YOUR SIMPLE GUIDE TO THE NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR ROAD WORKS

This article outlines the new UK safety requirements for road works, to protect both road users and workers from danger. The requirements are outlined in "Safer Road Works Ahead", and detailed in Chapter 8 of the "Traffic Signs Manual", which is advisory in Great Britain, but law in Northern Ireland. Equipment for correct signing of road works can cost up to 3000 pounds, and temporary traffic lights must be strictly specified, with one set costing over 5000 pounds. Signing enables people, moving along the road or footway in either direction, to understand what is happening and what they should do. Like all aspects of road work, it must be planned well in advance. Signs should be placed far enough away to give early warning of the works, and they should be kept clean and regularly checked. All people on the site must wear highly visible jackets. An important change is the introduction of a safety zone to protect road users from the works and workers from traffic. It must be kept clear, and entry to it is very restricted. It includes a lead-in taper, and both longways and sideways clearances, whose dimensions are regulated but depend on speed limits and traffic types. Pedestrians should be protected from traffic and excavations by special barriers. Portable lights must have detectors and meet legal requirements.

• Corporate Authors:

  PLANT AND CIVIL ENGINEER

  69 GLEN ROAD, COMBER
  NEWTOWNARDS, CO  United Kingdom  BT23 5QS
• Publication Date: 1993-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 47-8
• Serial:
  • PLANT AND CIVIL ENGINEER
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: PLANT AND CIVIL ENGINEER

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Construction sites; Highways; Legislation; Maintenance; Safety; Traffic control; Traffic signals; Traffic signs
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 3628: Construction site; 2755: Highway; 1556: Legislation; 3847: Maintenance; 1665: Safety; 654: Traffic control; 553: Traffic sign; 565: Traffic signal; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Law; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00662412
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 28 1994 12:00AM