# Traffic Signs Manual/Chapter 3/2008/D

NORTHERN IRELAND VARIATIONS
The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 apply to England, Wales and Scotland, but in Northern Ireland the equivalent legislation is the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. In Northern Ireland, references to "Directions" are not applicable (see para 1.4); where these are referred to, advice should be sought from the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service Headquarters in Belfast.
BUSES
In Northern Ireland the term "local bus" is not defined in the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 and should therefore not be used. The term "buses" may be varied to "permitted buses".
CLEARWAY AND NO STOPPING SIGNS
In Northern Ireland, where diagram 1025 (NI Regulations only) is used to delineate the limits of a bus stop, an accompanying “no stopping” sign is not required. Further details can be found in Chapter 5, para 17.20.
ILLUMINATION
Different illumination requirements apply in Northern Ireland. Schedule 17 of the Northern Ireland Traffic Signs Regulations should be referred to.
TAXIS
In Northern Ireland the term “permitted taxi” is prescribed for use on traffic signs for bus lanes instead of the more general term "taxi". Advice on the meaning of “permitted taxi” can be obtained from the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service Headquarters in Belfast.
LEGISLATIVE VARIATIONS
The following table indicates differences in regulation numbers between the two sets of Regulations where these are relevant to this chapter of the Traffic Signs Manual. The notes below the table indicate other differences of legislation or practice between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
| Paragraph number in Chapter 3 | Subject of regulation referred to in paragraph | Regulation in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 | Regulation in the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 |
| 2.3 | Signs subject to s 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 | 10 | 8 |
| 2.6 | Reflectorisation of traffic signs | 19 | 17 |
| 3.2 | Signs subject to s 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 | 10 | 8 |
| 3.7 | Significance of a STOP sign | 16 | 14 |
| 3.12 | Significance of a GIVE WAY sign | 16 | 14 ​ |
| 4.55 | Flashing blue lamp with POLICE STOP sign | 54 | 43 |
| 5.13 | Meaning conveyed by a bus symbol | 24(1) | 22 |
| 5.13 | Definition of "local bus" | 4 | None |
| 5.20 | Definition of "articulated vehicle" | 4 | 2 |
| 7.13 | Style of lettering other than Transport alphabet | 13(7) | 11(4) |
| 9.18 | Signs subject to s 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 | 10(1) | 8(1) |
| 9.18 | Significance of a bus stop clearway marking | 29(1) | None |
| 11.8 | Definition of "variable message sign" | 58(1) | 48(1) |
| 12.1 | Definition of "controlled parking zone" | 4 | 2 |
| 13.7 | Definition of "controlled parking zone" | 4 | 2 |
| 14.2 | Definition of "speed limit" | 5 | 3 |
| 14.2 (ii) | Definition of "minimum speed limit" | 5(1) | 3(1) |
| 14.2 (ii) | Definition of "minimum speed limit" | 5(1) | 3(1) |
| 14.7 | Definitions for dual carriageway roads | 4 | 2 |
| 14.54 | Illumination of signs | 18 | 16 |
| 14.58 | Reflectorisation of signs | 19 | 17 |
| 15.11 | Definition of "local bus service" | 4 | None |
| 15.11 | Meaning conveyed by bus and local bus symbols | 24(1), 24(2) | 22 |
| 16.7 | Tramcars exempt from the sign to diagram 610 | 15(3) | 13(3) |
| 17.5 | Definition of a "cycle lane" | 4 | 2 |
| 17.12 | Definition of a "cycle lane" | 4 | 2 |
| 18.2 | Mounting height of a lane control signal | 44(2) | 34(2) |
| 18.2 | Variation of dimensions | 12(6) | 10(6) |
Paragraph 1.1 In Northern Ireland, there is no direct equivalent to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or the Traffic Management Act 2004.
Paragraph 2.1 In Northern Ireland, "section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991" should be replaced with “article 2(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997".
Paragraphs 2.3 and 3.2 In Northern Ireland, "section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988" should be replaced with "article 50 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995".
​Paragraphs 3.1, 14.47 and 16.1 In Northern Ireland, advice on the use of these signs with railways and tramways should be sought from the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service Headquarters in Belfast and from Northern Ireland Railways.
Paragraph 3.8 In Northern Ireland, "section 79 of the Highways Act 1980" should be replaced with "articles 49 and 50 of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993".
Paragraph 4.55 In Northern Ireland, "section 67 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984" should be replaced with "article 32 of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997". However, the seven day limit on the placing of the sign to diagram 633 does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Paragraph 5.13 In Northern Ireland, there is no equivalent to the Transport Act 1985.
Paragraph 5.28 In Northern Ireland, "Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982" should be replaced with "Motorway Traffic Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984".
Paragraph 6.21 In Northern Ireland, there is no equivalent to section 61 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Paragraph 9.22 In Northern Ireland, paragraph 17.20 of Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 5 should be consulted.
Paragraphs 14.1, 14.13, 14.17 and 14.28 In Northern Ireland, "section 85 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984" should be replaced with "articles 41 and 43 of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997".
Paragraph 14.2 In Northern Ireland, there is no equivalent to section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or Schedule 9 to the Act as amended by the Road Traffic Regulation Act (Amendment) Order 1999. In Northern Ireland, 20 mph speed limits are made under article 38 of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.
Paragraph 14.2(ii) In Northern Ireland, "sections 81 and 82 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984" should be replaced with "articles 36(1) and 37 of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997".
Paragraph 14.21 In Northern Ireland, "Section 82 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984" should be replaced with "Article 37 of the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997", and "Section 81" with "Article 36(1)".
Paragraph 14.30(a) In Northern Ireland, "section 90A of the Highways Act 1980 ("the 1980 Act")" should be replaced with "article 65 of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (“the 1993 Order")".
Paragraph 14.30(a) In Northern Ireland, "Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999" should be replaced with "Road Humps Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999".
Paragraph 14.30(b) In Northern Ireland, "Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1999" should be replaced with "Traffic Calming Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995".
Paragraph 14.30(b) In Northern Ireland, "section 90G of the 1980 Act" should be replaced with "article 65 of the 1993 Order".
Paragraph 14.30(c) In Northern Ireland, there is no direct equivalent to section 68 of the Highways Act 1980. However, for construction of new roads it may be interpreted as referring to article 3 of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 and on existing roads to article 43 of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993.
​Paragraph 14.30(d) In Northern Ireland, "section 75 of the 1980 Act" should be replaced with "article 43 of the 1993 Order".
Paragraph 14.50 In Northern Ireland, there is no direct equivalent to the Traffic Signs (Amendment) General Directions 2004.
Paragraph 18.1 In Northern Ireland, there is no direct equivalent to SI 2005 No. 1670, the Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations and General Directions 2005.
DIAGRAM NUMBER VARIATIONS
In the following table, page numbers refer to this edition of Chapter 3 of the Traffic Signs Manual. The position with equivalent diagram numbers may change over time, and designers in Northern Ireland should contact the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service Headquarters in Belfast to ascertain the current position.
| Page number | Description | Diagram number in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 | Diagram number in the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 |
| 19 | Route avoiding prohibited turn | 2123 and 2124 | None |
| 20 | Indication of restriction ahead | 818.2 | 669 |
| 21 | "Except local buses" plate | 954.2 | None |
| 22 | Circular exception plates | 954.5, 954.6, 954.7 | None |
| 30 | Lorry route advance direction sign | 2805 | None |
| 45 and 46 | No waiting, taxis excepted part of the time | 650.3 | None |
| 60 | Pay at machine | 661.2A | 661.2 |
| 60 | Pay here at machine | 661.3A | 661.3 |
| 62 | Combined waiting restriction / parking place sign | 639.1B | 639.1A |
| 62 | No waiting, taxis excepted part of the time | 650.3 | None |
| 78 | Parking place with emergency telephone | 2713.1 | None |
| 79 | No stopping on entrance markings | 642.2 | 642.2A |
| 121 | New 30 mph speed limit in force | 7032 | None |
| 126 | Speed camera and reminder of national limit | 880.1 | None |
| 155 | Number of national or regional cycle route | 2602.3 | None |
This work has been mirrored or sourced from material provided on the UK Government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual, which states material is available under the terms of the Open Government License unless indicated otherwise. (Crown copyright acknowledged.)
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This version was transcribed in May 2015, from a 2008 impression.
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