The questions below have all been asked recently. If you do not see your question listed here, please feel free to add a new FAQ.

Q	How do I get a road opening certificate?
A	Thank you for your question. You can obtain a Road Opening Certificate by contacting your local Roads Service Section Office. Click the Office Location link opposite for contact details.

Q	How do you find out if a street is entitled to street lighting or an upgrade of existing lighting?
A	Depending on the street location, please contact your Roads Service Divisional Headquarters: Northern Division: 028 7034 1300 Southern Division: 028 3834 1144 Eastern Division: 028 9025 3000 Western Division: 028 8225 4111

Q	As the local council is not responsible for the maintenance of unadopted roads, is there anything that can be done to change this if the road is of a dangerous nature to the public,and is constantly flooded, even after regular temporary filling of potholes by the council?
A	Thank you for your question. Unadopted roads and not maintained by Roads Service, therefore you should contact either the developer / land owner regarding their up keep.

Q	When do the roadworks start on the Westlink? Louise (maghera)
A	Louise, thank you for your question. The roadworks on the Westlink start early February 2006.

Q	When is car clamping being introduced to Northern Ireland ?
A	Thank you for your question. Clamping of vehicles will be introduced in Northern Ireland in mid 2006 as part of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement in Northern Ireland. A vehicle may be clamped if it is parked illegally or if an amount of debt from unpaid charges is owed to the Department. A vehicle displaying a current disabled persons badge (blue badge) cannot be clamped. We do not intend to clamp illegally parked vehicles as a matter of routine, but would use the power as a deterrent, for example, in areas where there are persistent and high levels of illegal parking. We would also tow away an illegally parked vehicle where it is causing a danger or obstruction to traffic. Obviously it would not help matters to clamp a vehicle in those circumstances.

Q	How do I find out if my street is adopted by Roads Service, and the boundaries of the adoption?
A	Roads Service Section Offices hold records of all adopted streets / roads. Click the Office Location link opposite for contact details.

Q	Do you need permission to put a sign on the street outside your retail shop?
A	Thank you for your question. Please contact your local Section Office for further details.

Q	Who is responsible for erecting Street Signs?
A	Thank you for your question. Local District / Borough / City Councils are responsible for erecting Street Signs.

Q	Who are Roads Services customers?
A	Thank you for your question. All road users are considered customers of Roads Service.

Q	There is a hole in the road. Can it be repaired?
A	A call to the local section office giving the precise location and type of defect will enable a report to be passed to the Engineer responsible for the area who will arrange to carry out an inspection and arrange for any necessary repair work to be undertaken. The time scale will be dependent upon the seriousness of the defect. You can also use our on-line fault report form.

Q	There is a hole in the road and it has damaged my car.
A	Should an individual wish to make a claim for damage sustained following such an incident they should make contact with the Central Claims Unit, 2nd Floor, Northern House, 10 High Street, Belfast BT1 2BA. The Central Claims Unit has sole responsibility for claims handling in relation to Public Liability Claims against the Department for Regional Development.

Q	Our drain is blocked. Can it be cleared?
A	Roads Service is responsible for the surface water drainage to deal with water falling onto the road. A series of gullies (gratings on the surface) are provided which collect the rainwater and these discharge via a sump to collect mud and detritus before connecting into pipework which generally will discharge to a water course. To deal with a defect, please telephone the local Section Office giving the precise location and nature of the problem and an investigation will be arranged via the Section Engineer. However, it should be remembered that at times of extreme weather with heavy rainfall such work will be dealt with and prioritised depending upon its severity.

Q	I have just fallen over a raised slab in the pavement.
A	Where a defect such as this is reported to the local section office a Defect Report will be raised and passed to the Section Engineer who will arrange for an inspection to be carried out to determine the seriousness of the defect and arrange remedial action as appropriate. Should an individual wish to make a claim for injuries sustained following such an incident they should make contact with the Central Claims Unit, 2nd Floor, Northern House, 10 High Street, Belfast BT1 2BA. The Central Claims Unit has sole responsibility for claims handling in relation to Public Liability Claims against the Department for Regional Development.

Q	How long are these roadworks going on for?
A	Works within the limits of the carriageway will inevitably disrupt the flow of traffic, for both pedestrians and vehicles. Roadworks information is available on this website. Information is also issued by the radio stations and some daily newspapers.

Q	Can Roads Service help or support residents in a privately owned site with parking violations? A number of people have started parking on land which is jointly owned by the houses within the site, meaning that we no longer have adequate parking.
A	Thank you for your question. Roads Service does not have any powers regarding parking violations on private property. Under the Road Traffic Regulations (NI) Order 1997, its powers extend only to public roads – in other words – those that have been adopted into the public road network and which it is responsible for maintaining.

Q	Do Roads Service have any plans to cease using the orange type of lighting in favour of a better light.
A	Thank you for your question. Most new street lighting schemes now use lamps which give off a white or golden coloured light. However, some orange lights are still used for alterations or extensions to existing lighting. Almost 70% of our street lights are low pressure sodium at present (approx 168,000), so it will be many years before all the orange lights which we have can be converted to white light.

Q	Who should I contact to request traffic-calming measures on a road near me?
A	Thank you for your question. Depending on the road / street location, please contact your Roads Service Divisional Headquarters: Northern Division: 028 7034 1300 Southern Division: 028 3834 1144 Eastern Division: 028 9025 3000 Western Division: 028 8225 4111

Q	When you say that Parking Attendants will be issuing fixed penalties instead of the PSNI and Traffic Wardens, will Traffic Wardens then become Parking Attendants as Traffic Wardens I feel are vital to traffic control of towns, cities, schools, funerals etc. etc.
A	Thank you for your question. The policing of traffic is the responsibility of the PSNI. In order to carry out the functions referred to in your question, they often make use of Traffic Wardens. Under the proposals for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) such responsibilities will remain with the PSNI who can provide you with further information as to how they carry out these duties. It is not foreseen that Parking Attendants would undertake this function. Detailed operational arrangements for the DPE scheme have yet to be decided including arrangements for the transfer of the enforcement function. In the meantime, discussions will continue between the PSNI and Traffic Wardens representative bodies to ensure that their views and interests are fully taken into account. The Department has also invited Trade Unions representing Traffic Wardens to comment on the consultation document on proposals to decriminalise parking offences. Please contact the DPE team directly at roads.transportation@drdni.gov.uk if you require any more information in relation to DPE.

Q	Could you explain what you mean by "decriminalising" parking offences? Does this mean it will no longer be a fineable offence, as a fine is a form of punishment for a wrong-doing?
A	The term ‘Decriminalising Parking Offences’ refers to the proposed process whereby violations of parking restrictions, which are currently criminal offences enforced by the PSNI through the Traffic Warden Service, will become civil contraventions and will be enforced by Parking Attendants on behalf of the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service. Under the proposed new system, violations of parking restrictions will continue to be enforced. However, instead of Police Officers and Traffic Wardens issuing Fixed Penalty Notices as they do at present, Parking Attendants would issue Penalty Charge Notices. The consultation document ‘Parking Enforcement in Northern Ireland’ provides more information on the proposals to decriminalise parking offences and can be downloaded by clicking on the link on this page

Q	After sending an e-mail to either report a defect or to make an enquiry from Roads Service, how long should you wait on a reply?
A	Thank you for your question. Roads Service aims to respond to 90% of written correspondence from road users and issue substantive replies to 95% of written complaints within 15 working days.

Q	For the purposes of the ten house criteria for lighting in rural areas, can houses that are up a laneway count towards the ten houses over 200 metres?
A	Thank you for your question. Houses on unadopted laneways leading off an adopted road, which is being considered for lighting, will generally count as one property, regardless of the length of the laneway or the number of properties served by it.

Q	How often are Roads Service Car Parks supposed to be cleaned?
A	Thank you for your question. Cleaning of Car Parks is dependent on their usage and availability of resources. For further information regarding a particular Section (Council Area), click on the office location link opposite for contact details.

Q	Are Roads Service responsible for implementing the law when it comes to another agency not leaving a road in the same condition they found it after carrying out work on it, as they are the sole road authority in charge of roads in Northern Ireland?
A	The main legislative provisions regulating the carrying out of works on roads are contained in the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 and the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. If it appears that an offence has been committed under one of these Orders, then Roads Service is responsible for following the matter up with a view to ensuring that the appropriate action is undertaken.

Q	Are Traffic Wardens going to be taken over by DRD to carry out their duties involving issuing fixed penalties, parking meters etc?
A	Please note that an incorrect answer to this question had previously been posted on the Roads Service website. Roads Service would like to apologise for any confusion that this error may have caused. The answer that should have been posted is as follows. The current enforcement of on-street parking and waiting restrictions and many off-street car parks involves, in various roles and responsibilities, employees in the PSNI (including Traffic Wardens), DRD Roads Service, the Northern Ireland Court Service and Roads Service contractors. When the Department takes over the responsibility for parking enforcement, it proposes to make arrangements for this to be carried out by Parking Attendants with Penalty Charge Notices being issued centrally. Detailed operational arrangements for the DPE scheme have yet to be decided including arrangements for the transfer of the enforcement function. In the meantime, discussions will continue between the PSNI and Traffic Wardens representative bodies to ensure that their views and interests are fully taken into account. The Department also invited Trade Unions representing Traffic Wardens to comment on the consultation document on proposals to decriminalise parking offences.

Q	If a member of the public reports a defect in the road network or public lighting system, is this given attention sooner than the next routine inspection scheduled for the area ?
A	Thank you for your question. Depending upon when the report is received, (regarding public lighting system) that may be sooner than the next routine inspection for the area.

Q	Which receives attention sooner, an email to your local section office notifying them of a problem or via the on-line fault report form?
A	We aim to issue full replies to 95% of written complaints (including faxes and emails) within 15 working days.

Q	How do you find out if your street is entitled to a salt bin?
A	Thank you for your question. When a request is made for a salt bin to be placed at a specific location this is assessed according to a point scoring system. If you want to make a request for a salt bin to be provided please contact your local section office. Click on the office location link opposite for details.

Q	Are Roads Service in charge of the cleaning of car parks for which they are in charge of?
A	Thank you for your question. Local Councils carry out cleaning operations on Roads Service Car Parks although the cost of this is borne by Roads Service.

Q	What does Section Engineer mean ?
A	Thank you for your question. Roads Service is divided into 4 Divisions. Each Division is separated into Sections (broadly equivalent to a District Council Area) and the Section Engineer is responsible for the day-to-day running of their Section

Q	When are you going to clamp down on the abuse of Blue Badges? And shouldnt the pass feature a photograph of the holder? I dont know many disabled people who drive 2seater sports cars and I am fed up seeing perfectly healthy individuals placing a relatives pass on their dashboard.
A	Thank you for your question. At present the PSNI are responsible for the Enforcement of the Blue Badge Scheme. Any abuses that are notified to Roads Service are forwarded to the PSNI. However, with the introduction of Decriminalised Parking on 30th October 2006, Roads Service will become responsible for the enforcement of car parking regulations from that date. Disabled Badges do contain a photogragh of the holder. Persons with walking disabilities are not prevented from driving cars including Sports cars

Q	Do Roads Service ever plan to cease using the orange type street lamp in favour of the white type of light that was used before and which was a clearer better lamp ?
A	Thank you for your question. Most new street lighting schemes now use lamps which give off a white or golden coloured light. However some orange lights are still used for alterations or extensions to existing lighting. Almost 70% of our street lights are low pressure sodium at present (approx 168,000) so it will be many years before all the orange lights which we have can be converted to white light.

Q	What determines whether lighting should be of better standard in a city / town e.g brighter, and do Roads Service inspect lighting to see if it should be upgraded ?
A	Thank you for your question. There are a range of different categories of street lighting which apply to traffic routes, urban centres and residential areas. These are laid down in a British Standard BS 5489 which we aim to comply with for all our new schemes. Selection of the appropriate category of lighting requires many factors to be considered, e.g. class of road and traffic volumes, pedestrian movement, environment, etc. Generally speaking, the busier an area is, the better the standard of lighting would be. Roads Service inspect lighting regularly to ensure it is working properly. This is done every two weeks in winter, and every four weeks in summer. Upgrading of street lighting is carried out when the existing equipment has reached the end of its useful life, or when the original installation is no longer of an appropriate standard for the current circumstances

Q	How do I find out if a laneway is private or open to the public? And if it is public right of way, what can be done if an adjacent property has blocked it?
A	Thank you for your question. You should contact your local section office to ascertain if this particular laneway has been adopted, ie it is maintained by Roads Service.

Q	How long can a contractor take over a footpath(albeit providing a wooden one) and parking places on a main street in a village? Is there any punitive measures in place to ensure the minimum amount of disruption, bearing in mind the contrator will give health and safety as his response?
A	Thank you for your question. Please contact your local Section Office who will be able to advise you on this matter.

Q	Are public utility vehicles allowed to park in restricted areas in Belfast city centre to carry out installation work/maintainance.
A	Thank you for your question. Exemptions exist within the legislation that allow vehicles to be used by utilities on waiting restrictions, such as single and double yellow lines, and within pedestrianised streets. On-street pay and display bays within the Controlled Parking Zone within Belfast may also be suspended to allow utilities to carry out their work. It is important to realise that these exemptions are not simply to allow free parking, but are applicable when the vehicle is being used in pursuance of statutory duties. Hope this is useful.

Q	A large commerial van is parked outside the front of my house (in a bay) and is blocking the light. I have asked the owner to move the vehicle (it has been there over a week) but was abused. Are there restrictions on high sided commercial vehicles parking outside residential houses? If so, who is responsible for enforcement?
A	Thank you for your question. Please contact DOENI Road Transport Licensing Division, telephone no. 0845 402 4000.

Q	What is the law in relation to leaving a skip on the road for a number of days / nights? Can it be parked half or all on the footpath? Who should enforce the regulations on skips?
A	Thank you for your question. Please contact your local Section Office who will be able to provide you with the relevant details on this matter.

Q	Are Roads Service responsible for keeping hedges & trees trimmed behind sightlines?
A	It is the responsibility of the rightful landowner to maintain boundary hedges, shrubs and trees which encroach from beyond the boundary of private property onto the public road. This would include any areas where hedges and trees are growing from private ground and affecting sightlines to road users. The respective Section Office would normally request the rightful landowner to take corrective action and this procedure is usually effective. However, if this action is not forthcoming, the Section Office may serve notice under The Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993. In some cases, this may resort in Roads Service undertaking the work and recovering the costs incurred, through the courts. In some cases, the details of the rightful landowner cannot be traced and Roads Service may undertake the appropriate action for road safety reasons.

Q	How is Roads Service funded?
A	Thank you for your question. Roads Service is funded principally by monies voted from the Northern Ireland Assembly and to a lesser extent by car parking and ferry receipts proceeds from the sale of land and operation and maintenance costs recoverable from third parties. During the current year 2003 /2004 we received additional funding in both maintenance and capital from the Executive Programme Fund (EPF) and the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative / Strategic Investment Programme (RRI/SIP). Our current gross budget to date is £255.9m.

Q	How do you find out if a stretch of road is an urban clearway?
A	Thank you for your question. You should contact your local Section Office in order to clarify the particular length of road that you are querying.

Q	I posted a question some time ago - why has it not been responded to? What is your target response time?
A	Could you please identify the question that you posted? Roads Service aims to respond to 90% of written correspondence from road users and issue substantive replies to 95% of written complaints within 15 working days.

Q	What is the minimum distance from the road and the height above the road that trees and hedges should be trimmed back too please?
A	Thank you for your question. Please contact your local Section Office. Use the Office Locations link on the left hand menu to help with this task.

Q	The Belfast Section Office seem unsure about whether or not I can put a sign outside my retail outlet. It does not seem to come under the Planning Service remit and therefore may be a Roads Service issue. I know a lot of people do put signs out on the street, but I would like to know what the guidance is on the matter in Belfast. Is there a policy?
A	Could please advise as to which area of Belfast your retail outlet is located, so that your query can be passed to the appropriate Section Office for a response.

Q	What is the maximum spacing of storm drainage gullys along a private street being constructed for adoption and is this affected by road gradient, camber/crossfall etc.? In particular 1:20 longitudinal fall and 1:20 crossfall.
A	Thank you for your question. Please contact your Divisional HQ office, stating the Council Area where the development is located, and speak to the Private Streets section, who will be able to provide you with the revelant information.

Q	What do I need to do to, if I want to put an additional entrance / exit onto my driveway over an existing tarmac pavement and kerbs
A	Thank you for your question. Please contact your Divisional HQ office, stating the Council Area where the development is located, and speak to the Development Control section, who will be able to provide you with the revelant instructions.

Q	I note that some changes were made to the criteria for providing lighting in rural areas in the Annual Report. Could you explain these please.
A	Thank you for your question. Our revised rural lighting policy takes greater account of the needs of small rural communities which have developed around churches, schools and meeting halls. Even if they are not large enough to be designated as a village or small settlement. Previously we provided street lighting for rural communities where there were at least 10 dwellings within a road length of 200 metres. Now any public building which has significant use will be weighted and counted as two dwellings. This allows greater flexibility when considering requests for street lighting from rural community areas.

Q	In the Roads Service Annual Report it is stated that a revision of providing lighting in rural areas was concluded were greater flexibility was given for the provision of lighting in rural communities. Could you outline the changes.
A	Thank you for your question. Our revised rural lighting policy takes greater account of the needs of small rural communities which have developed around churches, schools and meeting halls. Even if they are not large enough to be designated as a village or small settlement. Previously we provided street lighting for rural communities where there were at least 10 dwellings within a road length of 200 metres. Now any public building which has significant use will be weighted and counted as two dwellings. This allows greater flexibility when considering requests for street lighting from rural community areas.

Q	Is it an offence to park a lorry on a pavement in a residential site, which has not yet been adopted.
A	Thank you for your question. Article 30 of the Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995 provides that it is an offence to park a heavy commercial vehicle on the verge of a road, on any land situated between two carriageways which is not a footway or on a footway. The Order does not specify that the road must be a public road ie one that is maintained by the Department. Providing the residential site in question is a carriageway ie a way constituted or comprised in a road being a way over which the public have a right of way for the passage of vehicles and that this carriageway contains a footway ie a way comprised in a road which also comprises a carriageway being a way over which the public have a right of way on foot only then it may be an offence to park a heavy commercial vehicle thereupon.

Q	Are Roads Service responsible for weed removal from footpaths and roads?
A	Thank you for your question. With regard to Roads Service grass cutting and weed control operations, it is important to note that these are carried out for road safety and not aesthetic reasons. The aim of the programme is to ensure that sight lines, road markings and traffic signs are not obstructed and road edges are not overgrown.

Q	Are Roads Service responsible for naming roads and streets?
A	Local Councils are responsible for road name signs, e.g. Church Road, Main Street, High Street etc. Other road traffic signs such as directional signs to towns/cities/town centres, urban clearway signs, Stop and Give Way signs, chevron signs etc. are the responsibility of Roads Service.

Q	Who is responsible for the erection of road name signs?
A	Thank you for your question. Local Councils are responsible for the erection of road name signs.

Q	If Roads Service have lighting installed on a lay-by and are now going to light the main road which runs parallel with the lay-by, should the extra lighting be the same?
A	Roads Service aim to provide lighting to the current standards appropriate to the situation. The type of street lighting provided is influenced by factors such as the location (urban/rural), classification and geometry of the road, traffic volumes, history of collisions, proximity of housing, environment and other relevant considerations.

Q	How many years do Roads Service expect to get out of their light fittings before they should be changed?
A	Thank you for your question. The typical life expectancy of a street lighting lantern is 20 - 25 years.