Traffic Advisory Leaflet

The primary purpose of traffic control by light signals is to separate conflicting traffic by the division of time, within the available road space, in a safe, efficient and equitable manner. The term “traffic” includes all road users: vehicles, (including cycles), pedestrians and equestrians. Conflict at a junction is manifested as an increase in delay and/or accident rate.

At a signal-controlled junction, vehicular traffic is permitted to flow in a strictly controlled manner. The traffic flows, available road space, layout and stage

This leaflet gives advice on the range of traffic environments and circumstances in which various options for permitting cycling in the contraflow direction in one-way streets may be appropriate.

The advice draws together guidance in existing publications from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and others. It is supplemented by the results of recent research undertaken by Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) on behalf of the DETR. This is reported fully in TRL Report 358.