Part 2Network management by local traffic authorities and strategic highways companies
General duties relating to network management
16The network management duty
(1)
It is the duty of a local traffic authority F1or a strategic highways company (“the network management authority”) to manage their road network with a view to achieving, so far as may be reasonably practicable having regard to their other obligations, policies and objectives, the following objectives—
(a)
securing the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority's road network; and
(b)
facilitating the expeditious movement of traffic on road networks for which another authority is the traffic authority.
(2)
The action which the authority may take in performing that duty includes, in particular, any action which they consider will contribute to securing—
(a)
the more efficient use of their road network; or
(b)
the avoidance, elimination or reduction of road congestion or other disruption to the movement of traffic on their road network or a road network for which another authority is the traffic authority;
and may involve the exercise of any power to regulate or co-ordinate the uses made of any road (or part of a road) in the road network (whether or not the power was conferred on them in their capacity as a traffic authority).
(3)
In this Part “network management duty”, in relation to a F2network management authority, means their duty under this section.