'Filter in Turn' Approval of signage and use at various junctions

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A decision made 24 February 2012:

Decision Reference: MD-T-2012-0018
Decision Summary Title :	New ‘Filter in Turn’ Signage		Date of Decision Summary:	13 February 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Manager – Transport Policy		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	‘Filter in Turn’ Signage		Date of Written Report:	13 February 2012
Written Report Author:	Manager – Transport Policy		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: The installation of new ‘filter in turn’ signage at two junctions in St Helier and one in St Saviour.
Decision(s): In accordance with Article 72 of the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 the Minister approved the use of the ‘filter in turn’ system at the junctions of St Saviour’s Road / L’Avenue et Dolmen du Pré de Lumières, Springfield Road / La Petite Rue Val Plaisant and St Saviour’s Road / St Mark’s Road along with the use of a new ‘filter in turn’ sign as detailed in the report.
Reason(s) for Decision: To provide a safe and efficient form of junction control and to approve the use of a new sign.
Resource Implications: Installation by TTS direct labour of six signs at an estimated total cost of £1,000.
Action required: Signs to be installed by TTS.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

'Filter in Turn' Approval of signage and use at various junctions

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

‘FILTER IN TURN’ SIGNAGE

Purpose of the Report

To consider the installation of ‘filter in turn’ signage at certain junctions and to consider a revision to the sign used at ‘filter in turn’ junctions.

Background

The Parish of St Helier Roads Committee has asked the Minister to consider the introduction of ‘filter in turn’ signs at several junctions.

Discussion

‘Filter in turn’ is a system of junction control used successfully for many years in both Jersey and Guernsey but not known to be used elsewhere in Europe.

It encourages courteous driving behaviour which in turn can be expected to be beneficial to road safety.

For varying traffic management reasons, over several years the system has been removed at a number of junctions in St Helier. Consequently the only locations with formal ‘filter in turn’ signage are Victoria Avenue westbound at Bel Royal and the Beaumont Hill / La Route de la Haule junction.

‘Filter in turn’ is best suited at junctions where approaching traffic from two directions should be given equal priority, traffic volumes are significant and similar, and traffic exits the junction in one traffic lane. At junctions of that description ‘filter in turn’ is a proven efficient and safe method of control. However at other junctions, give way, traffic signals, roundabouts or merging junctions may be more appropriate.

Several junctions operate unofficially as ‘filter in turns’, particularly at peak times, without signage. In order to support and perpetuate the practice there are three junctions as listed below which meet the above criteria and it is therefore proposed that they are signed as ‘filter in turn’.

St Saviour’s Road / L’Avenue et Dolmen du Pré des Lumières

St Saviour’s Road / St Mark’s Road

Springfield Road / La Petite Rue de Val Plaisant

The use of ‘filter and turn’ is prescribed in the Jersey Highway code. The current sign (No. 828J) is prescribed in the ‘other informatory signs’ section of the Traffic Signs (Jersey) Order 1968. Sign No. 828J is a rectangular plate with black letters ‘FILTER IN TURN’ on a white background. There are no articles in the Order prescribing its meaning and a road user must refer to the Jersey Highway code for guidance. It is proposed to prescribe a new regulatory sign based on the current ‘give way’ red triangle sign as shown below. A red triangle is internationally recognised as meaning ‘give way’ and although non English speaking road users may not understand the ‘filter in turn’ wording they would know that they should give way.

The significance of the sign shown above will be that –

(a) where vehicles from two roads are waiting to enter the area controlled by the sign; or

(b) where vehicles from two lanes of the same carriageway of a road are about to enter a single lane of that carriageway,

they must do so in turn.

The new sign and associated article will be included in a revised Road Traffic (Signs) Order 201- which is being prepared, but until the new Order is made, the Minister can approve the use of the above sign by Ministerial Decision in accordance with Article 72 of the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956.

Recommendation

The minister is recommended to approve the use of the ‘filter in turn’ system at the three above mentioned junctions and the use of the new ‘filter in turn’ sign.

Reason(s) for Decision

To provide a safe and efficient form of junction control and to approve the use of a new sign.

Resource Implications

Installation by TTS direct labour of six signs at an estimated total cost of £1,000.

Action Required

TTS to install the required signs.

Written by:	Manager - Transport Policy

Approved by:	Director - Transport