HCR Hewitsons

This Practice Note explains the general objectives of local traffic authorities contemplating making a traffic order, and the encouragement by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 of bus, taxi and bicycle priority on roads. It refers to Department for Transport definitions of a bus and the relevant parts of the carriageway, and case law on what constitutes a bus lane.

This Practice Note lists the changes to earlier road traffic orders that may be included in a consolidation or minor order, and explains the advantages of such an order, referring to the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996, SI 1996/2489. It also explains the purpose of an experimental traffic order (ETO) as being an experimental scheme of traffic control, and gives an overview of the publicity and objections regime that applies to such an order.

This Practice Note explains that enforcing road traffic regulation orders can be complex. It discusses a number of issues including where the identity of the driver is not known; the civil (rather than criminal) enforcement of most parking contraventions under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA 2004), and the imposition of penalty charges under regulations to TMA 2004.

This Practice Note identifies the statutory bodies that may provide off-street parking places as being county and district councils, the London borough councils, and parish and community councils, noting that commercial or not-for-profit organisations may also provide off-street parking places. It explains where these statutory bodies may provide and maintain off-street parking places, and the ways in which they may control and charge for off-street parking. It also provides an overview of how local authorities may control private sector off-street parking places.

This Practice Note lists the traffic authorities which may control road traffic on highways under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA 1984), and summarises the general duty of a traffic authority regarding road traffic. It explains the procedure for fulfilling this duty through the making of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) under RTRA 1984, including the circumstances in which the consent of the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers is needed before a Traffic Order can be made.