Policy instruments (3) - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 221

timing of signals at individual junctions in order to respond to approaching buses or
trams.
In addition to the control of traffic through enforceable regulations indicated by
static road signs, electronic 'variable message' information has been introduced to help
motorists respond appropriately to changing conditions. Advisory signs at the roadside
or on overhead gantries can give notice about the availability of parking spaces within
town centres for example or on major routes to give advance warning of adverse
weather or traffic conditions. Comparable information on recommended routeings
and traffic incidents is also now offered in-vehicle by commercial suppliers.
Variable message signs which are adjusted in response to prevailing traffic conditions
are also being used to introduce mandatory speed limits on congested motorways.
(These enable improved safety and throughput to be achieved by standardising vehicle
speeds at lower levels than would otherwise nominally apply.) As we shall see, having
broadly achieved all that can be done by 'fixed' management techniques, attention
is turning increasingly to the potential offered by 'active' traffic management. This
involves the monitoring of conditions in real time and the adaptation of management
strategies accordingly, particular so as to deal with roadworks, collisions and other
out-of-course events which can have a disproportionate impact on traffic conditions
across a wide area.
14.3 Traffic management: responsibilities and powers
Irrespective of any management measures introduced on individual roads it is the
responsibility of motorists to drive and park appropriately at all times having regard
to prevailing circumstances (e.g. weather, volume and speed of traffic). The Highway
Code, first published in 1931, is a compendium of good practice (including such
rudimentary advice as driving on the left!). Although failure to comply with the Code
is not an offence in itself, it may be quoted by police authorities in bringing charges, for
example of dangerous driving or of causing an obstruction.
Although it is for traffic authorities (broadly local highway authorities and the
Highways Agency) to propose and implement traffic regulations on the roads for which
they are responsible, it is the police who act as the enforcement agency. (There are
some exceptions to this in relation to on-street parking which we explain later.) The
role of police authorities (which are separate from local authorities and which report
directly to the Home Office) is critical in two major respects. First, during consultation
by traffic authorities the views of the police (e.g. concerning the practicability of
enforcement) will typically have over-riding importance in determining whether
an initiative goes ahead and, if so, in what form. Second, after implementation, its
actual enforcement will depend on the attitude and priorities of the local police force
(which may well differ from residents and councillors). Because of the vast number
of individual regulations now in being it is essential that measures are likely to be
respected by motorists so that they are, or can be made to be, effectively self-enforcing.
Formally, traffic authorities operate under the Road Traffic Regulation Act
1984 which places a duty on them to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe
movement of vehicular and other traffic and the provision of suitable and adequate
parking facilities both on and off the highway. Direction signs and certain rudimentary
regulations such as 'stop', 'give way' and yellow box junction marking can be introduced
in accordance with technical guidelines but more exceptional interventions can only
be made through the use of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) which impose controls