Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8 - Part 2- Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations) - Operations 2009.pdf/45



Priority signs may only be used on single carriageway roads and when certain conditions are met. See Part 1: Design, Section D5.7.

The "priority to vehicles from opposite direction" sign to diagram 615, which must be used with the plate "Give way to oncoming vehicles" to diagram 615.1, and "priority over vehicles from opposite direction" sign to diagram 811, which must be used with the plate "Priority over oncoming vehicles" to diagram 811.1, must always be used in conjunction with each other. The sign to diagram 811 must never be used upside down in an attempt to imply a reversal of the sign’s prescribed meaning.

The "priority to vehicles from opposite direction" sign to diagram 615 is used at the beginning of the priority length. A plate to diagram 615.1 must also be used; "for" and a distance may be added (see working drawing P615.1). At the end of the priority length, the sign to diagram 615 is repeated with an "End" plate to diagram 645, which also acts as the conclusion of other prohibitions and restrictions. Where the length under control is less than 50 m, “End” plates are not necessary.

According to the circumstances, the signs may be accompanied by the "keep left/right" sign to diagram 610 at the point where the obstruction occurs. It is usually preferable to give priority to vehicles which have an unobstructed lane past the works or to those vehicles which are climbing a steep gradient. However the decision shall depend on local conditions. The use of these signs is illustrated in Part 1: Design, Section 5.7, Plan SC4. Reversing the priority from the permanent situation should be avoided if possible. If this is necessary, the sign variant "CHANGED PRIORITIES AHEAD" to diagram 7014 should be used in the direction which previously had priority, and the appropriate permanent priority signs should be covered.

It is extremely dangerous to cause road traffic to stop on or move slowly over a level crossing. If works are to be carried out within the Precautionary Area, i.e. an area containing the whole or part of each street/road falling within 200 metres of the crossing when following a route leading from the crossing, special precautions must be taken to ensure the safe operation of the crossing. Design aspects of conducting works near or on level crossings are dealt with in Part 1: Design, Section D5.17.

Operators should ensure that traffic does not block back and stop on the crossing; care shall therefore be exercised in the traffic control arrangements.

There are three main types of railway level crossings. 43
 * Automatic level crossings, with or without barriers, have road traffic signals which display a steady amber light for approximately 3 seconds followed by twin red flashing lights as a train approaches; in some cases, miniature red and green warning lights activated by trains are provided. Crossings may either have half-barriers which close the left half of the road or no barriers at all.
 * Manually operated level crossings have gates or barriers which extend across the full width of the road. Some may have warning lights which are normally the same steady amber and twin red flashing lights as at automatic crossings, while at a few locations the normal three-aspect traffic signals are provided.
 * Open level crossings have neither gates, barriers or any form of traffic signal.