Road safety and traffic management

o    School Travel Plans

Safer routes to school aim to improve safety and remove barriers to walking and cycling to and from school. We liaise with school head teachers and community groups to encourage the development of school travel plans. Supporting with changes to parking restrictions, road signs and footway improvements where these are required. 

o    Further guidance for Road Safety at schools

Full or part-time (“when lights flash”), mandatory 20 mph speed limits and ‘School Keep Clear’ markings are used in many areas to encourage safe driving on roads adjacent to schools.  The Council is currently working to extend the 20mph provisions around schools by changing existing 20s Plenty schemes to mandatory 20mph schemes. The first round of changes is expected to be on site in 2023.
The Council continues to look for opportunities to reduce parking and congestion around schools to improve the environment for those walking and cycling.  We ask communities to support this by walking and cycling to school whenever possible and if you do drive, to please do so with consideration and care, remembering not to park on any waiting restrictions e.g. bus bays, yellow lines, zig zags, driveways and disabled parking spaces. 
Our City Wardens are aware of ongoing parking issues across the city and routinely patrol all schools.  
A School Travel Plan for pupils can be developed by schools.  These plans assist schools in identifying pupil and parental concerns relating to travel to school and seek to promote active travel modes such as walking and cycling.  Where issues are identified, our officers will review whether infrastructure improvements are possible and respond accordingly.

Road Safety Officers, City Wardens, Schools, Education and Police Scotland are working together, using the following initiatives, to address issues relating to the school run and parking at schools:  
•    Walk to School Week 
•    Use of WOW Travel Trackers, by Living Streets, in schools to record pupil journeys daily 
•    SUSTRANS Active Travel 
•    School Travel Plans (keeping parents and pupils informed)
•    Annual ‘Hands Up’ surveys  
•    Cycling Friendly School accreditation 
•    Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation 
•    Promoting Park and Stride
•    Use of social media, ‘Groupcall’ school communication system and PTA to promote road safety awareness outside schools 
•    I Bike 

Road Safety Learning Resources, tied to the Curriculum for Excellence, can be found at  https://roadsafety.scot/

o    Warning Signs

Warning signs are used to convey the message of a hazard ahead.  They are generally triangular and can sometimes be supplemented by a rectangular plate that gives further information about the hazard.
The mandatory requirements governing the use of traffic signs and road markings are set out in the Traffic Signs and General Directions 2016 (as amended). 
Not all warning signs are mandatory.  Warning signs should only be installed where an obstacle or condition requires special attention and is either frequently occurring or it is unlikely a road user would have awareness of that hazard without being advised.  Not all hazards will be signed as road users are expected to undertake due care and diligence when using the road network.  While these signs are used to assist in road safety, to be most effective they must be used sparingly as having too many signs, dilutes their message as drivers become overly used to seeing them.
Warning signs will not generally be installed on roads with a mandatory 20mph speed limit.

o    Direction Signs

If you would like direction signs added to the road network for a club, event or enterprise, please follow the link to our Road Signing Policy and application process. https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/road-sign-policy https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/apply-traffic-sign
o    Obstructive parking on roads. Double yellow lines.
Rules 239 to 247 of the Highway Code provide drivers with guidance as to where they should and should not park, drivers failing to comply with these rules are at risk of committing an offence. Where vehicles have been left on parking or waiting restrictions this can be enforced by Aberdeen City Council City Wardens, otherwise Police Scotland may take enforcement action.
Aberdeen City Council can consider the introduction of waiting restrictions (yellow lines) to address concerns of obstructive parking, however before restrictions can be introduced a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) must be promoted. Unless the measures are implemented as an emergency, the statutory process required to promote a TRO can be lengthy and can take time to implement.
Aberdeen City Council do not consider it appropriate to introduce isolated sections of waiting restrictions (yellow lines) within residential areas. Any requests for new waiting restrictions must be based on specific road safety concerns which occur on a regular basis, and not as the result of a one off or infrequent occurrence.  

o    20s Plenty schemes 

20s Plenty schemes were installed some years ago following a funded promotion of the scheme. 
20s Plenty is an advisory speed limit, not a regulatory speed limit, and so it is not enforceable. 
Maintenance of 20s Plenty schemes, whilst desirable, is not an essential requirement for Aberdeen City Council.

In alignment with the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for 20 mph, Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has started the process of expanding 20mph speed limit on the roads that meet the Scottish Government’s requirements.  A mandatory 20mph speed limit will now be promoted in residential areas including those currently within 20s Plenty schemes.  Ahead of the implementation of the Strategy, ACC have successfully promoted 20mph speed limits around various primary schools across the city. Implementation of these changes is underway.

o    20mph speed limits

Aberdeen City Council will the expanding the areas subject to mandatory 20mph speed, this is following the Scottish Government National Strategy for 20 mph. The Strategy aims to expand 20mph speed limits across Scotland, and to ensure all appropriate roads in built-up areas have a safer speed limit of 20mph by the end of 2025.

Aberdeen City Council have conducted a citywide assessment to determine roads that meets the Scottish Government’s criteria.

The traffic regulation order (TRO) process necessary for the implementation of the 20mph speed limit has commenced. Citywide implementation will be done in phases, and this is due to the scale of the work required to introduce this driving restriction. The TRO proposals will be processed according to Council wards, implementation is expected to start from the north of the city and progressing southwards until the entire city is covered. It is anticipated that a citywide implementation of 20mph speed limit would have been completed by December 2025.

Please refer to the link below for more information on citywide 20mph speed limit scheme:

20mph Speed Limit | Aberdeen City Council

o    Speed enforcement

Aberdeen City Council does not enforce speed limits. This is the role of Police Scotland, either through community policing teams, road traffic police teams or the North Safety Camera Unit see more details at https://www.safetycameras.gov.scot/cameras/safety-camera-locations/north/ 
Where a speeding issue is reported, road safety officers will determine whether a speed survey is necessary. Speed surveys will be carried out during a typical week i.e. out with school holidays and taking care to avoid disruptions to the network such as road works in the local area. The results can be used by Police Scotland to determine the appropriate level of enforcement. 
The Scottish Safety Camera Programme contributes to Scotland’s road safety vision and road safety targets through targeted safety camera enforcement thereby improving driver behaviour. Further details about the Scottish Safety Camera programme can be found at the following link: https://www.transport.gov.scot/transport-network/roads/scottish-safety-camera-programme 
To consider a site for the deployment of a safety camera enforcement team, qualifying criteria, set out by Transport Scotland and managed by the Safety Camera Unit, must be met.
The Scottish Safety Camera Programme Handbook 2015, is a public document. It is a handbook of rules and guidance to identify a site.  The Handbook does not apply to speed enforcement undertaken by Police Officers. 

Aberdeen City Council assesses requests for new crossings based upon an approved policy. This involves an initial desktop study before a decision is made as to whether an on-site survey and modified PV2 assessment to determine whether a pedestrian crossing is justified at any given location. This assessment process is based on guidance provided by the Department for Transport.
In some instances, dropped kerbs are sufficient to assist pedestrians crossing the road by providing a lower kerb and marking out the most appropriate crossing point. In most instances tactile paving will also be added to assist visually impaired people to cross the road. 
If it is determined that further support is required for pedestrians crossing, this would usually take the form of a refuge, which is an island in the centre of a road. This effectively splits the width of road and flow of traffic a pedestrian needs to cross in two. 
There are currently 5 formal pedestrian crossing types used in the UK, these being Zebra, Pelican, Puffin, Toucan and Pegasus. More information on these crossings is covered in the highway code: https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/pedestrian-crossings.html

o    What action can be taken to stop footway parking?

Vehicles parked on the footway can cause obstruction and safety issues for vulnerable pedestrians, particularly older and disabled people, and those with visual or mobility impairments. They are often forced into the road and into oncoming traffic. The condition of footway surfaces also deteriorates as they are not designed to carry the weight of vehicles.
The Scottish Government has developed national legislation against footway parking, parking at dropped footways, and double parking. Footway parking or double parking will be specific offences in Scotland, and following the implementation of the legislation, our City Wardens will be able to issue penalties to those who do not comply by the legislation. 
The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 can be viewed on the parliament website here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2019/17/enacted.
Whilst the footway parking ban was introduced into legislation in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, enforcement is now expected to commence in late 2023. This is due to the multiple layers of legislation that must be completed prior to implementation.
Certain roads within the city will be exempted from the ban. The Council will progress the assessment of streets shortly. Consultation will be undertaken where an exemption is being considered. 
The City Council will be assessing footways this year with those eligible for exemptions going through to the consultation process and, it would be hoped that enforcement would be due to commence next year.
Vehicles causing an obstruction can be reported to Police Scotland using their non-emergency number 101.

o    Waiting restrictions

Rules 239 to 247 of the Highway Code provide drivers with guidance as to where they should and should not park, drivers failing to comply with these rules are at risk of committing an offence. Where vehicles have been left on parking or waiting restrictions this can be enforced by Aberdeen City Council City Wardens, otherwise Police Scotland may take enforcement action.
Aberdeen City Council can consider the introduction of waiting restrictions (yellow lines) to address concerns of obstructive parking, however before restrictions can be introduced a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) must be promoted. Unless the measures are implemented as an emergency, the statutory process required to promote a TRO can be lengthy and can take time to implement.
Aberdeen City Council do not consider it appropriate to introduce isolated sections of waiting restrictions (yellow lines) within residential areas. Any requests for new waiting restrictions must be based on specific road safety concerns which occur on a regular basis, and not as the result of a one off or infrequent occurrence.  

o    Obstructive parking at driveways

A driver who obstructs a driveway and as a result has stopped a resident from exiting a driveway in their vehicle is committing an offence which can be enforced by Police Scotland. Such an obstruction should be reported using their non-emergency number 101. 
Aberdeen City Council do not consider it appropriate to introduce waiting restrictions (yellow lines) at driveways, however residents can apply for an advisory “elongated H” road marking to be installed across their driveway. Details of this marking and how to apply can be found via the following link -
https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/roads-transport-and-parking/apply-carriageway-markings-outside-access-or-driveway

o    What are Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs)? Residents only parking

A controlled parking zone (CPZ) is an area where on-street parking is controlled during specified time periods. This means that during the operational hours parking is only permitted in designated parking bays and that the remainder of the kerbside space is subject to yellow line restrictions. To enforce the parking bays, a permit system operates, with residents being able to purchase permits in order to park within the bays, and non-residents having the option to 'pay and display' within this area. Such schemes already operate within various areas of the city.
The current Local Transport Strategy 2016 – 2021 states, under Car Parking Management:
“Where there are increases in on-street parking demand, either because of development or overspill from existing facilities, a pragmatic approach to prevent indiscriminate parking will be applied. Where residential amenity is affected, or unrestricted parking is undermining other forms of transport and creating congestion, Controlled Parking Zones will be extended (where there is support from the local residents). Parking and loading controls (i.e. single and double yellow lines) will be used to enable safe and effective movement by all means of transport.”
However, the budget for future controlled parking zones was removed from the 5-year non-housing capital plan and consequently areas previously identified as potential future parking zones have not become subject to parking controls, except for a small extension to one of the existing CPZs. 
Any vehicle under 7.5T, if parked safely at the kerbside, without obstructing other road users and if taxed and holding a valid MOT can be parked on any street in the city. Residents cannot be prioritised outside their property or on their street. 
Where high volumes of daytime parking are reported, officers may introduce waiting restrictions to manage safe parking practises. These will ensure that junctions are kept clear and access for emergency vehicles is maintained. These measures require to go through a series of consultation processes and could take around nine months to be implemented.  
In the interim, if cars are parked in an unsafe manner such that they are causing obstruction or reduced visibility, please note that Police Scotland may take action. They can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101.

o    Parking at the periphery of Controlled Parking Zones

Parking around the edge of a controlled parking zone can occur when commuters attempt to avoid parking charges. 
In the absence of waiting restrictions, any vehicle that is taxed, MOT'd and insured is entitled to park alongside the kerb when parked safely, residents cannot be prioritised out with the controlled parking area. As it is difficult to differentiate between resident’s, visitor’s and commuter’s cars, officers will not be able to carry out a survey to determine the volume of commuters parking on street. 
Where high volumes of daytime parking are reported, officers may introduce waiting restrictions to manage safe parking practises. These will ensure that junctions are kept clear and access for emergency vehicles is maintained. These measures require to go through a series of consultation processes and could take around nine months to be implemented.  
In the interim, if cars are parked in an unsafe manner such that they are causing obstruction or reduced visibility, please note that Police Scotland may take action. They can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101. 

o    Waiting restrictions on private roads

As the Traffic Authority, ACC is not affected by whether a road is a public road or private road but purely by its status as a road. Parking controls can be introduced when parking pressures on streets within an area become extensive, when all day commuter parking results in issues relating to indiscriminate and obstructive parking. Parking controls can be used to improve residential on-street parking amenity, and pedestrian and road safety.
It is appropriate to charge residents to park in a private road within a controlled parking zone. Any income goes towards the cost of the implementation, administration and enforcement of the scheme in addition to the cost to maintain the signs, road markings and parking machines within the area.

o    Why do City Centre residents only get a single fixed permit?

Controlled Parking Zones are introduced to prevent commuter parking where it causes detriment to local residents and to promote the turnover of short-term parking for local businesses and retail. 
The demand for parking spaces within the city centre is high and the available kerbside is limited therefore each property is restricted to one fixed permit. 
Aberdeen City Council do not allocate flexible permits to properties within the city centre. 

o    Resident Parking Permit Charge Increases 

A report was prepared and presented to the Council meeting in December 2022 which set out the case for increasing the charges of residents parking permits. 
The pricing structure of £60 for the first residential parking permit and £140 for the second permit had been in place for a number of years and these annual charges are now considerably lower than other city local authorities. If changes are not made to the parking tariffs, these measures will be further removed from a market standard charge.
There may be an increase in uptake of active or mass transport travel alternatives thereby supporting the reduction of traffic on the network in line with the Mobility Strategy: Net Zero Aberdeen – A step change in public transport and active travel enabling a 50:50 mode split between car driver and sustainable modes.
The revenue gathered from parking charges directly offset the costs of any parking related expenditure first; then we apply it to the wider roads estate in terms of roads improvements and maintenance; environmental improvements then have priority; and finally it can legally be applied to “any other purposes for which the authority may lawfully incur expenditure” however this threshold has not been reached.

Traffic calming measures which use vertical deflection are not generally used on primary roads, which are often bus routes or access routes utilised by the emergency services when responding in an emergency. 
Roads with existing mandatory 20mph speed limits have been assessed prior to the implementation of the lower speed limit.  Existing roads with this limit would have had vehicle speeds surveyed and a decision made whether to introduction of traffic calming features.  New roads with this limit should be designed and constructed in accordance with national guidance, with lower speeds at the heart of the design process. 
The Council will not introduce traffic calming in areas unless there has been a specific change in circumstances within a community which has resulted in a tangible detriment to road safety.
Transport Scotland has now released further details regarding the proposed widespread implementation of 20mph speed limits in urban areas. 
The intentions of the 20mph strategy will be to identify a number of outcomes to assist in the further delivery of 20mph zones and limits on those roads where it is appropriate to do so. It seeks to reduce perceptions of road danger, encourage people to walk, wheel and cycle, and create more pleasant streets and neighbourhoods by providing a more equitable balance between different road users, thereby promoting inclusivity. 
Funding has been provided to review all city streets against set criteria to determine whether a reduced speed limit is appropriate.
On completion of this study it is expected that further guidance will be provided on the instances when traffic calming might be required to support the reduced speed limits however the overall aim of the study is to make travel at 20mph in residential and built up, pedestrian areas the “norm” and therefore an expected driving practise for all. 

Traffic Management and Road Safety within Aberdeen City is funded by a number of sources including Scottish Government through Cycle, Walking, Safer Routes and Road Safety Infrastructure Fund, alongside a Council Road Safety Fund and we have the opportunity to bid of further local funding such as Bus Lane Enforcement and Nestrans budgets. Annual budgets are variable with active travel and vulnerable road users as a priority. Proposed budget expenditure is reported annually within the Roads and Transport Related Capital Budget Programme.

o    Applying

Please follow the following link to apply for a disabled person’s parking place. https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/roads-transport-and-parking/parking/apply-disabled-parking-space

o    Installation process

An advisory bay is installed after you apply for a disabled parking place pending when its Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) comes into effect. A TRO is a legal document that makes your disabled parking place enforceable, however, due to the duration of time it takes to process a TRO, an advisory parking place is installed. Once the TRO process for your disabled parking place is complete, Officers will send instructions to our colleagues in Road Services to order and install your sign. This process may take between 9 to 12 months from the initial installation of the bay.

o    Users

Disabled parking spaces are available for the use of any vehicle which is legally displaying a valid disabled person's badge. It is not your personal parking space, even if you are the one who applied for it. Disabled parking bays no longer have house numbers or disabled symbols marked within the bays. Current regulations use the word 'DISABLED' alongside the bay.

Aberdeen City Council do not undertake road safety audits (RSA) however officers do feed in to RSA carried out on our network.

Implementation of permanent traffic management changes throughout the city (Traffic Regulation Orders)

Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) are required to support many enforceable driving restrictions such as banned turns, parking and one ways. 
The TRO process is lengthy due to the preparation, legislation and consultation required. Officers can use delegated authority to promote small scale measures or Committee approval may be required to bring forward larger scale changes. 
A preliminary report is prepared and shared with Local Members prior to a Statutory Consultation with local and national organisations impacted by the proposed changes. These statutory consultees are given the opportunity to object to the proposals.
If no objections are received through this process, a Public Advert is held which notifies the public through local press advert and on-street notices that there are proposals on certain roads. The public can object to proposals at this stage. 
Any objections will be reported to an appropriate committee for their consideration and decision on whether a measure is to be implemented. 
Once it is decided to implement a TRO the necessary legal process is concluded and the measures are implemented on site. There can be a delay in implementation if funding is not in place or resources are not available to install the changes.
The full process can take up to 18 months.

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