The Transport Technology Forum (TTF) is inviting highway authorities, suppliers and other specialists to comment on draft guidance for Management of Roadside Technology.
The consultation on Well Managed Highway Infrastructure: Management of Roadside Technology (MRT) will run until 18 October 2026.
The document is a major rewrite of the Management of Electronic Traffic Equipment Code of Practice, first published in 2011. It is intended to help local highway authorities develop and manage maintenance and operational practices for fixed roadside technology, at a time when both the range of equipment and the demands placed on it have grown substantially. It is a companion to the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice, currently being updated by the Department for Transport and will form part of the expanded Manual for Smart Streets.
The guidance covers familiar assets such as traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, message signs and detection equipment, alongside newer systems including electric vehicle charging and connected vehicle infrastructure.
The editorial team has been led by leading ITS consultant Steve George and Gafoor Din, Service Manager for Traffic Control and Information Systems at Warwickshire County Council. They have also identified data management and security, the Digital Controller Interface Standard, Digital Traffic Regulation Orders, Low Emission Zone systems, procurement and contractual procedures as topics that needed updating.
“For anyone who designs, supplies, installs or maintains roadside technology, this is a chance to shape the guidance they and their customers will use for years to come,” commented Steve George. “The consultation is an opportunity to test our draft against your reality of working on local roads: what advice is clear, what is missing, and where established practice or new technology needs better coverage. Spending time on it now will help our final guidance reflect the experience of everyone who uses it and give authorities practical support when making decisions about management, maintenance and investment.”
The call for images and short video clips to illustrate the new guidance also remains open. TTF is seeking clear, high-resolution images of permanent roadside technology in use, from traffic signals, crossings and message signs to charging, communications and connected vehicle infrastructure. Contributors should include a brief description, the location where appropriate, and confirmation that they have permission for the material to be published. Appropriate credits will be included.
You can read the draft, give feedback and submit images here.
(Picture courtesy of SWARCO)
