HL Deb 02 March 2000 vol 610 cc110-1WA
Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In what circumstances it would be legal for the driver of an abnormal load to

  1. (a) go the wrong way past a "keep left" sign:
  2. (b) go the wrong way around a roundabout; and
  3. (c) cross a solid white line in the middle of a carriageway. [HL1197]

Lord Whitty

The legal significance of (a) "keep left signs", (b) signs at roundabouts and (c) solid white lines and permitted exceptions is set out in:

  1. (a) Regulation 15 of the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/1519 Part I);
  2. (b) Schedule 2, diagram 606 of those regulations; and
  3. (c) Regulation 26 of those regulations.

It is an offence under Section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 not to comply with the indications given by these signs. There are no special exemptions for drivers of abnormal loads. However, police officers and traffic wardens have powers to direct and regulate traffic as necessary (for example, to avoid an obstruction).