Chapter 8 Traffic Management: A Plain-English Guide for UK Contractors (Cone Sizes, Signs and Spacing)

What Is Chapter 8?

Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual (TSM) is the UK government guidance that governs the signing, lighting, and guarding of roadworks and temporary obstructions on public roads. First introduced in 1974 and regularly updated, it sets out the equipment specifications, layout diagrams, and operational procedures that apply to any temporary traffic management (TTM) scheme — from a minor footway repair to a major motorway contraflow.

Traff Tex Reflective Highway Road Traffic Cones

Chapter 8 applies to works on and adjacent to public highways in England and Wales. Scotland operates under equivalent guidance within the Scottish Traffic Signs Regulations, and Northern Ireland has its own framework, though Chapter 8 principles are widely referenced across the UK.

Who Needs to Know Chapter 8?

Anyone working on or near a public road — whether for a utility company, local authority, or private contractor — needs to understand the Chapter 8 requirements that apply to their work. This includes:

  • Utility contractors undertaking excavations or overhead works
  • Construction companies accessing or working near adopted highways
  • Local authority teams carrying out road maintenance or repairs
  • Event management teams requiring temporary road closures or restrictions

For work on public highways, operatives must hold the relevant New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) qualification under National Highway Sector Scheme 12 (NHSS12). Chapter 8 awareness training is also widely available for supervisors and managers who need to understand the requirements without necessarily being operatives on site.

Traffic Cone Specifications Under Chapter 8

Traffic cones are one of the most visible elements of any temporary traffic management scheme, and Chapter 8 specifies the minimum cone height based on road type and speed limit. Cones must conform to BS EN 13422.

  • 300mm cones: Permitted for use on footways, cycle tracks, and car parks where vehicle speeds are very low.
  • 500mm cones: Required for use on roads with a speed limit up to and including 60mph. This is the most common size for urban and suburban roadworks.
  • 750mm cones: Used on roads above 40mph where greater visibility is required, and as an alternative on high-speed roads.
  • 1,000mm (1m) cones: Required for motorways and high-speed dual carriageways, where approach speeds and impact risks are highest.

Chapter 8 compliant cones typically carry an orange sleeve. Cones with red and white markings are used for specific applications such as fire brigade use. All cones deployed on public highways must display a Chapter 8 compliance mark.

Longitudinal Spacing of Cones

Cone spacing along the taper and merge zones is determined by the speed limit of the road. Approximate spacing guidance is as follows:

  • 30mph roads: cones at approximately 10 metre intervals
  • 40mph roads: cones at approximately 20 metre intervals
  • 50mph roads: cones at approximately 30 metre intervals
  • 60mph roads: cones at approximately 40 metre intervals
  • Motorways: governed by specific NHSS12 schemes and traffic management plans

These spacings apply in the taper zone where lanes are being closed or merged. In the working space itself, spacing may be tighter. The exact requirements are set out in the relevant Chapter 8 layout diagrams for each scenario.

Zones Within a Temporary Traffic Management Layout

A Chapter 8 layout is structured around distinct zones, each with a specific function:

  1. Warning zone: Advance warning signs alert drivers to the upcoming restriction. The length of this zone depends on the speed limit of the road.
  2. Taper: Cones guide traffic from the normal lane position into the restricted path. Taper length is calculated based on lane width and approach speed.
  3. Working space: The protected area where operatives are working. No traffic should enter this space.
  4. Termination zone: The controlled merge back to normal traffic flow at the end of the works.

Signs Required in a Chapter 8 Scheme

Alongside cones and guarding, Chapter 8 schemes require specific signing. Typical requirements include:

Signs must be the correct size for the road type, positioned at the specified distances from the works, and removed promptly when works are complete to avoid confusing drivers with signs that no longer reflect current conditions.

Lighting and Overnight Working

Where works extend into hours of darkness, Chapter 8 requires lighting of the working space and traffic management layout. Lamps must be positioned on cones and barriers at specified intervals and must comply with the relevant British Standard. Reflective sleeves and markings on cones provide additional visibility in headlight conditions and are a standard feature of Chapter 8 compliant equipment.

Competency and Training

Beyond the NRSWA qualification required for work on public highways, Chapter 8 awareness training is recommended for all supervisors, managers, and others responsible for planning or overseeing temporary traffic management. Understanding the principles — cone sizing, spacing, zone layout, and signing requirements — is essential for producing a compliant traffic management plan and for auditing schemes on site.

Employers have a duty under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure that workers carrying out temporary traffic management are competent. Operatives without appropriate training and qualification should not be placing or managing live traffic management schemes on public highways.

For Chapter 8 compliant cones in all sizes, together with advance warning signs, barriers, and traffic management accessories, browse our traffic cones and traffic safety signs ranges.

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