In both its policy document Signing the Way and in its recent consultation on traffic orders, DfT encourages the use of mapping to illustrate and document new parking controls and other regulatory measures. It also advises authorities to consider the traffic signing at an early stage and to include this in proposals. ParkMap – the UK’s only commercially available software for making and managing traffic orders – has been upgraded to meet all these aspirations, and to cater for shared use and other complex new restrictions recently authorised for use throughout England. 

ParkMap version 5.5, released this month contains many major new features, focused upon the changing needs of traffic authorities in managing ever more complex and frequently changing restrictions. Particularly important is the need to share valuable kerb space between different types of users at different times. Shared use and similar bays have been common in many authorities for several years, but recent DfT sign authorisations have extended the scope for these considerably. ParkMap 5.5 caters for all these situations, and even generates automatically the traffic sign images for these complex measures, using its link to SignPlot. Bilingual signs for Wales are even catered for with translation happening automatically. 

Other important new features in ParkMap 5.5 relate to orders controlling moving traffic, such as speed limits and banned turns. These are now more closely linked to Ordnance Survey’s ITN road network, but provide also for new streets and private roads not yet on the map or network. Another complication, dealt with ingeniously in the new software, is the issue of different speed limits at different levels where roads cross each other and at grade-separated junctions, even though they appear superimposed on a plan. 

To download ParkMap version 5.5, log into the User Area of our website and follow the on-screen instructions.

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