27 November 2020

The Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) welcomes the Government’s pledge to invest £1.7bn on the local road network and called for an alignment in standards across the local and strategic road networks.

While investment in local roads is welcome, it remains anomalous that Highways England and TfL contracts mandate road marking contractors on its network are National Highways Sector Scheme #7 accredited, it is not mandated in most Local Authority work. This is despite the local road network making up circa 98% of the UK’s road network.

Stu McInroy, RSMA Chief Executive, said “The RSMA welcomes the commitment to increase spending on local roads.

“An increase in spending on road markings on the local road network is positive for all road users, and will assist in meeting the Government’s green agenda. However, as nearly all journeys begin and end on local roads and local roads carry the vast majority of all traffic, the inconsistency in standards remains. The standard and competency of road marking contractors on local roads does not have to meet that of the strategic road network.

“The RSMA calls on Local Authorities to mandate that only National Highways Sector Scheme 7 contractors, certified by a UKAS accredited body, are permitted to work on public highways”.