The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016

Traffic light signals

5.—(1) This paragraph applies to traffic light signals.

(2) The significance of the light signals to which paragraph 4(2) applies, when illuminated, is that specified in sub-paragraphs (3) to (9).

(3) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) to (6), the red signal conveys the prohibition that vehicular traffic must not proceed beyond the stop line.

(4) Sub-paragraph (5) applies on an occasion where a vehicle is being used for at least one of the purposes set out in sub-paragraph (6) and the observance of the prohibition in sub-paragraph (3) would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for that purpose.

(5) The prohibition conveyed is that the vehicle must not proceed beyond the stop line in such a manner or at such a time as to be likely to endanger any person or to cause the driver of another vehicle to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident.

(6) The purposes are—

(a) fire and rescue authority;

(b) Scottish Fire and Rescue Service;

(c) ambulance;

(d) blood service;

(e) providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;

(f) bomb or explosive disposal;

(g) special forces

(h) police; and

(i) National Crime Agency.

(7) Red and amber signals illuminated together denote an impending change to green but conveys the same prohibition as the red signal.

(8) A green signal indicates—

(a) subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), that vehicular traffic may proceed beyond the stop line and proceed straight on or to the left or to the right;

(b) where the signal is an arrow, vehicles may only proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow;

(c) where the signal is a pedal cycle symbol, only vehicles which are pedal cycles may proceed.

(9) An amber signal, when shown alone, conveys the same prohibition as red, except that, as respects any vehicle which is so close to the stop line that it cannot safely be stopped without proceeding beyond the stop line, it conveys the same indication as the green signal which was shown immediately before it.

(10) Sub-paragraph (11) gives the significance, when illuminated, of the green arrow signal when, by virtue of the variation permitted in paragraph 2, it is included in the traffic light signals provided for at—

(a) item 1 of the Part 2 sign table;or

(b) item 3 of the Part 2 sign table,

at a position other than position 3 of diagram C or position 2 of diagram D.

(11) The significance is that vehicular traffic may proceed beyond the stop line in the direction indicated by the arrow irrespective of which other light signals forming part of the sign are illuminated.

(12) Sub-paragraph (13) gives the significance, when illuminated, of the pedal cycle symbol when, by virtue of the variation permitted in paragraph 2, it is included in the traffic light signals provided for at item 1 of the Part 2 sign table.

(13) The significance is that pedal cycles may proceed beyond the stop line and proceed straight on or to the left or to the right irrespective of which other light signals forming part of the sign are illuminated.

(14) Vehicular traffic proceeding beyond a stop line must proceed with due regard to the safety of other road users and subject to any direction given by a constable in uniform, a traffic officer in uniform or a traffic warden or to any other applicable prohibition or restriction.

(15) This paragraph does not apply to tramcars.