Commentary on Sections Part 2: Network Management by Local Traffic Authorities Section 16: The network management duty
48.Section 16 places a duty on every local traffic authority to manage its road network to secure the expeditious movement of traffic on their road network, and to facilitate traffic movement on other traffic authorities' road networks. The network must be managed with a view to achieving the objective of the duty, so far as may be reasonably practicable, having regard to the local authority’s other obligations, policies and objectives. The action a local authority may take in performing the duty includes the exercise of any powers affecting the use of the network, whether or not those powers were conferred on the authority in their capacity as a traffic authority.