Bollard Regulations: What Are The Rules?

Like any other type of infrastructure on our roads and streets, bollards are subject to certain laws. But who regulates them and what are the rules? 

In this article, we will explore the world of bollard regulations so that you know which legislation and guidance applies to you - and where to find it.

Who makes the rules?

These are the main bodies and organisations involved in creating and enforcing bollard-related regulations and guidance.

• Department for Transport (DfT): The DfT sets out national standards and regulations for street furniture and traffic bollards. Documentation includes the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA).

• British Standards Institution (BSI): This national body publishes widely-recognised specifications, including some for bollards. 

• Local authorities: The planning departments of local councils have the power to grant or deny permission to install bollards, especially if they will affect public access or alter the look of the street.

• Specialist advisers: If there are security risks, the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) or police counter-terror advisers may have a say in which bollards are used and their location.

Selected regulations for bollards

Here are some key regulations that govern bollards in different locations. Many of them apply largely to public areas, where bollards would be installed by a local authority.

However, if you follow the guidance for all installations, you can make sure you don’t end up on the wrong side of the law! And as a bonus, you’ll be able to bore your friends with bollard facts and figures down the pub.

Please be aware that this is not an exhaustive list, and the rules may be subject to change - so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the most recent legislation.

Traffic bollards

Traffic bollards may be installed to guide road users or to prevent vehicles from entering a certain area.

The RTRA 1984 covers traffic bollards, stating that they may be fixed or moveable and may be placed so as to prevent the passage of vehicles at all times or at certain times only (where passage is prohibited by a traffic order).

Traffic bollard regulations differ depending on whether you’re outside Greater London (section 92 applies) or within it (section 94).

The DfT’s Traffic Advisory Leaflet (TAL) 03/13 provides guidance on using traffic bollards on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph or under.

British Standards also apply here. BS EN 12767 outlines how bollards should behave if they’re hit by a vehicle. BS EN 8442 sets out the minimum requirements for non-illuminated traffic bollards in pedestrian zones and car parks.

Bollard signage

Traffic bollards typically include "Keep Left" or "Keep Right" signs to guide traffic safely around obstacles such as islands and pedestrian refuges, but there are a few other signs that may be displayed on a traffic bollard.

These are listed in the TSRGD (sub-paragraph 3A in direction 41) as diagrams 606, 610, 611, 616, 951, 955, 956, and 957. Diagrams 610 and 611 do not require a traffic order, but the only situation that permits the use of 611 is when traffic may pass either side to reach the same destination.

Some traffic signs on bollards have to be illuminated, and these requirements are set out in regulation 18(1), Schedule 17.

Certain bollard types count as prescribed traffic signs under Chapter 8 of the DfT’s Traffic Signs Manual, including flat traffic delineators (to diagram 7102) and traffic cylinders (to diagram 7103). Cylinders must conform to BS EN 13422:2004 and comply with regulation 56.

Public highways

The Highways Act 1980 states that it is an offence to block a public highway “without lawful authority or excuse”. This would certainly include the placement of bollards. As a member of the public, you cannot legally install bollards on or beside a public road - this includes the pavement outside your house, even if you’re trying to stop people parking there.

Security bollards

According to the DfT, if you’re installing bollards for use as a Vehicle Security Barrier (VSB), you need to leave a maximum gap of 1.2m between bollards. This is to make sure they do their job of blocking vehicles without getting in the way of an emergency evacuation.

Security posts such as anti-ram bollards are also subject to PAS (Publicly Available Specification) standards, which are developed by the BSI. Bollards whose purpose is to prevent ram-raids or vehicle-borne attacks must comply with PAS 68 and PAS 170.

Pedestrian access

Section 66(2) of the Highways Act 1980 allows the relevant authorities to install fixed bollards on the edge of a footway to protect pedestrians from hazards like illegal parking or vehicles mounting the pavement.

In a pedestrian zone, you must leave enough room between bollards so that wheelchairs, prams, and mobility scooters can pass through. The recommendation is to leave gaps of at least 1.2 metres.

Inclusive mobility

In its guidance on inclusivity and mobility, the DfT advises leaving a minimum gap of 1.5m between street bollards if possible. This would allow a wheelchair user and a non-wheelchair user to fit through the gap side by side.

It’s also important to ensure that visually-impaired people can navigate safely around bollards. This includes using colours that contrast with their surroundings, while illuminated bollards with a light at the top are easier to spot.

Bollards should be at least 1m high, and should not be connected with a chain or a rope as this might present a trip hazard. Consistent positioning on the footway is also helpful.

The Equality Act 2010 also comes into play here. There’s no specific legislation for bollards, but ensuring accessibility for wheelchair users and people with limited vision are crucial for compliance.

Private property

If you’re installing bollards on private property - such as your own residential or business premises - then you have a little more freedom. However, you’ll still need to check with the local authority to make sure you’re not contravening any rules.

In some cases, you may need planning permission. This can apply if you live in a conservation area or a listed building, or you want to erect a particularly unusual bollard. You’ll need to ensure that the posts don’t restrict access to your neighbours or to the general public (for example, bollards on a shared driveway).

Public rights of way

There are specific regulations to comply with if a public right of way crosses your land. Government guidance doesn’t mention bollards specifically, but does make it clear that landowners must maintain access and avoid putting obstructions on or across the route.

It is actually a criminal offence to wilfully obstruct a public right of way, and the highway authority has the right to demand removal of any such obstruction.

Closing thoughts

There’s plenty of bollard-related legislation and guidance out there. We’re fully aware that a lot of it isn’t aimed at the general public! But it’s still a good idea to make sure you’re aware of any rules that apply to you.

If you need any further advice - and if you want to buy quality bollards - just give our friendly sales team a call!