10 Common TM Mistakes
10 Common Event Traffic Management Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them) This short guide is designed to help event managers understand key compliance risks in temporary traffic management (TTM). Based on real-world experience and aligned with UK regulations, it highlights what often goes wrong — and how to put it right.
1
Lack of Maintenance
Many organisers don’t realise a live TM site must be inspected daily — even when not in use — and must have a qualified supervisor available to handle issues.
Failure to log and maintain the site can lead to legal liability, especially on roads with speed limits or narrowed lanes.
Depending on the size of your site and the roads it is located on this will determine the qualification required. Lantra and Streetworks are the most commonly recognised qualifications in the industry, with Lantra being much more detailed. All sites must have a qualified supervisor within traveling distance of the site to deal with any issues that an operative is not trained to.
Did you know an active site on urban and rural roads (single carriageway roads, and dual carriageways up to 40mph) must be visually inspected "After installation, at the start, end and at regular intervals of each day the site is in use (on days where the site is not in use at least once every 24 hours)"
A record of the maintenance carried out, and any issues found should be kept for a minimum of six months, in cases where narrow lanes, speed reductions, or temporary road markings are used this is mandatory.
In the event of an accident on a site, you control, failure to have an appropriately qualified person appointed to maintain your site (or a maintenance record) would be seen as a failure to comply with the law.
Summary: Live traffic management setups require ongoing checks, supervision, and maintenance — even when the event isn’t active.
Why This Matters: Once TM is installed, the organiser becomes responsible unless qualified supervision is agreed. Without daily inspections and documentation, damaged or missing signage can lead to accidents or prosecution.
Key Regulations:
Chapter 8: Sites must be visually inspected at the start, end, and at least every 24 hours when in place
The Red Book: Requires qualified operatives/supervisors to carry out TM maintenance
TSRGD: All equipment must remain compliant in position and quality
Common Issues:
No supervisor available to address faults
No maintenance records kept
TM left un-inspected on days with no event activity
What You Should Do:
Assign a 12D-qualified supervisor
Keep inspection records for 6 months minimum
Inspect TM even when the site is closed to attendees
Event TM Recommends:
Full TM maintenance cover
Remote/daily check-in logs via our Control Log platform
Supervisor or audit support