Weight restrictions can be imposed for structural or for environmental reasons. They are legal controls on specified vehicle weights or width - mainly on lorries - on certain roads and routes.
The restriction prevents large vehicles from using inappropriate roads, routes and areas in order to:
Structural Reasons
- Prevent damage to roads and bridges
Environmental Reasons
- Reduce danger to pedestrians and other road users
- Preserve the character, amenity and environment of an area
- Reduce and manage congestion on the roads
Restrictions are subject to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and the associated procedures. Signs are erected on site to indicate the weight limit and to assist the police in carrying out its enforcement.
You can download a list of current weight restricted streets on the right of this page.
Enforcement
Enforcement of weight limits is a matter for the police. However, the police have limited resources to enforce this type of restriction (especially environmental restrictions).
Restrictions with "except for access" clauses quickly fall into disrepute and are notoriously difficult to enforce. However these are needed to permit heavy goods vehicles access to local shops, businesses, residential properties for deliveries / removals etc. For this reason, enforcement commands a low priority and therefore, where possible, physical measures should be introduced to prevent any abuse of the restrictions - the installation of signs alone are not wholly effective.
Where a Traffic Regulation Order restricts the use of a road, route or area to certain vehicles, the signing of a recommended alternative route is always considered.
Restrictions will not be used if there is no suitable alternative route for the displaced traffic.