Traffic Management Plan
10.1 A Traffic Management Plan should be prepared by the Gardaí in consultation with the Promoter, the Local Authority, the Health Board and transport authorities. (Section 91 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961/1968 1 detailed at the end of the Chapter outlines the relevant statutory provision).
10.2 The purpose of the Plan is to allow free flow of traffic around the concert site and, if considered necessary, around the town, village or city centre, or part thereof, and to minimise the intrusion on local residents.
10.3 The intention should be to minimise the use of cars in the vicinity of the event. Publicity material should advise against using a car and, if possible, the following alternatives should be put in place:-
(i) the provision of a feeder bus system from city or town centre locations with a reduced fare which will encourage people, especially younger people, to use public transport; and
(ii) the provision of safe parking facilities at the city, town centre or other suitable areas away from the concert site with feeder buses taking people to and from the venue.
Land owners opening temporary car parks should be encouraged to provide toilet facilities and lighting on their property.
10.4 The significant elements in traffic management are:-
(i) diversion of traffic around the concert site and the areas outlined in Paragraph 10.2 above;
(ii) special arrangements for routine transport of hazardous substances in these areas;
(iii) parking restrictions and designation of tow-away areas;
(iv) designation of pedestrian zones;
(v) approach routes to official campsites (particularly for events of over 1 day);
(vi) approach routes for day trippers;
(vii) approach routes for bus traffic;
(viii) designation of bus and car parks with suitable lighting, if appropriate;
(ix) operation of Garda checkpoints on approach routes so as to control approaching traffic, to prevent unauthorised traffic and to prevent unauthorised or illegal traders from entering the cordoned area; and
(x) designation of routes to hospital(s)/medical centres for emergency vehicles.
A drawing should be prepared to illustrate the Traffic Management Plan. It should be made available to the Promoter, Local Authority, Health Board and all others concerned in the organisation of the event.
Garda Cordon
10.5 Garda barriers should be erected along the approach roads and the areas inside the cordon should be pedestrianised. 2 No vehicles other than emergency vehicles should be allowed past the Garda barriers unless displaying a Garda pass. Local residents, artists, drivers of work and emergency vehicles and appropriate officials of the Local Authority and statutory agencies who may have occasion to pass within the restricted area, should be provided with such passes indicating the registration number of the vehicle.
10.6 Diversionary routes should be identified in the Plan. Parking of vehicles should be strictly prohibited along the diversionary route(s). The co-operation of the Automobile Association should be requested with regard to the erection of No Parking signs, Information signs, Tow-Away signs and Diversionary signs showing the exit routes to major towns or other major locations in advance of the event. Any vehicle found parked illegally may be removed, on direction of the Gardaí, to a place designated for that purpose at the event in question. The diversion(s) may also be used by Emergency Vehicles and, therefore, it is of paramount importance that such route(s) be kept clear of all vehicular obstruction at all times.
10.7 Adequate parking facilities should be arranged by the Promoter in consultation with the Gardaí for both buses and cars outside the Garda barriers. The Promoter, in consultation with the Gardaí, must make provision for suitable parking of coaches, (preferably off-street), the number of which can exceed one hundred. The location of coaches can have a significant bearing on crowd control, with particular reference to the effect of troublemakers on local residents.
Public Transport
10.8 The Plan should include the provision of additional public transport services to facilitate the transport of patrons to and from the venue.
10.9 Traffic arrangements should receive widespread publicity in the national and local media so as to ensure that patrons are made aware of the approved routes, parking arrangements and availability of public transport. The broadcast of traffic plan details by “AA Road Watch” or other such programmes on radio and television should be encouraged. It should be the responsibility of the Promoter, following consultation with the Gardaí, Local Authority and Health Board, to publish the agreed plan.
10.10 Traffic arrangements should take into account the need of the Local Authority and Health Board to maintain emergency services, both in respect of the event itself and the local resident population.
10.11 There should be liaison between Promoters of major events in order to avoid unnecessary duplication. Duplication of events can place intolerable demands on transport systems, Local Authority, Gardaí and Health Board resources. Adequate advance notice should be given to the Transport Authorities.
10.12 Traffic arrangements should provide for a satisfactory access and exit system in order to service any emergency situation that may arise at the concert site. Invariably, this will form part of the Site Emergency Plan.
References
1. Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended by the Road Traffic Act, 1968, Stationery Office, Dublin. (See Note 1 below).
Note 1
The text of Section 91 is as follows:
(1) For the purpose of preserving order in relation to traffic where there is an event attracting a large assembly of persons or when there is traffic congestion or a fire, flood or similar occurrence, a member of the Garda Síochána in uniform may do all or any of the following things: divert, regulate and control traffic and regulate and control the parking of vehicles.
(2) The powers conferred by subsection (1) of this section shall, in particular, include power to do all or any of the following things by oral or manual direction or by the use of portable signs of such size, form and colour and having such significance as may be prescribed;
(a) prohibit the passage of traffic;
(b) indicate the direction in which traffic is to proceed;
(c) prohibit the parking of vehicles;
(d) indicate places for the parking of vehicles or as stands for public vehicles and regulate their use;
(e) make any other prohibitions or indications which he considers necessary for preventing obstruction or disorder in traffic.
(3) A person who contravenes a direction given by a member of the Garda Síochána under this section or who contravenes a prohibition, restriction or requirement indicated by a sign referred to in subsection (2) of this section, shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a person may, for the purposes of this section, act temporarily as a parking attendant subject to his having being authorised so to do by an officer of the Garda Síochána.
2. Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, Stationery Office, Dublin.