Roundels - Legal Basis

Summary

The requester asked for evidence of UK usage of 'roundels' as traffic calming measures and queried the legal classification of the Douglas Prom junction. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing design sources and clarifying that the junction is legally a non-priority junction, not a roundabout, governed by the Manx Highway Code.

Key Facts

• The term 'roundel' is a colloquial name; the junction is legally classified as a non-priority junction.
• Decisions on the roundels were informed by the 'Manual for Streets' and 'Manual for Streets 2'.
• The Highways Act 1986, Road Traffic Regulation Act 1985, and Road Traffic Act 1985 apply to the location.
• The authority stated they are only required to supply information 'held' under the Freedom of Information Act, not reasoning behind decision-making.
• The response listed several UK public realm enhancement schemes as examples of similar design concepts.

Data Disclosed

• 2021-06-22
• 2021-07-13
• 10 November 2021
• 1861126
• Rule 144
• Rule 146
• Rule 147
• Highways Act 1986
• Road Traffic Regulation Act 1985
• Road Traffic Act 1985
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held (request sought reasoning behind decision making rather than held records)

Original Request

Since the introduction of the roundels on Douglas Prom it has been cited that these are used in the UK. The only reference I can find to this is the following article which describes its purpose as being to introduce doubt into the drivers mind and hence force them to slow down - so a traffic calming measure. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-38063742 Could you please give further illustration of use of this method in the UK. In addition the definition of a roundabout is very clear (see http://www.lags.corep.it/doc/standards_for_roaundabouts_and_mini_raundabouts_uk.pdf) and this does not conform to these standards - therefore is it correct to call it a roundabout and if cited as such would a motorist not have a legal claim against the Government because the markings did not follow the rules?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/AD/RH Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1861126 10 November 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 22 June 2021 and which states:

"Since the introduction of the roundels on Douglas Prom it has been cited that these are used in the UK. The only reference I can find to this is the following article which describes its purpose as being to introduce doubt into the drivers mind and hence force them to slow down - so a traffic calming measure. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-38063742 Could you please give further illustration of use of this method in the UK. In addition the definition of a roundabout is very clear (see http://www.lags.corep.it/doc/standards_for_roaundabouts_and_mini_raundabouts_uk. pdf) and this does not conform to these standards - therefore is it correct to call it a roundabout and if cited as such would a motorist not have a legal claim against the Government because the markings did not follow the rules?"

The following sources of information were used to inform decisions on the roundels. Manual for Streets. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm ent_data/file/341513/pdfmanforstreets.pdf Manual for Streets 2. https://tsrgd.co.uk/pdf/mfs/mfs2.pdf A number of design concepts and photographs for public realm enhancement schemes in the UK may be of interest such as; Poynton Preston Blackpool Oxford Circus Diagonal Crossing Exhibition Road, Kensington Alderley Edge Oxford Bexleyheath

Ashford,Kent Seven Sisters Country Park & Exceat Visitor Centre 2. Under the Freedom of Information Act, we are only required to supply information which is ‘held’ whereas your request appears to seek the reasoning behind decision making. However, it may help to understand that the junction is classified as a nonpriority junction; the term ‘roundel’ is just a colloquial name. Therefore the following rules of the Manx Highway Code apply: • Rule 144 You MUST NOT o Drive dangerously o Drive without due care and attention o Drive without reasonable consideration for other road users • Rule 146 – Adapt your driving to the appropriate type and condition of the road you are on; and • Rule 147 – Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards all types of road users, especially those requiring extra care. Broadway and the Promenade are highways thus the Highways Act 1986 applies. Broadway and the Promenade are roads thus the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1985 and the Road Traffic Act 1985 applies.

Please quote the reference number 1861126 in any future communications.

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Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. We will now close your request as of this date.

FOI Response Team