CCTV and traffic order regulations updated

Councils in England have new powers to use CCTV to issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) to drivers who park or load illegally in cycle lanes, putting cyclists at risk of a serious accident.

Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General (Amendment) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 22 June, allows mandatory cycle lanes to be enforced by an approved device.

Cars parked on cycle lanes pose problems for cyclists, often forcing them into the flow of traffic. With approved camera devices, it will be easier for local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers to take action against cars illegally parked on mandatory cycle lanes, allowing cyclists to complete their journeys without deviating from their path.

A new Statutory Instrument (SI) amends the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007 to include in the list of circumstances where PCNs for parking contraventions may be issued by post on the basis of camera evidence: parking contraventions in a mandatory cycle lane.

Local authorities can already use cameras to enforce parking in bus lanes, red routes, parking restrictions near schools, and bus stop/stand clearways.
Meanwhile a new statutory instrument will shorten the time it takes to make the traffic orders that are needed to put in place measures to encourage social distancing and promote active travel, for example, walking and cycling.

Traffic Orders Procedure (Coronavirus) (amendment) (England) regulations 2020 (Statutory Instrument No536) came into force on 23 May and is temporary. The amendments it has introduced will remain in force until 30 April 2021.

The amendments included in the SI must be “purposes connected to coronavirus” and can include measures such as:

• installing cycling lanes
• widening pavements
• restricting certain roads to certain types of traffic
• allowing trial e-scooters to use cycle lanes
• changing parking provisions
• reducing speed limits.