Section 1 of the Act allows a local authority outside Greater London to make a "traffic regulation order" ("TRO") where this is "expedient" in order to:-

• Avoid danger to persons using the highway
• Preventing damage to the road
• For facilitating the passage of other persons on the highway, i.e. pedestrians
• For preventing the use of the highway by unsuitable vehicles
• For preserving the character of the road (where it is mostly used by pedestrians and riders)
• For preserving the amenities of the road
• Improving air quality

Section 2 specifies the type of restrictions which can be made.

Section 22 applies to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Subsection (2) says that a road traffic regulation order can be made in order to preserve the natural beauty of such places, or for the purposes of recreation and scientific study.

Subsection (3) says that the Countryside Agency and other bodies can make submissions to the Secretary of State as to the desirability of a road traffic regulation order. The Secretary of State can then step in and make an order where the local traffic authority will not.

The actual procedure for a local authority to make a TRO is set out in The Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2489). This contains a lengthy and complex procedure, together with the facility for a public enquiry.

The procedure for the Secretary of State to make such an order is contained within The Secretary of State’s Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990/1656). Again, this provides a lengthy procedure for advertisement of the proposed order and a public inquiry.

See the National Parks website for news about how they are dealing with their "off roaders."

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/section_news_detail.htm?id=10885&section=MainNews

Section 72 of the National Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 inserts a new section 22BB into the Road Traffic Act 1984 enabling National Parks to make traffic regulation orders.