Have your say on new powers for the Council to enforce against moving traffic offences in West Northamptonshire

Overview

By Regulations that came into effect in May 2022 through the Traffic Management Act (2004) and associated guidance, West Northamptonshire Council is undertaking a six-week consultation to enable the Council to expand the work it already does against illegal and dangerous parking and misuse of bus lanes, by allowing for the Council to use enforcement powers on drivers who commit moving traffic offences.

The Department for Transport (DfT) have changed legislation to enable local authorities to apply for powers to enforce against moving traffic contraventions. 

West Northamptonshire Council is considering an application for these powers to be granted for areas for which West Northants Council is Highways Authority and wants to hear the views of local residents, businesses and interested parties. The areas affected are in Northampton and near to Old Stratford.

What are moving traffic contraventions or offences?

Moving traffic contraventions or offences are where a driver of a vehicle does not follow the instruction or direction given by certain road signs and markings. These are usually red or blue roadside signs sometimes accompanied by yellow road markings. Red signs are prohibitions and blue signs are Directions.

Offences that are covered include but are not limited to the following:

• Ignoring no entry or no turning signs
• Entering yellow box junctions with no clear exit
• Stopping on school keep clear markings
• Driving where and when motor vehicles are prohibited
• Driving the wrong way up one-way streets or driving on routes for buses and taxis only

Below is a list of signs that show and explain what traffic offences are or could be considered

Why are we proposing new enforcement powers?

The power for moving traffic contraventions are currently only used by the Police, however these sort of issues may not be a top priority. The benefits of having powers to enforce moving traffic offences include the following:

• Improves pedestrian and cyclist safety
• Reduces congestion
• Improves journey times for public transport
• Improves safety around schools
• Improves driver behaviour

In collaboration with the Police, the Council has examined road safety reports and historical data to identify locations where the powers would be of most benefit. The following provides a list of the identified locations which the powers would be initially enforced, the Council will then role out enforcement to other areas:

• Hermitage Way, Wootton, Northampton
• Deanshanger Road, Old Stratford
• Victoria Gardens junction with St Johns Street, Northampton
• Horsemarket junction with Gold Street and Mare Fair, Northampton
• Fishponds Road junction with Great Billing Way, Northampton

How will the proposed enforcement action be taken?

The Government has provided guidance that provides how local authorities can enforce moving traffic offences. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras will be placed at the identified locations to be enforced. A Penalty Charge Notice will be issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle responsible for non-compliance. For the first six months of the enforcement, warning notices will be issued for first time offences.

Have your say

You can give your views by completing the online survey following the link below.

For further information, if you have any queries, or if you require information in an alternative format please contact us by emailing Highways.NCC@westnorthants.gov.uk, or calling 0300 126 7000

What happens next

At the end of the consultation period, the Council will collate and review all of the feedback received. All views expressed will be given full consideration, and subject to the outcome of the consultation the Council will then apply to the Department for Transport to be able to exercise the additional powers.

Should the powers be given following approval from the DfT, the Council will start using its new enforcement measures in the initial locations using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.

This consultation closes at midnight on Wednesday 21 December 2022

For information about how responses are managed, please see the Highways Privacy Notice and the Parking Service Privacy Notice.