Division 1General#

(1) A diagram in this regulation of a traffic control device, traffic-related item, or symbol represents a likeness of the device, item or symbol.

(2) If there are 2 or more diagrams of a traffic sign in schedules 2 and 3 or of a traffic-related item or symbol in schedule 4, each diagram represents a likeness of a permitted version of the sign, item or symbol.

(3) If a diagram of a traffic sign in schedule 2 or 3 or of a traffic-related item or symbol in schedule 4 is in black and white, the permitted version of the sign, item or symbol is in black and white only.

(4) If a diagram of a traffic sign, traffic-related item or symbol in a section of this regulation is in black and white and the sign, item or symbol is not in black and white only in schedule 2, 3 or 4, the diagram is a black and white representation of the sign, item or symbol and is not a permitted version of the sign, item or symbol.

315Legal effect of traffic control devices#

(1) A traffic control device of a kind mentioned in this regulation has effect for this regulation if—

(a) the device is on a road; and
(b) the device complies substantially with this regulation.

(2) A traffic control device is taken to comply substantially with this regulation unless the contrary is proved.

316When do traffic control devices comply substantially with this regulation#

(1) A traffic sign complies substantially with this regulation if—

(a) it is a reasonable likeness of a diagram in schedule 2 or 3 of that kind of traffic sign; or
(b) for a traffic sign of a kind for which there is not a diagram in schedule 2 or 3—it complies substantially with a description of that kind of traffic sign in this regulation and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in schedule 4, the symbol on the sign is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.

(2) A road marking complies substantially with this regulation if it complies substantially with a description of that kind of road marking in this regulation and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in schedule 4, the symbol in the road marking is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.

(3) A traffic control device (except a traffic sign or a road marking) complies substantially with this regulation if the device complies substantially with a description of that kind of traffic control device in this regulation and, if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in schedule 4, the symbol on the device is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.

(4)A traffic sign may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of traffic sign mentioned in this regulation even though—
(a)the dimensions of the sign, or of anything on the sign, are different; or
(b)the sign has additional information on or with it; or
(c)the number on the sign is different; or
(d)the sign has a different number of panels; or
(e)the sign is combined on a single panel with 1 or more other traffic signs; or
(f)for a parking control sign—words, figures, symbols, or anything else, on the sign are differently arranged; or
(g)for a bus lane sign, emergency stopping lane only sign, one-way sign or parking control sign—the sign has an arrow pointing in a different direction; or
(h)for a separated footpath sign or an end separated footpath sign—the pedestrian and bicycle symbols are reversed; or
(i)for a road access sign—information on or with the sign indicates (whether by different wording or in another way) that it applies to different or additional vehicles or persons; or
(j)there is a variation in shade or brightness between a colour on the sign and the equivalent colour in the diagram.

(5)A variable illuminated message sign may also be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of traffic sign in schedule 2 or 3 even though the colour of the sign, or of anything else on the sign, is different.

(6)A symbol on or in a traffic control device may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of symbol mentioned in this regulation even though the dimensions of the symbol, or of anything on the symbol, are different.
(7)In this section—

panel: includes a board, plate and screen.

317Information on or with traffic control devices#

(1)A traffic control device may, by the use of words, figures, symbols or anything else indicate any of the following—
(a)the times, days or circumstances when it applies or does not apply;
(b)the lengths of road or areas where it applies or does not apply;
(c)the persons to whom it applies or does not apply;
(d)the vehicles to which it applies or does not apply;
(e)other information.

(2)In this section— traffic control device includes a board, device, plate, screen, word, figure, symbol, or anything else, with a traffic control device that provides information about the application of the traffic control device.

318Limited effect of certain traffic control devices#

(1)If information on a traffic control device indicates that the device applies during particular times, on particular days, in particular circumstances, to a particular length of road or area, or to particular persons or vehicles, the device has effect only for the indicated times, days, circumstances, length of road, area, persons or vehicles.
(2)If information on a traffic control device indicates that the device does not apply during particular times, on particular days, in particular circumstances, to a particular length of road or area, or to particular persons or vehicles, the device does not have effect for the indicated times, days, circumstances, length of road, area, persons or vehicles.
(3)If information on a traffic control device that is at a place indicates that it applies on a particular day of the week, the device does not have effect on a day that is a public holiday for the place unless information on the device states otherwise.
(4)In this section—

traffic control device includes a board, device, plate, screen, word, figure, symbol, or anything else, with a traffic control device that provides information about the application of the traffic control device.

(1)A traffic-related item of a kind mentioned in this regulation has effect for this regulation if—
(a)the item is on a road or on a vehicle on a road; and
(b)the item complies substantially with this regulation.
(2)A traffic-related item is taken to comply with this regulation unless the contrary is proved.

(1)A traffic-related item complies substantially with this regulation if—
(a)it is a reasonable likeness of a diagram in schedule 4 of that kind of traffic-related item; or
(b)for a traffic-related item of a kind for which there is not a diagram in schedule 4—
(i)it complies substantially with a description of that kind of traffic-related item in this regulation; and
(ii)if the description includes a symbol for which there is a diagram in schedule 4, the symbol on the item is a reasonable likeness of the diagram.
(2)A traffic-related item may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of traffic-related item mentioned in this regulation even though—
(a)the dimensions of the item or of anything on the item are different; or
(b)the item has additional information.
(3)A symbol on a traffic-related item may be a reasonable likeness of a diagram of a kind of symbol mentioned in this regulation even though the dimensions of the symbol or of anything on the symbol are different.

321Meaning of information on or with traffic control devices and traffic-related items#

A word, figure, symbol or anything else used on or with a traffic control device or traffic-related item has the same meaning as in this regulation.

(1)A traffic control device or traffic-related item above or near a road is taken to be on the road.
(2)However, the device or item is taken to be on the road only if it is clearly visible to road users to whom it is designed to apply.

322References to traffic control devices—application to areas and places#

(3)A traffic control device or traffic-related item above or near an area or place is taken to be in or at the area or place.

(4)However, the device or item is taken to be in or at the area or place only if it is clearly visible to road users to whom it is designed to apply.

(5)Without limiting subsection (3), a traffic control device or traffic-related item above or near a break in a dividing strip is taken to be at the break.

(6)However, the device or item is taken to be at the break only if it is clearly visible to road users to whom it is designed to apply.
(7)A traffic control device or traffic-related item is taken to comply with subsection (2), (4) or (6) unless the contrary is proved.
(8)In this section—

clearly visible: clearly visible means— (a) for a traffic signal—clearly visible during the day and night in normal weather conditions; or (b) for another traffic control device or a traffic-related item—clearly visible during the day in normal weather conditions.
day: day means the period between sunrise on a day and sunset on the same day.
normal weather conditions: normal weather conditions means weather conditions that are not hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility.

323References to lights that are traffic signals#

A reference in this regulation to a light that is, or is part of, traffic signals is a reference to a steady light, unless otherwise expressly stated.

323AAudible lines#

(1)An audible line is a line on a road that is made up of a series of closely spaced raised pieces of material designed to create a continuous noise or vibration if driven on by a motor vehicle.
(2)A reference in this regulation to a line is to be taken to include a reference to an audible line, unless otherwise expressly stated.
(3)For the purposes of this regulation—
(a)an audible line is taken to be continuous even if there is no physical link between the pieces of material making up the line; and
(b)if there is no physical link between those pieces, the colour of the audible line is taken to be the visible colour of those pieces.

Drawings from the original pages

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