New traffic enforcement powers for safer and more reliable roads

Enforcement powers designed to help increase the number of drivers complying with the rules of the road, improve road safety and tackle congestion issues in the city were granted to the city in January 2023. A new report at the Council’s Waste and Street Scene Committee on 13^th March will ask the committee to approve how they will be applied.

If approved, an updated policy on the Civil Parking and Bus Lane Enforcement Policy to include moving traffic enforcement, will come into force in Sheffield.

The Council already has some powers, such as the enforcement of bus and tram gates but these new powers would be related to ‘moving traffic offences’. These include driving through a 'No Entry' sign, turning left or right when instructed not to do so (making banned turns), entering yellow box junctions when the exit is not clear and driving where and when motor vehicles are prohibited.

The updated recommendations would then be put in place in preparation for Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, to help enforce traffic contraventions at sites where all other methods of deterrent have been tried, but further measures are still required.

The committee report highlights that this would not only support better enforcement, including additional contraventions and improved compliance but importantly lead to:

• Improved safety and congestion levels
• Fewer vehicles breaching moving traffic restrictions
• A positive impact on the local environment

The updated policy provides new information and guidance on:

• National regulations and government guidance
• The appeals process that motorists must follow to dispute a moving traffic Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)
• A guide to cancellation policies council staff will apply to PCN appeals

Last year, the Transport, Regeneration and Climate policy committee proposed 3 separate sites in the city to begin with, enforcing the restrictions that are already in place.

These locations already have restrictions that are regularly abused and can currently only be enforced by Police Officers. If the enforcement policy is approved, these sites will become camera enforced through the Council. Although the Council has the powers, enforcement activity can’t begin until the Council agrees how it will approach enforcement.

Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of Transport, Policy and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We want to get Sheffield moving more smoothly and to do that we have to tackle congestion, which costs the UK economy over £20 billion per year. Whether we travel by bus or car, congestion can make us late for work or appointments, or limit the time we can spend with our loved ones. These new powers will allow us to speed up our journeys and improve air quality, which will benefit everyone in the city. It also helps us play our part in improving bus services which are so important to so many Sheffield residents.”

Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “The purpose of the new policy is to improve road safety and congestion through better enforcement of existing traffic regulations. We are not trying to catch anybody out here; the new enforcement locations will be well publicised and there will be an initial 6-month period during which warnings rather than fines will be issued for first time offenders.”

Last year, the Transport, Regeneration and Climate policy committee proposed 3 separate sites in the city to begin with, enforcing the restrictions that are already in place.

More information about the specific locations and the justification for this proposed enforcement are here.

The full Waste and Street Scene committee report is here.

Notes for editors:

The Committee Report recommends that the Committee should approve the updated Civil Parking, Moving Traffic and Bus Lane Enforcement Policy and that further decisions to make minor amendments to the table in the Moving Traffic Restrictions section in Appendix A of the policy may be delegated to the Executive Director, City Futures as an Officer Decision.