# Traffic Signs Manual/Chapter 3/2008/6

GENERAL
6.1 Management of road space, in respect of stationary vehicles, comprises either negative or permissive controls both of which can apply to the carriageway, footway and verge. Negative controls prohibit waiting and loading, and generally use yellow signs and markings (but see para 6.3). Permissive controls provide on-street parking places and loading bays, and use white signs and markings. This section deals with signs for negative controls. Signs for permissive controls, including those combined with waiting and loading prohibitions, are covered in section 7. Section 9 covers the more restrictive "no stopping" orders, except red routes which can be found in section 10. For zonal controls see section 11 (Pedestrian Zones), section 12 (Controlled Parking Zones) and section 13 (Restricted Zones).
6.2 Waiting and loading prohibitions on the side of a road generally apply from the carriageway centre line to the highway boundary. The prohibition therefore applies to any verge, footway or cycle track as well as to the carriageway.
6.3 Standard exemptions to a waiting prohibition are not shown on the signs. These exemptions include stopping to pick up or set down passengers, and causing a vehicle to be stationary for the purposes of loading or unloading goods from that vehicle. Loading generally refers to commercial loading or to objects that are too heavy or bulky to be carried very far by hand, but does not include time for purchasing the goods. Where loading is not permitted, additional signs are provided. These have a white background, to contrast with the yellow "no waiting" signs. Disabled badge holders are permitted to park for up to three hours where there is a waiting, but not a loading prohibition. Where a length of road is not suitable for parking by disabled badge holders, a prohibition of loading should be considered. However, if a loading provision is necessary, a loading bay should be provided as this cannot be used by disabled badge holders (see paras 7.27 to 7.29). A prohibition of loading still permits drivers to pick up and set down passengers.
6.4 Road markings comprise continuous yellow lines for waiting prohibitions and yellow kerb marks for a loading prohibition. Further details are given in Chapter 5, section 20 (see para 20.3 in Chapter 5 in respect of the use of transverse marks on yellow lines). The tables below the signs illustrated in this section indicate the appropriate road markings, if any, that are to be used in conjunction with the upright signs.
6.5 For sign design, size and siting see paras 6.31 to 6.37. Details of the correct design for most permitted variants are shown on the working drawings (see para 1.9). Reference should always be made to these.
PROHIBITION OF WAITING AT ANY TIME
6.6 As the double yellow line to diagram 1018.1 means no waiting at any time for a period not less than four consecutive months, signs are no longer prescribed for a prohibition of waiting that is in force for 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This restriction is now imposed solely by the road markings. Where signs to the former diagram 637 (no waiting at any time) prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 are still in place there is currently no time limit for their removal. However, they cannot be replaced if they become worn, damaged or go missing. There are other signs which may be varied to indicate no waiting at any time, but only in the circumstances described below (see also table 6-1). Where there is also a loading prohibition, the sign to diagram 638 is used for a 24-hour prohibition and the sign to diagram 638.1 for a prohibition that applies for only part of the day. These signs must be accompanied by the kerb marks to diagram 1020.1 or 1019 as indicated in table 6-2.
6.7 The sign to diagram 637.3 is used where a prohibition of waiting at any time applies for a period less than 12 months of the year, but for at least four consecutive months. Such a prohibition is likely to be imposed where there is seasonal traffic, for example at a holiday resort. The sign is used with the double yellow line to diagram 1018.1. The Regulations do not allow the date to be omitted in order to replicate the sign to diagram 637 described in para 6.6, nor should the date be varied to a twelve month period. If there is also a loading prohibition, the sign to diagram 640 is used, with the upper panel varied to diagram 637.3. If the loading prohibition applies for 24 hours each day and for a period of at least four consecutive months, the double kerb marks to diagram 1020.1 are used, otherwise the single kerb mark to diagram 1019 should be used.
638 Continuous prohibition of loading and unloading
| Permitted variants | An arrow may be added pointing to the left or to the right. |
| Roadmarkings | 1020.1 |
637.3 Continuous prohibition of waiting for at least four consecutive months
| Permitted variants | The arrow may be reversed or omitted. The time periods may be varied and dates may be added. |
| Road markings | 1020.1 when indicating a period of at least four consecutive months. 1019 for any other period. (See table 6-2) |
638.1 Prohibition of loading and unloading during the periods shown
| Permitted variants | An arrow may be added pointing to the left or to the right. "1 May—30 Sept" may be varied to any period of not less than four consecutive months. |
| Road markings | 1018.1 |
Table 6-1 Examples of the use of "no waiting at any time" plates :
| Waiting restriction | Sign diagram no. | Road marking diagram no. |
| At any time | None used | 1018.1 |
| At any time 1 May 3O Sept | 637.3 | 1018.1 |
| At any time 1 Jul—31 Aug | 639 | 1017 |
| At any time Mon-sat | 639 | 1017 |
Table 6-2 Examples of the use of road markings with loading restriction plates :
| Loading restriction | Sign diagram no. | Road marking diagram no. |
| At any time | 638 | 1020.1 |
| At any time 1 May-3O Sept | 638.1 | 1020.1 |
| At any time 1 Jul-31Aug | 638.1 | 1019 |
| At any time Mon-sat | 638.1 | 1019 |
| Any period less than 24hr | 638.1 | 1019 |
​PROHIBITION OF WAITING FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS
639 Prohibition of waiting during the period
| Permitted variants | The arrow may be reversed or omitted. The time periods may be varied and dates may be added. |
| Road markings | 1017 |
PROHIBITION OF WAITING ON VERGE OR FOOTWAY
640 Prohibition of waiting and of loading and unloading during the periods indicated
| Permitted variants | One or both of the arrows may be reversed or omitted. The time periods may be varied and dates added. The upper panel may be varied to indicated diagram 637.3 or 650.3. The lower panel may be varied to diagram 638 (see figure 6-3). |
| Road Markings | As for diagrams 637.3, 639 and 638.1. Additionally 1028.2 when upper panel is varied to diagram 650.3 (see para 6.14). |
637.1 Continuous prohibition of waiting on verge or footway
| Permitted variants | An arrow may be added pointing to variants the left or to the right. The sign shown in diagram 642 may be substituted for the symbol. The words "verge or" or "or footway" may be omitted. |
| Road markings | None |
NO WAITING EXCEPT TAXIS, AMBULANCES OR POLICE VEHICLES
650.2 Prohibition of waiting by vehicles other than taxis during the period indicated
| Permitted variants | An arrow may be added pointing to the left or to the right. The time period may be varied or omitted; a date may be added. "taxis" may be varied to "ambulances" or "police vehicles". |
| Road markings | 1028.2 |
650.3 Continuous prohibition of waiting by vehicles with an exemption for taxis during the period indicated
| Permitted variants | An arrow may be added pointing to the left or to the right. "At any time" and the time period may be varied, and a date may be added. "taxis" may be varied to "ambulances" or "police vehicles". |
| Road markings | 1028.2 and either 1017 or 1018.1 |
6.12 At a taxi rank, other vehicles may be prohibited from either waiting or stopping (see paras 9.25 to 9.32 for "no stopping" signs). Two "no waiting" signs are prescribed. The sign to diagram 650.2 is used where the prohibition of waiting and the operation of the taxi rank apply during the same time period. The sign to diagram 650.3 is used where the exception for taxis applies only for part of the period that waiting is prohibited. Where the periods of operation for the taxi rank and the prohibition of waiting are not continuous, separate signs to diagrams 639 and 650.2 should be used; for example, where the taxi rank operates overnight from 11pm to 5am and the waiting prohibition applies from 8am to 6pm.
6.13 The sign to diagram 650.2 does not prohibit loading. Where it is required to prohibit loading, a "no stopping" taxi rank should be provided, with a sign to diagram 650.1 (see paras 9.25 to 9.32). As the sign to diagram 650.3 indicates a waiting prohibition that extends beyond the operational period of the taxi rank, it may be used as the upper panel to the sign to diagram 640 when a loading prohibition also applies.
Figure 6-2 Variant of diagram 639.13 indicating a loading bay that is used as an overnight taxi rank (see table 7-4 for road markings)
857.1 Information relating to a taxi rank
The number of taxis indicated may be varied. Information relating to taxi services may be shown in the white space in any colour of lettering not exceeding 25mm in height. The white space may be omitted (see working drawing P 857. 7)
6.16 The informatory sign to diagram 857.1 may be used to display fare tables and any additional information such as the number of taxis allowed to wait in the stand and the conditions of hire. As the sign is mainly for the information of customers, it should normally face onto the footway. Other mounting positions may be adopted, e.g. it may face the carriageway if the information relates to the way in which taxis may use the stand.
PROHIBITION OF WAITING BY GOODS VEHICLES AND BUSES
640.2A Prohibition of waiting by goods vehicles
| Permitted variants | The arrow may be reversed or omitted. The time periods may be varied and dates may be added. "5T" may be varied to "7.5T". The bus symbol shown in diagram 952 may be added below or substituted for the lorry symbol. The lorry and bus symbols shall face right when the arrow points to the right and the relative position of these symbols and the "no waiting" symbol shall be reversed (see working drawing P 640.2A). |
| Road markings | None |
6.18 The sign to diagram 640.2A gives effect to an order prohibiting waiting (but not loading) by any goods vehicle with a maximum gross weight of either 5 tonnes or 7.5 tonnes as indicated on the sign. The order may also refer to buses, either in addition to, or in place of goods vehicles. The bus ​symbol from diagram 952 must then either be added to, or substituted for the lorry symbol. Restrictions are normally applied overnight and at weekends as an environmental measure.
6.19 The sign is used either as a repeater sign within a controlled parking zone that applies only to commercial vehicles (see paras 12.15 to 12.18) or as the only sign on roads not forming part of a zone. In both cases, road markings are not used and enforcement depends on the upright signs only. At the start or end of any restriction that is not within a zone, the sign should include an arrow indicating the length of road to which the restriction applies. On other signs the arrow is omitted. In a zone, the Regulations require that at least one sign is provided on each side of every road. For roads not within a zone, additional signs might be required as there is no zone entry sign. In this case, the aim should be to provide signs at approximately 60m intervals on each side of the road.
6.20 Care must be taken to ensure that drivers do not associate the sign to diagram 640.2A with any yellow lines that relate to other waiting restrictions that might be imposed, particularly as these are likely to apply at different times. It is therefore recommended that the sign be co—located with the sign to diagram 639 or 640 as appropriate.
PROHIBITION OF WAITING IN OFF-HIGHWAY LOADING AREAS
640.3 Entrance to a designated off—highway loading area in which waiting restrictions apply
| Permitted variants | The time period may be varied and a date may be added. |
| Road markings | None |
640.4 Waiting prohibited in a designated off—highway loading area except by permitted vehicles
| Permitted variants | The time period may be varied and a date may be added. |
| Road markings | None |
640.5 End of a designated off—highway loading area in which waiting restrictions apply
| Permitted variants | None |
| Road markings | None |
6.21 The signs to diagrams 640.3, 640.4 and 640.5 are used to give effect to an order made under section 61 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to control parking in off—highway goods vehicle loading areas.
6.22 As such areas are off—highway, the consent of the owners and occupiers of the loading area must be obtained before commencing the order—making procedure. It is also likely that the order will need to be enforced by the local authority and not the police.
6.23 The restriction is signed by upright signs alone and it is therefore preferable that orders are applied only to areas which have clearly defined boundaries.
6.24 The sign to diagram 640.3 should be erected at each entrance to an area to which an order applies and repeater signs to diagram 640.4 used in ​larger areas as necessary. A sign to diagram 640.5 should be erected at each exit from the area, but if the area is small with a combined entrance and exit directly onto a public highway, this sign may be omitted.
TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF WAITING AND LOADING
636 Temporary prohibition of waiting
| Permitted variants | An arrow may be added pointing to the left or to the right. The name of the police force or traffic authority, or the word "Police" or "POLICE" may be added above or below the roundel. |
| Road markings | None |
636.1 Temporary prohibition of loading and unloading
| Permitted variants | The Legend may be on one-line. |
| Road markings | None |
6.26 A temporary prohibition of waiting is indicated by signs to diagram 636. The sign may only be placed by a traffic authority if a temporary traffic regulation order has been made, or for up to seven days by the police in an emergency. The prohibition may temporarily revoke an existing order or impose an order where no order was previously in force.
6.27 The name of the traffic authority or police force responsible for the sign, or the word "Police" or "POLICE" may be added above or below the roundel. As the prohibition applies at all times that the sign is displayed, there is no permitted variant to allow the addition of a time period or the days of the week. An arrow may be added to indicate the start of the prohibition. This should be placed below the roundel. The yellow background does not have a prescribed shape as this depends on the method of mounting (see working drawing P 636). The yellow background does not have a border. The sign is prescribed in two sizes; 275 mm diameter for use on portable stands or trestles, and 200mm, which is the maximum that will fit on a three—sided "cone". The sign must not be mounted on a curved surface.
6.28 The sign to diagram 636.1 is used to indicate a temporary prohibition of loading. Where there is a permanent 24-hour prohibition of waiting indicated by double yellow lines, the sign is used on its own. Otherwise there is likely to be a temporary prohibition of waiting and the "No loading" sign would be combined with the temporary "no waiting" sign as shown on working drawings P 636 and P 636.1 (see para 1.9).
6.29 Yellow road markings are not used with these signs, although any existing markings (and signs) will of course be left in situ. However, if the temporary prohibition is likely to last for several months, consideration should be given to providing more permanent signs, together with appropriate road markings, in accordance with para 6.6. If the temporary prohibition applies for part of the day only (e.g. when works are in progress), signs and markings should be provided in accordance with para 6.9. Where it is not possible to provide road markings (e.g. because works are taking place on the carriageway), the temporary 24-hour prohibition signs to diagrams 636 and 636.1 should be used.
640.1 Temporary suspension of parking (Indication on parking meter cover)
| Permitted variants | "during meter control" may be added. "No loading" may be omitted. |
| Road markings | None |
SIGN DESIGN, SIZE AND SITING
6.31 The detailed design of signs for waiting and loading restrictions is set out on the appropriate working drawings and in section 12 of Chapter 7. Where more than one sign is provided at the same location, they should not be merged into a single multi—panel sign unless this is prescribed by the Regulations, e.g. diagram 640. Where new traffic regulation orders are to be introduced, restrictions should be kept as simple as possible to avoid complex traffic signs that might be difficult for drivers to understand. For example, a prohibition that applies overnight every day of the week is simply signed as 10pm—6am. If the prohibition did not apply on Sunday night and Monday morning, the signing would be more complex and potentially confusing; e.g. Monday 10pm—Midnight; Tues—Sat Midnight-6am, 10pm — Midnight; Sunday Midnight—6am.
6.32 A restriction always applies at all times unless qualified by an indication that it applies only at specific dates or times. It will lead to confusion, and undermine understanding of restrictions signed according to this convention, if expressions like "Mon—Sun" are used. Similarly, restrictions apply on public holidays unless signs specifically indicate that they do not.
6.33 Single panel signs for a permanent prohibition of waiting and loading are generally prescribed with an x—height in the range 20mm minimum to 40mm maximum. The appropriate x—height is determined by the need to ensure conspicuity rather than by the speed of traffic. Therefore the smaller x—heights are more appropriate for signs with larger amounts of information. For this reason, the double—panelled sign to diagram 640 is prescribed with a minimum x—height of 15mm. Choice of x—height will depend on prevailing conditions and the design of the sign. In a quiet narrow residential street, a 20mm x—height is likely to be adequate even for the smallest signs (e.g. a sign to diagram 639 with the legend "8am—6pm"). However, in a busy high street or a wide suburban road, a larger x—height such as 25mm is likely to be appropriate, particularly if the sign does not have high target value. The largest size of 40mm x—height is likely to be appropriate on urban dual carriageways or on other roads with a speed limit of 50mph or more. This applies to the sign to diagram 637.1 (prohibition of waiting on the verge or footway) when used on a rural road subject to the national speed limit. Signs for off—highway loading areas (see paras 6.21 to 6.25) have a single size of 40mm x—height (50mm for the legend "Loading area" on diagram 640.3).
6.34 Signs, other than the "no waiting on verge or footway" sign to diagram 637.1 (see para 6.37), should be erected parallel to the kerb, facing the carriageway and sited at approximately 60m intervals (on each side where the restriction applies to both sides of the road). This will normally be achieved by fixing the signs on every lamp column within the restricted length of road. Where there are no lamp columns or other suitable mounting points, posts will need to be erected. Providing conspicuity is not compromised, signs may be mounted at the back of the footway on posts, walls or railings. This is likely to be preferable where the footway is narrow. In environmentally sensitive areas where the post is sited at the back of the footway, consideration might be given to painting it a similar colour to the adjacent building (direction 41 allows a post to be any single colour, including its natural colour).
​6.35 Signs should be erected within 15m of the start and end of the prohibition. Where there is a change in the prohibition but no change in the road marking (i.e. seasonal double yellow line to a twelve month double yellow line, or a single yellow line where the time period changes), signs for each prohibition should be mounted either side by side or one above the other at the changeover point. Each sign should include an arrow indicating the direction in which the prohibition extends. The double or single yellow line must have a transverse mark at the changeover point (see Chapter 5, para 20.3). If the loading prohibition does not change, the arrows should be applied to the waiting prohibition part of the sign. In this case, an alternative to providing two signs to diagram 640 would be to provide two signs to diagram 639 and one sign to diagram 638.1 (without an arrow). Figures 6-3 to 6-9 give examples of signing changeover points. Where there is more than one sign, they may be mounted on a grey backing board; this need not extend beyond the top and bottom of the assembly, or beyond the sides of the widest sign.
Figure 6-3 Change from day-time prohibition of waiting to both no waiting and no loading at any time
Figure 6-4 Change from seasonal no waiting at any time to all year round no waiting at any time
Figure 6-5 Change from peak-hour prohibition of waiting to day-time prohibition of waiting with no change to peak-hour prohibition of loading
Figure 6-6 Change from peak-hour prohibition of waiting and loading to day-time prohibition of waiting and loading.
Figure 6-7 Prohibition of loading changes from peak hour prohibition to at any time, with no changes to prohibition of waiting at any time.
Figure 6-8 Change from peak—hour prohibition of loading to day-time prohibition of loading with no change to day-time prohibition of waiting.
Figure 6-9 Start of peak—hour prohibition of loading with no change to day-time prohibition of waiting.
6.36 Where a loading prohibition commences at a point where the waiting prohibition does not change, a sign to diagram 640, with an arrow in the lower panel only, should be erected. Where the loading prohibition changes, but the waiting prohibition does not, it is recommended that one sign to diagram 639, together with with two signs to diagram 638.1 should be used. If the waiting prohibition applies at all times, then the only signs used where a loading prohibition commences or changes will be those to diagrams 638 and 638.1 incorporating arrows. In the situations described in this paragraph, as the waiting prohibition does not change, the double or single yellow line will not have a transverse mark. See figures 6-7 to 6-9 for examples of signing. See Chapter 5, para 20.7 to 20.10 for details of the "no loading" kerb marks to prohibition diagrams 1019 and 1020.1.
​6.37 The sign to diagram 637.1(prohibition of waiting on the verge or footway, see para 6.10) is used without a road marking and therefore the first and last sign indicating where the prohibition starts and finishes should normally include an arrow. In village locations where a verge is being protected from parked vehicles, the start and end might be obvious and arrows might not be necessary. Intermediate signs should be provided as appropriate. In most cases, including rural roads subject to the national speed limit, signs should be provided at approximately 30 m intervals. This spacing is the same as for waiting restriction signs in pedestrian zones (see para 11.19) and restricted zones (see para 13.8) where there are no yellow lines to draw attention to the prohibition.
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This version was transcribed in May 2015, from a 2008 impression.
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