S.I. No. 205/1991 - Road Traffic (Signs) (Amendment) Regulations, 1991.


S.I. No. 205 of 1991.

ROAD TRAFFIC (SIGNS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1991.

The Minister for the Environment, in exercise of the powers vested in him by section 5 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (No. 24 of 1961) and section 95 of the said Act as amended by section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 (No. 25 of 1968) hereby makes the following Regulations.

1. (i) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Signs) (Amendment) Regulations, 1991.

2. (ii) These Regulations and the Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations 1962 to 1988 shall be construed together as one and may be collectively cited as the Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations, 1962 to 1991.

2. In these Regulations:—

"The Principal Regulations" means the Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations 1962 ( S.I. No. 171 of 1962 ).

3. Article 12 of the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution of the following sub-paragraph for sub-paragraph (o) [inserted by article 2 of the Road Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations 1985 ( S.I. No. 182 of 1985 )]:—

"(O) continuous yellow lines approximately 300 millimetres wide enclosing an area of roadway cross-hatched in diagonal yellow lines approximately 200 millimetres wide and approximately 1.4 metres apart — to indicate a junction or a railway level crossing whether controlled by traffic lights or not and (notwithstanding any indication to the contrary that may be given by traffic lights) that a vehicle, other than a vehicle intending to make a right hand turn at a junction, shall not enter, either partly or wholly, the crossed hatched area unless the vehicle can clear the area without stopping."

4. Article 13 of the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution of the following sub-paragraph for sub-paragraph (1) (a) (iv)

"each lamp shall be separately illuminated and the effective diameter of the lens thereof shall be either between 200 millimetres and 215 millimetres or between 300 millimetres and 315 millimetres."

5. The following article shall be inserted after article 13 of the Principal Regulations:—

Railway Level Crossings.

"13A.(1) The following type of mechanical signals may be used to control traffic and pedestrians at railway level crossings. way level crossings.

( a ) a set of three lamps, two of which shall be red and one amber, facing the stream of traffic they are intended to control which shall comply with the following conditions:—

(i) each of the lamps shall illuminate separately and have a diameter of between 200 millimetres and 215 millimetres or 300 millimetres and 315 millimetres.

(ii) the lamp showing amber light shall be centrally positioned and when lit shall remain constant,

(iii) the lamps showing red lights shall be positioned above and to the side of the amber, and when lit will flash alternately in such a way that one lamp is always showing when the lamps are in operation and

( b ) an electric bell or other audible warning device shall be mounted to the rear of the lamps.

( c ) the dimensions design and positioning of the signals shall be as set out in Part XI of the First Schedule hereto.

(2) The alternately flashing red lamps shall signify that the stream of traffic controlled by such signal must not proceed beyond the stop line on the roadway at the signal or beyond the signal if there is no stop line.

(3) The illumination of the amber light and the sounding of the electric bell or other audible warning device shall signify that only that portion of the stream of traffic controlled by such signal that is too close to the stop line on the roadway at such signal (or to the signal if there is no stop line) when the amber light illuminates and the electric bell or audible warning device sounds that it cannot safely stop before entering the railway level crossing may proceed past such signal.

(4) The provision of sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of this article shall also apply to pedestrians.

(5) The signals provided in accordance with this article may be accompanied by a rectangular or square plate or plates on which there may be shown in black lettering on a white background details of special precautions to be taken by certain classes of road users prior to entering the crossing."

6. The First Schedule to the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the addition thereto of the following—

"Part XI—- Mechanical signals to be provided at railway level crossings.

1. (a) Set of lamps to be provided at the approaches to a railway level crossing.

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GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for the Environment this 29th

day of July, 1991.

PADRAIG FLYNN,

Minister for the Environment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations provide for the use of the "Yellow Box" junction markings at railway level crossings and for the use at such crossings of mechanical light signals incorporating a system of flashing lights and an audible warning device. Alternative metric dimensions for the lens on all traffic lights have also been prescribed.