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This Circular is aimed at traffic signs practitioners and others with responsibility for traffic management. It explains the measures we have introduced in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) and how these differ from the previous regulatory regime - both in terms of prescription and structure - and in the context of the Government's policy on traffic signs.

This radical overhaul of TSRGD represents a significant contribution to the Government's deregulatory programme. By removing much of the cost and red tape associated with the delivery of traffic management solutions, and by broadening the range of available information on traffic signs, road users will feel the benefit sooner in terms of reduced congestion, improved road safety and clear and succinct signing - thus benefiting the wider economy. We have also included a range of new signs to promote cycling take up and safety.

We have stripped out the rules that contributed to the proliferation of traffic signs; providing a pragmatic regulatory regime that keeps the message to the minimum necessary, without distracting road users and spoiling the environment.

Even in this technological age, traffic signs remain the only method of communicating to all road users what they need to know to complete their journey safely, efficiently and within the law.

While safety must never be compromised, having introduced these changes I expect traffic authorities to play their part. 6