10 Common TM Mistakes
This 10 point guide has been put together from my experience of working in the TM industry and is intended to help event managers with limited knowledge on the regulations. All the information here is collated from the regulatory documents you can find on our site.
Many event organisers may not be aware of these requirements or have the correct provisions for incident management. If this situation, of a TM firm leaving site once set up, sounds familiar get in touch and see how we can help.
1. Maintenance
Depending on the size of your site and the roads it is located on this will determine the qualification required. Lantra and Streetworks are the most commonly recognised qualifications in the industry, with Lantra being much more detailed. All sites must have a qualified supervisor within traveling distance of the site to deal with any issues that an operative is not trained to.
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Did you know an active site on urban and rural roads (single carriageway roads, and dual carriageways up to 40mph) must be visually inspected "After installation, at the start, end and at regular intervals of each day the site is in use (on days where the site is not in use at least once every 24 hours)"
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A record of the maintenance carried out, and any issues found should be kept for a minimum of six months, in cases where narrow lanes, speed reductions, or temporary road markings are used this is mandatory.
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In the event of an accident on a site, you control, failure to have an appropriately qualified person appointed to maintain your site (or a maintenance record) would be seen as a failure to comply with the law.
2. No waiting cones
The Traffic Sign Regulation and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) referred to as the @"traffic sign bible" contains every sign permitted to be used on the UK's roads (TSR NI for Northern Ireland) and it states that a sign must be displayed on a flat surface and not on a curved one.
The no waiting symbol shown left is TSRGD REF:636 and this means that when displayed on a UK road it must be on a flat surface. This ultimately makes the use of the round "no waiting cone*" shown below illegal on UK roads, and doing so could leave you liable in the event of an accident. There is a fine of up to 1000.00 GBP per item of incorrect equipment on your site if a council or HSE inspector visits - |Imagine having 50 of the wrong cone...
For a road approved no waiting bollard* you will need a triangular one like above, and for it to be enforceable at night-time the roundel must be reflective. Unfortunately, the middle photo can't be used at all on UK roads, as you can see the bottom of the roundel reads "no waiting" & this is not TSRGD approved.
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Round "no waiting cones*" are cheaper than road-approved ones and are therefore a good alternative on private roads and within the event site to minimise cost.
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*These aren't actually a "cone". Although its shape is still conical, in the TM industry a cone refers specifically one with a white reflective band, without a reflective band it is not a cone but a bollard.
3. Road Works Ahead (Approach Signing)
Most events have traffic management arranged by inexperienced staff who due to minimal training are not aware of the regulations and this poses a risk. There is a notable lack of approach signing or incorrect signing on approach to festival sites.
Road Works ahead (TSRGD: 7001) MUST be displayed on every approach to a worksite, this includes road closures. The distance from the start of works differs depending on the road for example on a 30mph single carriageway it should be 20-45m from the first cone of the works, whereas on a 60mph single carriageway it must be 275-450m away, minimum visibility of the sign also increases from 60m to 75m.
This is one of the most commonly forgotten signs on event setups. It is classed as an 'insurance# sign' - this should be the first sign placed out and the last one removed. Is this sign visible on every approach to your event site?
4. Workforce in road
Traffic must never be directed by hand, in fact, doing so without the correct delegated power is illegal - even qualified TM operatives cannot direct traffic by hand on a public road.
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Only a police officer can direct traffic with hand signals or delegate the power to another individual. Bankspeople (commonly used to help large vehicles reverse) and Marshalls can be used to direct traffic on private land, however, this is not recommended due to increased risk to the staff.
With the use of correct signing (utilising appropriate text sizes, colours, reflectivity, and placing), such as that on the right there should never be a need for staff to be placed directing traffic on a live road. These signs can be designed in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Traffic sign manual and meet the legal requirements of TSRGD Schedule 13 Part 9, making them legal for use on UK roads.
The sign shown left (TSRGD: 7001.3) "Workforce in road" must only be used when TM operatives are in the live lines such as when crossing a dual carriageway to erect offside signs. The sign must be removed once operatives are no longer in the carriageway. Using this sign to allow a marshall to stand in the street and direct or speak to passing event attendees is not permitted.
5. Road closure points
The point at which a road is closed to traffic is designated by the TTRO (Temporary Traffic Regulatory Order.) Chapter 8 & Safety at Streetworks (the TM Bible) states that a closure point must be denoted by the use of the following, all used in conjunction with each other.
1. ROAD CLOSED
sign (TSRGD:7010.1 )
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2. Cones
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3. Traffic barrier
(TSRGD:7105)
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4. Lamps
(Night time closures)
A correct closure point will look something like the above. In some instances where works vehicular access is required it may be necessary to provide two staggered blockades such as shown in the birds-eye plan. Failure to correctly sign a closure point is considered a failure to comply with the law and could leave you liable should an incursion into your site occur. Do your closure points meet these standards? Did you know that where vehicles travel through a site they must be fully signed, lit, and guarded as if it were open to the public.
ROAD AHEAD CLOSED (TSRGD: 7010.1) should be used to indicate the last junction on a road before the closure point and that there is no suitable place to turn off the road before the closure [(fig.1).
Where a road is closed at a junction and the diversion route takes the side street the road ahead closed is placed within the standard advance warning (fig.2).
Where a side road is closed the sign you use will differ depending on the traffic authority, there is no official sign for this, however, a few variations shown below are permitted under Schedule 13 Part 9 (see point 6 below). Alternatively, a TTRO could be obtained as part of the closure banning left or right turns. This can then be signed with the appropriate 'no left/right turn', this is also the preferred method if a main road is closed to the left or right from a minor road at a T junction (fig.2)
Fig.1
Fig.2
6. Diverted traffic signing
You will be familiar with the sign shown on the right, it is placed on roads across the UK but have you seen the flag variant below? The answer might be no, this is because the sign is rarely used even though it should be used at most places you see the sign on the right.
'Advance direction map signs' such as the standard Diverted Traffic sign with a directional arrow (above) should be placed in advance of the junction, the distance from the turn depends on the type of road. A flag type or 'chevron' sign must be placed at the point of turn, usually on the opposite side of the carriageway.
The only exception to this rule is on a 20mph single carriageway, on this type of road advance warning signs are not required and solely a flag type sign may be used when placed at the point of turn.
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​When designing a TTM set up it must be 'like for like'. This means where signs or instructions are removed or altered the accompanying signs must be removed or masked where appropriate, and additional signage placed out. This is why we use advance and flag type signs, next time you are driving lookout for the advance sign for a turning and the destination, there should also be a flag type sign at the junction.
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Drivers may not be used to taking different routes this is why it is paramount to ensure diversions are correctly signed. Signs should be placed in advance of all junctions even where traffic proceeds straight ahead, this is because a diversion must use the same classification of the road as the one which is closed. Occasionally this means there are shorter routes that can be taken off the diversion, but, these may not be suitable for all types of vehicles using the diversion. It is not generally accepted to create separate diversions for differing classes of vehicle as this adds to driver confusion.
A diversion board (TSRGD:_2702) is used to indicate the start of a diversion or to indicate there is one ahead, it is NOT acceptable to use these in lieu of diverted traffic signing. The sign must be used in conjunction with TSRGD: 7010.1 (Road Ahead Closed / Road Closed)
7. Non-prescribed signs
The "Traffic Sign General Regulations & Directions 2016" has every sign permitted for use on the UK roads contained in it, it is classed as one of the TM bibles. Along with Chapter 7 of the Traffic sign Manual, these make the basis for designing signs. Any sign not covered in these books must have special authorisation from the Department for Transport.
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TSGRD Schedule 13, Part 9 gives provisions for
unprescribed temporary signs, you can read it here.
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Traffic Advisory Leaflet 01/14 & 04/11 cover Temporary red on white signs at works & temporary signs for events, however, these have been superseded by TSRGD 13 part 9. The information is useful as it is lay out in an easy-to-understand way. Some of it has been updated in TSGRD 2016, and so both should be used in conjunction, where a conflict appears TSGRD takes precedent.
8. Sign Placement, Seccuring & Lamps
When placed on a Footway an absolute minimum of 1 meter must be maintained for pedestrian access. This ensures room for wheelchair and pram users. Where possible a preferred minimum width of 1.5 meters should be maintained. All signs must be a minimum of 300mm above ground level. This ensures visibility to drivers.
When placed near the edge of the vehicle carriageway a minimum of 450mm must be kept between the sign and edge of the road. This stops damage caused by wing mirrors (the average HGV mirror sticks out 300mm). Where 450mm distance cannot be maintained a cone is placed next to the sign to stop damage by passing vehicles (the base of a 750mm cone is around 450mm).
Where a 1-meter width cannot be maintained on the footway with the sign on it, the sign will be placed fully in the roadway and protected by a traffic cone.
Signs must be appropriately secured to ensure they stay in place and upright through the expected wind speeds. We classify wind speeds in three classes of maximum gusts (C:19mph, B:39mph, A:58mph). Manufacturers test their sign frames and publish data on the required weight for each wind class, and this also changes based on the surface area of the sign on the frame.
Effectively the bigger the sign the bigger the wind resistance and the more likely it is to fall the more weight is required to keep it upright. Sandbags are used to weigh down signs on the road, the regulations say that a bag of a fine granular material should be used. Concrete or plastic blocks/weights should not be used unless sold by the manufacturer as designed to attach to the sign frame.
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Sandbags must be placed low down on the frame, and most frames come with sandbag bars for this, the weight must be located at the bottom of the frame for safety. The sign, although required to stay upright in normal circumstances must also have the ability to collapse when struck by a vehicle without causing danger to the vehicle or occupants.
Having the sandbag high on the frame such as in the photo below causes the risk of flying sandbags in a collision which would pose a serious risk to the occupants of the vehicle or those in the surrounding area .
Incorrect Sandbag placement (Too high)
Actual Sandbag bar
(Correct placemet)
Cone Lamps are required based on this table from Safety at Streetworks. These have an amber 200mm lens. Red lenses are used primarily on high-speed road closures while Magenta lenses indicate a works traffic entrance.
White sign lamps are used on night-time works on unlit roads. They are used to highlight important signs such as speed limits, Wait HERE boards and Stop / Go or Stop WORKS lollipop signs. High-intensity lamps are used to highlight important signs such as Workforce in Road, Wait HERE boards (amber lamps in the same way as white sign lamps) and, road closure points (Red).
9. Sign sizes & Quality
The size of your sign will depend on the speed and type of road. The height of text on a sign is defined as its x-height (the height of a lowercase x), Chapter 8 lists signs used for roadworks and the appropriate x-heights.
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Most road signs which are available to buy off-the-shelf have an x-height of 75mm or 100mm making them suitable for use on single and dual carriageways up to 40/60mph respectively. Roads with a higher speed require larger signs which are not as easy to find, this is not an acceptable excuse and does not make their use legal.
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Standard 750mm Regulatory signs are suitable for use on single and dual carriageways up to 40mph. Chapter 8 recommends 900mm sign faces for 50/60mph single carriageways however as stated in "Safety at Streetworks" 750mm is the absolute minimum that can be used on this type of road.
All equipment used on UK roads must meet strict requirements and one of these is quality. The only brand new equipment will be in the "acceptable" range, scratches from being used on the road are inevitable and this is why most signs used are within the "marginal" range. The below images are taken from Chapter 8.
10. Pedestrian Crossing facilities
Standalone temporary Pedestrian Crossing facilities are most commonly found at events, when set up in this manner 2 light heads must be used per approach. The minimum width of the crossing should be 2.4m - this should be increased with high pedestrian flow or when cycles are using the crossing. All Temporary traffic lights placed on the highway require permission from the local authority.
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The vehicle lights can be no more than 10m away from the crossing point and in cases where the light head is further away an additional one must be installed at the crossing point. When installed at a curb ramps must be provided for wheelchair and pram users, these must be appropriately signed and guarded against passing vehicles, this makes installation on a narrow road difficult without reducing to single file traffic.
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Pedestrian crossing buttons should be placed facing oncoming traffic so pedestrians are looking at oncoming traffic before they cross. When used on an unlit road temporary lighting should be provided to give a good even coverage, care should be taken to reduce glare which may distract drivers and obscure their view of pedestrians.
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A new WAIT HERE board has been designed specifically for use on temporary pedestrian crossings. Use of any other WAIT HERE board is no longer acceptable.
The Pink Book which includes TAL 2/11 & 3/11 (Signal controlled pedestrian facilities) gives more detailed information on this