Because CD 377 and RRRAP are not intended for roads with lower speed limits and flows, the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG), working with the Department for Transport, produced separate guidance for the local road network: 'Provision of Road Restraint Systems on Local Authority Roads'. This document does not replace CD 377, but provides local highway authorities with an equivalent, proportionate appraisal process for deciding when a vehicle or pedestrian restraint system is justified on roads outside the strategic network.
The guidance introduces the Local Authority Risk Assessment (LARA), which mirrors the principles of RRRAP but is calibrated for the lower speeds and more varied conditions typical of local roads, including urban streets, rural lanes and roads managed by district and county councils.
When the guidance applies
The UKRLG guidance is generally applied to local authority roads with a speed limit of 40mph or below, and is used alongside CD 377 where routes have higher speed limits but do not otherwise meet the traffic flow thresholds for RRRAP. It applies to:
- New roads and the adoption of new roads
- Road improvement schemes, such as widening or junction alterations
- Replacement of restraint systems that are life-expired or otherwise require renewal
- Sites where a new hazard has been introduced to the roadside environment
What the appraisal process involves
- Site-specific risk assessment considering traffic speed, flow, road geometry and the nature of the hazard
- Consideration of alternative solutions to installing a restraint system, including hazard removal or mitigation
- System feasibility, whole-life costs and cost-benefit analysis to support funding decisions
- Guidance on performance specification and outline design, cross-referenced to the relevant sections of CD 377
- A clear, defensible record of the decision-making process, which is important both for scheme sign-off and for defending future claims
Our experience
MERAKI supports local highway authorities in applying this guidance to their road networks, from site-specific assessments for individual restraint system renewals through to programme-wide reviews to identify and prioritise locations where a road restraint system may or may not be justified. We help our clients balance road safety risk against available budgets, providing clear, well-evidenced recommendations that stand up to scrutiny.
