have the effect of preventing at any time access for pedestrians to any premises situated on or adjacent to the road, or to any other premises accessible for pedestrians from, and only from, the road.

[F6(5)Where a traffic authority (“the initiating authority”) make an order under subsection (1) or issue a notice under subsection (3), any such provision as is described in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 2(2) or in section 2(3) of this Act may be made as respects any alternative road by an order made—

(a)in a case where the initiating authority are the traffic authority for the alternative road, by that authority;

(b)in any other case—

(i)where the traffic authority for the alternative road is a local traffic authority, by the initiating authority with the consent of that authority;

(ii)where the traffic authority for the alternative road is the Secretary of State, by him on the application of the initiating authority.]

(6)Subsections (1) and (2) of section 3 of this Act shall apply to an order under subsection (5) above as they apply to a traffic regulation order.

(7)An order made or notice issued under this section may suspend any statutory provision of a description which could have been contained in the order or notice, or, in the case of an order under subsection (5) above, any statutory provision prohibiting the use of roads by through traffic, and any such provision (other than one contained in the order or notice) shall have effect subject to the order or notice.

(8)In the case of an order made or notice issued under this section by a highway authority in Greater London, the description of statutory provision which may be suspended by the order or notice shall include any order made under section 45, 46 or 49 of this Act or any such order as is mentioned in paragraph 11(1) of Schedule 10 to this Act.

(9)In this section “alternative road”, in relation to a road as respects which an order is made under subsection (1) or a notice is issued under subsection (3) above, means a road which—

(a)provides an alternative route for traffic diverted from the first-mentioned road or from any other alternative road, or

(b)is capable of providing such an alternative route apart from any statutory provision authorised by subsection (7) above to be suspended by an order under subsection (5) above.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 14(1)(2) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 26(2); which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3,Sch.

F2S. 14(3) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 26(3); which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3,Sch.

F4Words in s. 14(3A) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 26(4)(a); which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3,Sch.

F5Word in s. 14(3A) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 26(4)(b); which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3,Sch.

F6S. 14(5) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 para. 26(5); which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch.2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3,Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)