The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

These regulations revoke the Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1990 and replace them with new provisions.

The principal changes are:

(a) A road hump may now be constructed in any highway which is subject to a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less. Formerly no hump could be constructed in a trunk road, special road or principal road.

(b) Humps of any height between 25 millimetres and 100 millimetres are permitted. Formerly the minimum height was 50 millimetres

(c) The shape of a hump is no longer prescribed, but it must have a minimum length of 900 millimetres. The 1990 Regulations prescribed cross sections and hump dimensions by means of diagrams.

(d) The positioning of humps is no longer restricted, except in respect of zebra and pelican crossings, railway level crossings, tramways and structures 6.5 metres or less above the carriageway, in which cases the former restrictions have been retained.

(e) The required lighting of the road hump may now conform to BS5489 published by the British Standards Institution of 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL, as an alternative to the two previous requirements of lamps separated by no more than 38 metres or specially provided lighting, both of which continue to apply.

(f) Particular traffic signs are no longer prescribed. The highway authority is now required to place appropriate traffic signs in such positions as they consider suitable, subject to the requirements of the Traffic Signs Regulations.