Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what analysis his Department has undertaken on the effect of the installation of mobile traffic lights on traffic disruption; and what assessment he has made of the merits of requiring contractors to start and finish work without leaving traffic lights unattended.

Local highway authorities are responsible for managing the local road network and for reducing the impact of road works on congestion. The majority now do this through the use of street works permit schemes. The Department issues advice and guidance on both the effective operation of permit schemes, and on the correct and safe use of both stop/go signs and portable traffic signals via the ‘Safety at street and road works code of practice.’

There is no blanket requirement for portable traffic signals to be manned and portable signals can be appropriate in many environments, 24 hours a day, and where works are no more than 300 metres long. It is for each local authority to consider the most effective way of managing traffic when they assess permit applications.

To help reduce the impact of street works on congestion, we are currently consulting on an amended street works permit condition that would require temporary traffic lights to be removed no later than 4 hours after a job has been completed.