The Traffic Signs (Temporary Obstructions) Regulations 1997

PART IV PLACING OF TRAFFIC SIGNS

Authorisation to place traffic signs

15.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4) of this regulation, a person who is in charge of or accompanies an emergency or a breakdown vehicle which is temporarily obstructing a road is hereby authorised to place a keep right sign for the purpose of warning vehicular traffic of the obstruction created by the vehicle and to indicate the way past the vehicle.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4) of this regulation, any person not otherwise authorised to do so is hereby authorised to place a road vehicle sign on a vehicle or a flat traffic delineator, traffic cone, traffic pyramid, traffic triangle or warning lamp on any road for the purpose of warning traffic of a temporary obstruction in the road, other than one caused by the carrying out of works.

(3) In paragraph (1) above, the expressions “emergency vehicle” and “breakdown vehicle”have the meanings given in regulation 3(2) of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989(1).

(4) The authorisations given by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this regulation are subject to the conditions specified in regulation 16.

Conditions of authorisation

16.—(1) In this regulation—

(a) “placed” in relation to a traffic sign means placed in pursuance of an authorisation given by regulation 15;

(b) references to “the obstruction” are to the temporary obstruction in relation to which a traffic sign is placed; and

(c) references to “the road” are to the road on which the obstruction is situated.

(2) A traffic sign which has been placed shall be removed as soon as the obstruction has been removed.

(3) A flat traffic delineator, keep right sign, traffic cone, traffic pyramid or traffic triangle shall be placed in an upright position.

(4) A flat traffic delineator, keep right sign, traffic cone or traffic pyramid shall be placed so as to guide traffic past the obstruction.

(5) A traffic sign referred to in column (2) of an item in the table below may be placed only if the conditions specified in column (3) of the item are complied with.

TABLE

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Traffic sign	Conditions
1.	Flat traffic delineator	1.  At least three other flat traffic delineators must also be placed in relation to the obstruction. 2.  Each flat traffic delineator must be so placed as to face traffic approaching the obstruction from the side of the obstruction on which it is placed.
2.	Road vehicle sign	1.  It must be placed to face traffic approaching the stationary vehicle from the front, rear or side of the vehicle on which it is placed. 2.  It must be securely fixed to the stationary vehicle. 3.  It must not obscure any registration plate, lamps or reflectors of the stationary vehicle.
3.	Traffic cone	At least three other traffic cones must also be placed in relation to the obstruction.
4.	Traffic pyramid	At least three other traffic pyramids must also be placed in relation to the obstruction.
5.	Traffic triangle	1.  A traffic triangle must be placed at least 45 metres away from the obstruction. 2.  A traffic triangle must be so placed as to face traffic approaching the obstruction from the side of the obstruction on which it is placed.
6.	Warning lamp	1.  A warning lamp may be used only in conjunction with another traffic sign lawfully placed in accordance with these Regulations being— (a) a flat traffic delineator; (b) a keep right sign; (c) a road vehicle sign; (d) a traffic cone; (e) a traffic pyramid; or (f) a traffic triangle and shall be so placed as not to obscure that other traffic sign from the view of approaching traffic. 2.  Not more than one warning lamp shall be placed in conjunction with each such other traffic sign.

(1)

S.I. 1989/1796, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.