2023 No. 783 (W. 124)
Road Traffic, Wales

The Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations and General Directions 2023

Made
Laid before Senedd Cymru
Coming into force
The Welsh Ministers, being the relevant authority, make the Regulations in Part 1 of this Instrument in exercise of the powers conferred by section 64(1), (2) and (3) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 19841 (“the 1984 Act”) as extended by section 26(3) of the Welsh Language Act 19932.
The Welsh Ministers, being the relevant authority and the national authority, give the General Directions in Part 2 of this Instrument in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 65(1)3 and 85(2)4 of the 1984 Act.

The Welsh Ministers in respect of the Regulations in Part 1 have, in accordance with section 134(10) of the 1984 Act, consulted with such representative organisations as they thought fit and, in accordance with section 134(13) of the 1984 Act, have consulted with the Secretary of State.

The Welsh Ministers in respect of the General Directions in Part 2 have, in accordance with sections 65(3ZC) and 85(10) of the 1984 Act, consulted with the Secretary of State.

PART 1The Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023

Title, application and coming into force1.

(1)

This Part of this Instrument may be cited—

(a)

as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023, and

(b)

together with Part 2, as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations and General Directions 2023.

(2)

These Regulations come into force on 17 September 2023.

Amendment of the Traffic Signs Regulations 20162.

The Traffic Signs Regulations 20165 are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 6.

Amendment of Schedule 23.

(1)

In Schedule 2, in the table in Part 2 (Warning signs and associated plates)—

(a)

in the row at item 25, in the second column (Description), at the beginning insert “In relation to England,”,

(b)

after the row at item 25, insert—

“25A

Diagram 545.2

In relation to Wales, children going to or from school or playground area

545.2

1. In the Welsh text—

  1. (a)

    “Ysgol”, “Hebryngwr”, “Maes chwarae”, “Plant anabl”, “Plant dall” or “Plant byddar” with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right;

  2. (b)

    “Ysgol”, “Hebryngwr”, “Maes chwarae”, “Plant anabl”, “Plant dall” or “Plant byddar” and a distance with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right; or

  3. (c)

    “Dim troedffordd am” and a distance; and

2. In the English text—

  1. (a)

    “School”, “Patrol”, “Playground”, “Disabled children”, “Blind children” or “Deaf children” with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right;

  2. (b)

    “School”, “Patrol”, “Playground”, “Disabled children”, “Blind children” or “Deaf children” and a distance with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right; or

  3. (c)

    “No footway for” and a distance.

5

1”

(c)

in the row at item 43, in the second column (Description), at the beginning insert “In relation to England,”, and

(d)

after the row at item 43, insert—

“43A

Diagram 557.2

In relation to Wales, road hump or series of road humps ahead

557.2

1. In the Welsh text—

  1. (a)

    “Twmpath” or “Twmpathau” with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right;

  2. (b)

    “Twmpath” or “Twmpathau” with two arrows, one pointing to the left and one pointing to the right;

  3. (c)

    “Twmpath” or “Twmpathau am” and a distance, with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right;

  4. (d)

    “Twmpath” or “Twmpathau am” and a distance, with two arrows, one pointing to the left and one pointing to the right; or

  5. (e)

    “Ardal tawelu traffig”; and

2. In the English text—

  1. (a)

    “Hump” or “Humps” with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right;

  2. (b)

    “Hump” or “Humps” with two arrows, one pointing to the left and one pointing to the right;

  3. (c)

    “Hump” or “Humps for” and a distance, with or without an arrow pointing to the left or to the right;

  4. (d)

    “Hump” or “Humps for” and a distance, with two arrows, one pointing to the left and one pointing to the right; or

  5. (e)

    “Traffic calmed area”.

5

1”

(2)

In Schedule 2, in the table in Part 3 (Supplementary associated plates for placing in combination with signs in Part 2), at the end, in a new row, insert—

“5

Diagram 545.3

In relation to Wales, road safety image or slogan”

545.3

Amendment of Schedule 104.

In Schedule 10, in the table in Part 2 (Signs and road markings indicating speed limits)—

(a)

in the row at item 5, in the second column (Description), at the beginning insert “In relation to England,”,

(b)

in the row at item 6, in the second column (Description), at the beginning insert “In relation to England,”, and

(c)

in the row at item 7, in the second column (Description), at the beginning insert “In relation to England,”.

Amendment of Schedule 115.

In Schedule 11, in the table in Part 2 (Upright signs)—

(a)

after the row at item 32, insert—

“32A

Diagram 883.1

In relation to Wales, end of traffic calmed area”

883.1

(b)

in the row at item 64, in the second column (Description), at the beginning insert “In relation to England,”, and

(c)

after the row at item 64, insert—

“64A

Diagram 880.2

In relation to Wales, speed camera ahead on a lit road and reminder of 20 mph speed limit

880.2

21 (2)”

Amendment of Schedule 136.

In Schedule 13, in the table in Part 6 (Additional Temporary Signs)—

(a)

in the row at item 38, in the second column (Description), at the beginning insert “In relation to England,”, and

(b)

after the row at item 38, insert—

“38A

Diagram 7032.1

In relation to Wales, commencement point or warning of the commencement point of a newly imposed 20 mph speed limit

7032.1

1. “O’CH BLAEN” may be inserted after “MYA” in the Welsh text.

2. “AHEAD” may be inserted after “LIMIT” in the English text.

8

13A”

PART 2The Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales) General Directions 2023

Title, application and coming into force7.

(1)

This Part of this Instrument may be cited—

(a)

as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales) General Directions 2023, and

(b)

together with Part 1, as the Traffic Signs (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations and General Directions 2023.

(2)

These General Directions come into force on 17 September 2023.

Amendment to the Traffic Signs General Directions 20168.

The Traffic Signs General Directions 20166 are amended in accordance with directions 9 and 10.

Amendment of Schedule 109.

In Schedule 10, in Part 4 (The Schedule 10 General Directions) for paragraph 2, substitute—

“2.

This sign must not be placed as a repeater sign where—

(a)

in relation to England, the road is subject to a maximum speed limit of 30 mph and has a system of carriageway lighting; or

(b)

in relation to Wales, the road is subject to a maximum speed limit of 20 mph and has a system of carriageway lighting.”

Amendment of Schedule 1310.

In Schedule 13, in Part 12 (The Schedule 13 General Directions) after paragraph 13, insert—

“13A.

The sign may only be placed—-

(a)

to indicate or give warning of the point at which a recently imposed speed limit of 20 mph begins on a road; and

(b)

during the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the 20 mph speed limit comes into force.”

PART 3

Transitional and savings provision11.

(1)

A traffic sign is to be treated as complying with the 2016 Instrument as amended by this Instrument where—

(a)

the traffic sign was in place immediately before 17 September 2023,

(b)

the traffic sign complies with the 2016 Instrument as in force immediately before 17 September 2023, and

(c)

the traffic sign is not in compliance with the 2016 Instrument as amended by this Instrument.

(2)

But paragraph (1)—

(a)

ceases to apply to traffic signs prescribed by item 9 in the table at Part 2 of Schedule 10 to the 2016 Instrument at the end of the day on 16 September 2028;

(b)

ceases to apply to any other traffic signs at the end of the day on 16 September 2024.

(3)

Paragraph (1) does not apply to traffic signs prescribed by item 64 in the table in Part 2 of Schedule 11 to the 2016 Instrument.

(4)

In this regulation—

(a)

“the 2016 Instrument” means the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016;

(b)

“traffic sign” has the meaning given in section 64(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Lee Waters
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, under authority of the Minister for Climate Change, one of the Welsh Ministers
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Instrument)

This Instrument amends the Traffic Signs Regulations 2016 and the Traffic Signs General Directions 2016, together cited as the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (“the 2016 Instrument”). These amendments are only relevant to Wales and are consequential on and supplementary to the Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022, which reduces the general speed limit for restricted roads from 30 mph to 20 mph in Wales from 17 September 2023. A reference in this note to a Schedule is to a Schedule to the 2016 Instrument.

Regulation 3 enables a new road safety plate to be used in addition to the signs which warn of children going to or from school or playground ahead, or of road humps. It also enables a sign for road humps to be accompanied by a plate warning of a traffic calmed area.

Regulation 4 amends the application of the signs used to notify of the entrance to and exit from a 20 mph zone so that they can no longer be used in Wales. As a consequence of the general speed limit for restricted roads being reduced from 30 mph to 20 mph in Wales, 20 mph zones will no longer be necessary and will therefore be abolished.

Regulation 5 enables two new signs to be used. One sign will be used to warn of the end of a traffic calmed area and the other to warn of a speed camera ahead and remind drivers of the 20 mph speed limit. The corresponding sign reminding drivers of the 30 mph speed limit will no longer apply to Wales to reflect the reduction in the general speed limit for restricted roads.

Regulation 6 enables a new sign to be used to warn of or indicate the commencement of a new 20 mph speed limit. The corresponding sign indicating the commencement point of a new 30 mph speed limit will no longer apply to Wales to reflect the reduction in the general speed limit for restricted roads.

Regulation 9 prohibits the use of repeater signs on roads subject to a maximum speed limit of 20 mph and which have a system of carriageway lighting.

Regulation 10 restricts the use of the new sign introduced in regulation 6 warning of or indicating the commencement of a new 20 mph speed limit. The sign can only be used on a road with a recently imposed speed limit of 20 mph during the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the new 20 mph speed limit comes into force.

Regulation 11 is a transitional and savings provision which applies to the 2016 Instrument. Signs which were in place prior to the coming into force of this Instrument and which complied with the 2016 Instrument as in force before the amendments made by this Instrument are to be treated as continuing to comply with the 2016 Instrument. The transitional and savings provision will cease to have effect after 12 months, save for in relation to the road marking indicating the maximum speed limit which will cease to have effect after 5 years. The transitional and savings provision will not apply to the sign warning of a speed camera ahead on a lit road and reminding drivers of a 30 mph speed limit.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Instrument. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Instrument.