- Public transport operators may be affected by the proposals and should be informed, together with the public transport co-ordinator of the local council, of any temporary traffic management schemes on public transport routes. It should be remembered that alterations to routes and stopping arrangements for local bus services can be a particular problem for people with mobility impairments in accessing public transport.
- Where appropriate, there should be liaison with the police and other emergency services and also with any adjacent local highway authorities or transport operators who have significant fleet operations in or through the works affected area.
The requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (not applicable in Scotland) and the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 must also be taken into account.
D2.1.6 The live carriageway of any road is a dangerous working environment in which to work. In particular, during the periods when traffic management arrangements are being set up, changed, maintained or removed, operatives may need to work on the live carriageway without the protection afforded by the fully installed layouts. It is therefore essential that temporary traffic management operations are designed, planned and implemented in accordance with a safe system of work.
D2.1.7 On motorways and dual carriageway roads subject to the national speed limit, individuals shall not make their own way into and out of the site across live traffic lanes.
D2.1.8 Obstruction of part of a road may require drivers of vehicles to carry out unusual manoeuvres, so drivers must be given a clear indication of the path they should take. Temporary delineation in the form of traffic cones, cylinders and barriers etc. should be used for this purpose, augmented where practicable by temporary carriageway markings or temporary reflecting road studs to indicate the edge of the route to be followed. Existing road markings may need to be removed or masked, unless traffic is to be confined to a single lane delineated by cones on each side.
D2.1.9 The detailed principles for guiding and controlling traffic past the more usual types of road works in safety are set out in this document. These should be followed as far as they are applicable to any particular site. The application of these principles and the signs and other equipment used to implement them are set out in plans within the document for typical types of road and types of work.
D2.1.10 The plans illustrate the minimum signing requirements in each case. The individual features of each site’s layout and location must be carefully considered and additional signs should always be used if there is any doubt about the safety of any particular site. Examples of the situations where particular consideration will be needed are works situated close to schools, workshops for the visually impaired, old people’s homes, works’ entrances and junctions. Additional signs may also be required where sight lines are restricted by sharp bends, humps or steep gradients. However, too many signs can also be a problem for drivers due to sign overload and distraction, so care should be taken to add only signs that are considered necessary.
D2.1.11 In the interests of road safety and driver comprehension of traffic management schemes at major road works, it is essential that all schemes should adhere as closely as possible to the principles illustrated in the plans provided in this document. If this is achieved, drivers will always encounter the same signing and layout in similar situations. Local variations make it more difficult for drivers from another area to understand what is required of them and hence lead to possible confusion, hesitation and the risk of accidents. Where there is no plan available to suit a particular situation, as many of the standard features as possible should be incorporated into the proposed layout; any special signs should follow the principles established in the existing prescribed and authorised signs for road works. All unique or special layouts for trunk roads require authorisation by the appropriate Department.
D2.1.12 There will be some short-duration works which may be carried out either as static traffic management or by mobile traffic management techniques (Mobile Lane Closure or single vehicle works).
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