Southampton City Council

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Traffic regulation orders

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A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) or Speed Limit Order (SLO) are legal instruments by which highway authorities can regulate the use of the highway.

Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, highway authorities can implement TRO's designed to regulate, restrict or prohibit the use of a road or any part of a road by vehicular traffic or pedestrians. A TRO may take effect at all times or during specified periods, and certain classes of traffic may be exempted.

Examples of restrictions include;

• Parking Restrictions

• One-way Streets

• Prohibited or Mandatory movements at junctions

• Prohibition of driving

• Bus Lane

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do we need TRO's?


UK law requires that TROs are made to enable the Police, or the City Council , to enforce these restrictions.

2. What steps are taken with a TRO?

1. Consultation with the emergency services and other public bodies takes place. Local interest groups such as residents and traders are also consulted where appropriate.

2. Advertisement of the TRO then takes place by placing a notice in the local press and displaying notices in the roads affected. Objections are then considered through the appropriate Council procedure.

3. Making the Traffic Regulation Order. The TRO will then be formally made and introduced. The entire process can take many months to complete especially if objections result in the TRO being changed and re-advertised.

3. Can you have varying TRO's?

Most TRO's are permanent legal documents. However, temporary events such as road works or street-parties are covered by Temporary TROs

Urgent Notices may be used in the event of an emergency.

Experimental Orders can be used where new or innovative traffic management measures are being trialled. These last no more than eighteen months; the scheme is then either made permanent or withdrawn.

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