Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the M6 Motorway (Junctions 5 to 8) (Actively Managed Hard Shoulder and Variable Speed Limits) Regulations 2013 and come into force on 15th June 2013.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations-

"the 1982 Regulations" means the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982(2);

"the 2002 Regulations" means the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002(3);

"carriageway", "hard shoulder", "motorway" and verge" have the same meaning as in the 1982 Regulations;

"emergency refuge area" means a part of a motorway-

"relevant roads" means the lengths of carriageway specified in Schedule 1 together with the adjacent hard shoulders, emergency refuge areas and verges.

Modification of the 1982 Regulations to allow for actively managed hard shoulder

3.-(1) In relation to the relevant roads, the 1982 Regulations have effect as if they were modified as follows.

(2) Paragraph (1) of regulation 3 (interpretation) has effect as if-

(a)after sub-paragraph (a), there were inserted-

"(aa)"actively managed hard shoulder" means the hard shoulder of the relevant   roads;";

(b)in sub-paragraph (b)(i) after "the motorway", there were inserted ", and includes the actively managed hard shoulder when it is treated as a lane of the carriageway in accordance with regulation 5A(3)";

(c)after sub-paragraph (c), there were inserted-

"(ca)"emergency refuge area" means a part of a motorway-

(i)which is adjacent to and situated on the left-hand or near side of the hard shoulder or carriageway when facing in the direction in which, in accordance with regulation 6, vehicles may be driven, and

(ii)whose boundary with the hard shoulder or carriageway is indicated by a marking of the type shown in diagram 1010 in Schedule 6 to the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002;";

(d)in sub-paragraph (e) after "hard shoulder", there were inserted ", subject to regulation 5A,";

(e)after sub-paragraph (f), there were inserted-

"(fa)"relevant roads" has the meaning given to it by regulation 2 of the M6 Motorway (Junctions 5 to 8) (Actively Managed Hard Shoulder and Variable Speed Limits) Regulations 2013;"; and

(f)in sub-paragraph (g) after "hard shoulder,", there were inserted "an emergency refuge area,".

(3) Regulation 4 (application) has effect as if for that regulation there were substituted-

"Application

4.  These Regulations apply to the relevant roads.".

(4) The 1982 Regulations have effect as if after regulation 5 (vehicles to be driven on the carriageway only) there were inserted-

"Use of actively managed hard shoulder

5A.-(1) Subject to the following provisions of these Regulations, a vehicle may be driven on a relevant length of the actively managed hard shoulder.

(2) The relevant length of the actively managed hard shoulder shall be treated for the purposes of these Regulations as a lane of the carriageway.

(3) Accordingly where paragraph (2) applies, references in these Regulations-

(a)to a carriageway shall be treated as including references to the relevant length of the actively managed hard shoulder; and

(b)to a hard shoulder, except in regulation 3(1), shall be treated as excluding references to the relevant length of the actively managed hard shoulder.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation "relevant length" in relation to the actively managed hard shoulder means a length of the actively managed hard shoulder that-

(a)begins immediately after an overhead gantry on which directly above the actively managed hard shoulder there is displayed a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 670 in Schedule 2 to the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002 indicating that a speed limit other than the national speed limit applies to the actively managed hard shoulder; and

(b)ends immediately before an overhead gantry on which directly above the actively managed hard shoulder there is displayed a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 5003.1 in Schedule 10, or 6031.1 in Schedule 11, to the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002.".

(5) In regulation 7 (restrictions on stopping), paragraph (2) has effect as if at the end, after "carriageway", there were added "or on any emergency refuge area which is adjacent to that carriageway or hard shoulder".

(6) Paragraph (3)(a) and (b) of regulation 7, regulation 9 (restriction on the use of hard shoulders), and paragraph (b)(i) of regulation 14 (restrictions affecting animals carried in vehicles) have effect as if, after "hard shoulder" (in each place), there were inserted "or emergency refuge area".

(7) Paragraph (2) of regulation 12 (restriction on use of right hand or off side lane) has effect as if, after "three or more traffic lanes", there were inserted "(including the actively managed hard shoulder when it is in use as a lane of the carriageway in accordance with regulation 5A)".

Variable speed limits

4.-(1) No person shall drive a vehicle on a section of a road which is subject to a variable speed limit at a speed exceeding that indicated by a speed limit sign.

(2) A section of a road is subject to a variable speed limit in relation to a vehicle being driven along it if-

(a)the road is specified in Schedule 2;

(b)the vehicle has passed a speed limit sign; and

(c)the vehicle has not subsequently passed-

(i)another speed limit sign indicating a different speed limit; or

(ii)a traffic sign which indicates that the national speed limit is in force.

(3) In relation to a vehicle, the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign is the speed shown at the time the vehicle passes the sign, or, if higher, the speed limit shown by the sign ten seconds before the vehicle passed the sign.

(4) For the purpose of this regulation a speed limit sign is to be taken as not indicating any speed limit if, ten seconds before the vehicle passed it, the sign had indicated no speed limit or that the national speed limit was in force.

(5) In this regulation-

"national speed limit" has the meaning given by regulation 5(2) of the 2002 Regulations and a traffic sign which indicates that the national speed limit is in force means a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 671 in Schedule 2 to the 2002 Regulations which is-

"road" includes the adjacent hard shoulder and verge;

"speed limit sign", in relation to a vehicle, means a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 670 in Schedule 2 to the 2002 Regulations which is-

Regulation 2

SCHEDULE 1RELEVANT ROADS

1.  The relevant roads are-

(a)the northbound carriageway of the M6 beginning at a point which is 47 metres after marker post 178/3 and ending at marker post 189/9; and

(b)the southbound carriageway of the M6 beginning at marker post 189/9 and ending at a point which is 55 metres after marker post 178/3.

2.  Any reference in this Schedule to the letter "M" followed by a number is a reference to the motorway known by that name.

Regulation 4(2)(a)

SCHEDULE 2SPECIFIED ROADS

1.  The specified roads are-

(a)the northbound carriageway of the M6 beginning at a point which is 47 metres after marker post 178/3 and ending at a point which is 75 metres after marker post 193/5;

(b)the carriageways of the northbound slip roads;

(c)the southbound carriageway of the M6 beginning at a point which is 37 metres after marker post 193/5 and ending at a point which is 55 metres after marker post 178/3; and

(d)the carriageways of the southbound slip roads.

2.  Any reference in this Schedule to-

(a)the letter "M" followed by a number or a number followed by the letter "M" is a reference to the motorway known by that name;

(b)the letter "A" followed by a number is a reference to the road known by that name; and

(c)a junction followed by a number is (unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the junction of the M6 of that number.

3.  In this Schedule-

"northbound slip roads" is a reference to the lengths of road specified in paragraph 4;

"off-slip road" means a slip road intended for use of traffic exiting the M6;

"on-slip road" means a slip road intended for use of traffic entering the M6; and

"southbound slip roads" is a reference to the lengths of road specified in paragraph 5.

4.  The northbound slip roads are -

(a)the off-slip roads which connect the northbound carriageway of the M6 with-

(i)the southbound carriageway of the A38M (Aston Expressway); and

(ii)Salford Circus;

at junction 6.

(b)the on-slip roads which connect at junction 6-

(i)Salford Circus; and

(ii)the northbound carriageway of the A38M (Aston Expressway);

with the northbound carriageway of the M6.

(c)the off-slip road which connects the northbound carriageway of the M6 to the roundabout with the A34 Birmingham Road at junction 7;

(d)the on-slip road which connects at junction 7 the roundabout with the A34 Birmingham Road with the northbound carriageway of the M6; and

(e)the linking carriageway which connects the M6 at junction 8 with the start of the M5 southbound commencing where the carriageway diverges from the M6 northbound and ending where the carriageway merges with the M5 southbound.

5.  The southbound slip roads are-

(a)the linking carriageway which connects the end of the M5 northbound with the M6 at junction 8 commencing where the carriageway diverges from the M5 northbound and ending where the carriageway merges with the M6 southbound;

(b)the on-slip road which connects at junction 7 the roundabout with the A34 Birmingham Road with the southbound carriageway of the M6;

(c)the off-slip road which connects the southbound carriageway of the M6 to the roundabout with the A34 Birmingham Road at junction 7;

(d)the on-slip roads which connect at junction 6-

(i)Salford Circus; and

(ii)the northbound carriageway of the A38M (Aston Expressway);

with the southbound carriageway of the M6;

(e)the off-slip roads which connects the southbound carriageway of the M6 with-

(i)the southbound carriageway of the A38M (Aston Expressway); and

(ii)Salford Circus;

at junction 6.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations introduce variable speed limits to the M6 Motorway from junctions 5 to 8 and on associated slip roads and linking carriageways.

The Regulations also modify the way that the Motorway Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 ("the 1982 Regulations") apply to the carriageways of the M6 motorway between junctions 5 and 8 and create the concept of an ‘actively managed hard shoulder'; this is a hard shoulder which, in certain circumstances, may be driven on.

Regulation 3

Regulation 3

Regulation 4

Contravention of the Regulations is an offence under section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the M6 Junctions 5 to 8 Managed Motorways Team, Highways Agency, The Cube, 199 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1NR and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. A copy has also been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.