Traffic and parking

Order, procedure and notices

Under section 121A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA 1984) the traffic authorities that may control road traffic on highways are the Department of Transport (DfT), the Welsh ministers, the Mayor of London, the London borough councils, county councils, metropolitan district councils and National Park Authorities.

Traffic authorities have a general duty to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic (including pedestrians) and the provision of suitable and adequate parking facilities on and off the highway. This duty is primarily fulfilled by making traffic orders under RTRA 1984, s 124.

In general, the procedures for making traffic orders are set out in a number of statutory instruments. In some circumstances, the consent of the DfT or Welsh ministers is needed before a traffic order can be made. See Practice Note: Road traffic—traffic regulation order procedure and notices.

For information on the different forms of road traffic order available to a traffic authority, see Practice Note: Consolidation, experimental, phased and minor traffic regulation orders.

Enforcing road traffic regulation orders is more complex