Public highway banksman training is designed for workers who guide vehicle movements in areas where the public is present and traffic cannot be controlled in the same way as on a private worksite. While most people who complete banksman training are preparing to work on construction sites, warehouse yards, logistics depots, and industrial facilities—controlled environments where vehicle movements can be planned, managed, and separated from members of the public—a significant number of UK workers operate in a very different setting: the public highway.
| ⚡ At a Glance: What This Article Covers ✔ What the 'public highway' actually means — and why it changes everything ✔ Why a standard banksman ticket is not sufficient for public highway work ✔ The specific legislation that governs highway banksman work ✔ The critical legal rule about who can direct traffic on a public road ✔ What public highway banksman training covers that standard training does not ✔ Exactly which industries and job roles legally need this specialist training ✔ Chapter 8 traffic management and how it relates to the banksman role ✔ Real-world examples from utilities, construction, and events sectors ✔ FAQs answered in plain English |
Utility engineers, civil engineering contractors, skip hire operators, demolition teams, and event organisers regularly encounter situations where vehicles must be guided in locations shared with pedestrians, cyclists, and live traffic. In these environments, the risks, legal responsibilities, and operational requirements differ significantly from those associated with standard on-site banksman duties.
A standard banksman qualification alone does not fully prepare workers for these additional responsibilities. In certain situations, it may not provide the legal authority or competence required to carry out vehicle marshalling activities on the public highway. This guide explains what makes public highway banksman training different, who needs it, what it covers, and the potential legal and safety consequences of getting it wrong.
Understanding the legal definition of the public highway is a fundamental part of public highway banksman training because the rules governing vehicle movements change significantly once work extends beyond a private site.
In UK law, the public highway refers to any road, footpath, bridleway, or other route over which the public has a legal right of passage. This includes:
The distinction between the public highway and a private worksite is legally significant for banksmen and traffic marshals. The moment you move beyond the site boundary and onto the public highway, you enter a completely different legal environment. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and its associated regulations continue to apply, but they are supplemented by road traffic legislation, highways law, and local authority requirements that do not apply within a private site.
On a construction site or within a warehouse yard, the employer controls the working environment. They establish site rules, manage vehicle routes, control access, and are responsible for maintaining a safe system of work within the site boundary. On the public highway, however, those controls are far more limited. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and other road users can enter the area without warning, without training, and without any knowledge of the work being undertaken. They also retain legal rights of passage that cannot simply be suspended.
For this reason, public highway banksman training covers a broader range of legal responsibilities, risk controls, and operational procedures than standard on-site banksman training. Safely managing vehicle movements on the public highway requires a different level of knowledge, competence, and, in some situations, specific authorisation.
| 💡 A Simple Way to Think About the Difference On a private site: you control the environment — vehicles, pedestrians, access. Your banksman guides movements within a space your employer manages. On the public highway: you do not control the environment. Members of the public have legal rights of passage. Additional legislation applies. The banksman role becomes more complex, more legally constrained, and higher risk. Standard banksman training prepares you for the first scenario. Public highway banksman training adds what you need for the second. |
Both standard banksman training and public highway banksman training are built on the same core principles. These include HSE-recognised hand signals, risk assessment, pedestrian segregation, vehicle blind spots, effective communication, and emergency procedures.
The key difference is what is added to that foundation when work takes place on the public highway. Public highway banksman training incorporates additional legal, operational, and safety requirements that reflect the increased risks of working alongside live traffic and members of the public. These additional competencies are essential for anyone responsible for directing vehicle movements beyond the boundaries of a controlled worksite.
| Standard Banksman Training | Public Highway Banksman Training |
| Covers vehicle movements within a private site boundary | Covers vehicle movements on and adjacent to the public highway |
| Environment is employer-controlled and access is managed | Environment includes uncontrolled members of the public with legal rights of passage |
| Legal framework: HSWA 1974, MHSWR 1999, CDM 2015, PUWER 1998 | All of the above PLUS the Road Traffic Acts, Highways Act 1980, New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and Traffic Management Act 2004 |
| No permit or authority required to manage vehicle movements on site | Works on the public highway may require a Section 50 or Section 58 licence, traffic regulation orders, or police notification |
| Banksman can direct all vehicle movements within the site | Banksman cannot legally direct public traffic — only manage site vehicle movements and interface with formal traffic management systems |
| Standard HSE hand signals are the primary communication tool | Standard signals supplemented by Chapter 8 compliant signing, guarding, and formal traffic management layouts |
| Risk assessment considers site-specific hazards only | Risk assessment must also consider public behaviour, highway speed and volume, sight lines from public roads, and pedestrian conflict on footpaths |
| No requirement to notify the highways authority | Many public highway works require advance notification to the local highways authority and, for certain works, to the police |
A thorough understanding of the legal framework is a core element of public highway banksman training. Operating on or adjacent to the public highway involves significantly more legal responsibilities than carrying out standard banksman duties on a private site. Anyone involved in directing vehicle movements must understand the legislation, codes of practice, and local authority requirements that apply to highway works.
These Acts govern the use of vehicles on public roads and the regulation of traffic flow. They establish who has the legal authority to direct traffic, which is directly relevant to what a highway banksman can and cannot lawfully do.
The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 also provides the legal framework for Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), which may be required to introduce temporary road closures, lane restrictions, or other traffic control measures during highway works.
The Highways Act 1980 governs the maintenance, management, and use of public highways in England and Wales. Section 137 makes it an offence to wilfully obstruct the free passage along a highway without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
Any work involving vehicles, equipment, signs, or barriers on the public highway must be carried out with the appropriate legal authority, which is typically granted through permits or licences issued by the relevant local highways authority.
The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) regulates works carried out on or beneath the public highway, particularly utility and street works.
The Act requires certain works to be registered with the local highways authority, appropriate traffic management arrangements to be implemented, and specific roles to be carried out by trained and qualified operatives where required. It also supports the Code of Practice for Safety at Street Works and Road Works, which references the signing, lighting, guarding, and traffic management principles contained within Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
The Traffic Management Act 2004 places a statutory duty on highway authorities to manage their road networks efficiently and provides enforcement powers where street works are poorly managed.
The Act also introduced permit schemes, under which many local highway authorities require formal approval before works that affect the public highway can begin. Failure to comply with permit conditions or traffic management requirements may result in enforcement action, including Fixed Penalty Notices where applicable.
An important part of public highway banksman training is understanding the Code of Practice: Safety at Street Works and Road Works, commonly known as The Pink Book. Published by the Department for Transport in collaboration with the devolved administrations, this statutory Code of Practice sets out the minimum safety standards for signing, guarding, lighting, and traffic management during street and road works.
For works covered by NRSWA, compliance with the relevant Code of Practice is a legal requirement. The Code references the traffic management guidance contained within Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual, making familiarity with these standards essential for those working on the public highway.
Before any work requiring traffic management is carried out on the public highway, the appropriate legal permissions or notifications must be in place. Depending on the nature of the work, these may include:
One of the key learning outcomes of public highway banksman training is understanding how these legal requirements affect day-to-day operations. Although obtaining permits and authorisations is generally the employer's or contractor's responsibility, banksmen and traffic marshals should understand the legal framework they are working within. Carrying out highway operations without the necessary permissions may place both the organisation and those involved at risk of enforcement action or prosecution, depending on the circumstances.
Understanding who can legally direct traffic is one of the most important topics covered in public highway banksman training. It is also one of the most commonly misunderstood distinctions between standard on-site banksman duties and working on the public highway.
Under Section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is a criminal offence for a road user to fail to comply with directions given by a uniformed police constable who is directing traffic. No equivalent statutory power automatically applies to a banksman or traffic marshal.
In practical terms, this means that a trained banksman working on the public highway does not have the general legal authority to stop or direct members of the public using the road, including motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians, in the same way as a police officer.
Only police officers, or individuals formally authorised under Section 35A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have the legal authority to direct traffic in circumstances where road users are legally required to obey their instructions.
While a highway banksman does not have the same legal powers as a police officer, they still play a vital role in maintaining safe vehicle movements within an authorised work area.
As covered in public highway banksman training, a highway banksman can:
The key point is that a highway banksman works within an approved traffic management arrangement rather than replacing it. Their role is to manage work-related vehicle movements safely while operating in accordance with the authorised traffic management plan—not to act as an unofficial traffic enforcement officer.
Operating a stop/go board is a common responsibility for some workers who have completed public highway banksman training, although it must always be carried out as part of an authorised traffic management scheme.
A stop/go board is a hand-held traffic control sign used to manage single-lane traffic through temporary works where appropriate traffic management has been planned and approved. The operator is not exercising the same legal powers as a police officer. Instead, they are implementing an authorised traffic management arrangement that includes the required signing, guarding, and safety measures.
Training for stop/go board operations typically covers the correct positioning of operatives, communication between operators positioned at each end of the works, safe operating procedures, and the appropriate response if a road user fails to comply with the traffic management measures. These procedures help reduce risk while supporting the safe and efficient movement of traffic through temporary highway works.
Public highway banksman training builds on the knowledge gained through standard banksman training by introducing the additional legal, operational, and safety requirements associated with working on or adjacent to the public highway. While course content may vary between training providers, a comprehensive programme typically covers:
The exact content of public highway banksman training will depend on the training provider and the type of work being undertaken, but the overall objective is to ensure that operatives understand both their practical responsibilities and the legal framework governing vehicle movements on the public highway.
The need for public highway banksman training depends on the nature of the work being carried out. In general, it is relevant for workers whose duties involve managing or guiding vehicle movements on, or immediately adjacent to, the public highway where those activities interact with live traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, or other road users.
The following sector-by-sector overview explains which roles are most likely to require public highway banksman training, together with the circumstances in which this specialist knowledge is particularly important.
| Sector / Role | Typical Highway Banksman Scenario | Is Specialist Training Needed? |
| Utility companies (water, gas, electricity, telecoms) | Excavating the carriageway or footpath; vehicles parked on the highway during works; equipment crossing footpaths | Yes — NRSWA applies; Chapter 8 compliance required; operatives must be trained to Code of Practice standards |
| Civil engineering / road construction | Plant and vehicles working on or crossing the carriageway; lane closures; road widening works | Yes — works directly on the highway require Chapter 8 traffic management and trained operatives |
| Construction (highway-adjacent sites) | Vehicles accessing a site by crossing the public footpath or carriageway; cranes or plant oversailing the highway | Yes — any vehicle movement that creates a hazard on the highway requires appropriate traffic management and trained banksmen |
| Skip hire and waste collection | Skips placed on the highway; vehicles parked on the road during collection | Yes — skips on the highway require a permit and appropriate signing; banksmen managing vehicle movements in this environment need highway awareness |
| Demolition contractors | Heavy plant or falling debris risk near public roads; vehicles delivering or removing materials via the highway | Yes — particularly where exclusion zones must be established that affect public road users |
| Events and festivals | Vehicle movements crossing public roads; temporary road closures for load-in/load-out; emergency vehicle access management | Yes — events affecting the public highway require formal traffic management and appropriately trained marshals |
| Local authority and highways maintenance teams | Pothole repairs, resurfacing, street furniture installation — all on the live highway | Yes — all NRSWA-covered works require operatives trained to the applicable Code of Practice standards |
| Tree surgery and arboriculture | Chipping vehicles or cranes parked on the road; falling debris risk near the carriageway | Yes — where work creates a hazard to public road users, formal traffic management and trained banksmen are required |
| Standard construction site (no highway interaction) | All vehicle movements within the private site boundary; no public road access involved | No — standard banksman training is sufficient for purely on-site vehicle management |
A key part of public highway banksman training is understanding the principles of Chapter 8 traffic management. While banksmen are not usually responsible for designing or installing traffic management systems, they must understand how these systems operate and how their role fits within an approved traffic management plan.
Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual sets out the guidance for the signing, lighting, guarding, and traffic management arrangements used during temporary works on public roads throughout the UK. It provides the recognised standards that support safe traffic management and is widely referenced within the Code of Practice for Safety at Street Works and Road Works.
As part of public highway banksman training, operatives are typically introduced to the key principles of Chapter 8, including:
A highway banksman is not normally responsible for designing or installing a Chapter 8 traffic management layout. These responsibilities generally fall to suitably trained traffic management operatives or supervisors.
However, public highway banksman training ensures that banksmen understand how an approved traffic management layout functions, where they should position themselves, the purpose of the various signs and safety measures, and how to recognise situations where the layout may no longer provide adequate protection.
For example, banksmen should know how to respond if cones or barriers are displaced by passing vehicles, if warning signs become obscured, or if other traffic management equipment is damaged or no longer effective. Recognising these issues promptly and reporting them through the appropriate procedures helps maintain a safe working environment.
Understanding Chapter 8 also enables banksmen to work more safely alongside live traffic. Knowledge of separation distances, visibility requirements, vehicle approach speeds, and driver sight lines helps reduce risk and supports safe decision-making when guiding work-related vehicle movements. These practical principles form an important part of effective public highway banksman training and contribute to safer highway operations.
| 📌 Chapter 8 Compliance Is a Legal Requirement For works covered by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, compliance with the Code of Practice for Safety at Street Works and Road Works — which mandates Chapter 8-compliant traffic management — is a statutory obligation, not a best practice guideline. Highway authorities have powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices and stop works where traffic management is non-compliant. Non-compliance that contributes to an accident on the public highway carries serious legal and civil liability consequences. |
The public highway is one of the most challenging working environments in the UK. Unlike controlled private sites, highway works take place alongside live traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, and members of the public who may be unaware of the hazards present. Understanding this specific risk profile explains why public highway banksman training is essential for anyone responsible for vehicle movements in or around public roads.
Workplace transport remains a significant area of concern for health and safety professionals. Key risk factors associated with highway and vehicle-related incidents include:
The risk profile of public highway work differs from private site work in several important ways.
Firstly, the hazard exposure is greater. Vehicles travelling on public roads are often faster, heavier, and operating closer to the work area than vehicles within controlled site environments. Drivers may also have limited warning of temporary works, changes in road layouts, or vehicle movements.
Secondly, the number of people potentially affected is much higher. Every road user passing through or near a works area—including motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, and vulnerable road users—may be exposed to risks if vehicle movements and traffic management arrangements are not properly controlled.
Thirdly, banksmen have less direct control over the environment. On a private site, access can often be restricted and movement routes can be controlled by the site operator. On the public highway, however, road users retain their legal rights of passage and may enter the area without prior knowledge of the work taking place.
These factors make highway vehicle movements significantly more complex than standard site-based banksman duties. Public highway banksman training provides operatives with the knowledge required to understand these additional hazards, follow appropriate procedures, and carry out their responsibilities safely within an authorised traffic management system.
The responsibilities covered in public highway banksman training become clearer when applied to real-world working situations. The following examples demonstrate how highway banksmen may apply their knowledge of traffic management, legal responsibilities, and safe vehicle movement procedures in different industries.
A gas distribution company is replacing an ageing gas main beneath a residential street in Manchester. The work requires excavation within the carriageway, a temporary lane closure, and the positioning of several large vehicles, including an excavator, a materials delivery lorry, and a compressor unit.
The company deploys two operatives who have completed public highway banksman training. Before work begins, they confirm that the appropriate permit under the local authority's permit scheme is in place, that the Chapter 8-compliant traffic management arrangement has been installed by the traffic management operative (TMO), and that all required signs, barriers, and guarding measures are correctly positioned.
Throughout the working day, the operatives manage vehicle movements within the designated works area, operate stop/go boards as part of the approved traffic management system, and communicate with nearby residents where access arrangements are temporarily affected.
When a passing driver fails to comply with the stop board and enters the works area, the operatives do not attempt to physically stop the vehicle or direct the driver beyond their legal authority. Instead, they record the relevant details where possible and report the incident to the site supervisor, who follows the appropriate escalation process. At all times, they operate within the limits of their role and the authorised traffic management arrangements.
A construction contractor in Bristol is developing a new commercial unit on a brownfield site accessed via a narrow lane connected to a classified road. Delivery vehicles must reverse into and out of the site, with some manoeuvres temporarily affecting the public highway.
The contractor's banksman holds a standard banksman qualification but has not completed public highway banksman training. During a routine safety review, the principal contractor's safety manager identifies this as a potential competency gap.
The site risk assessment highlights that managing vehicle movements that interact with the public highway involves additional hazards beyond those normally covered by standard site banksman duties. The banksman is temporarily removed from highway-related tasks and completes appropriate public highway banksman training before returning to those duties.
The contractor also reviews the traffic management arrangements and consults with the relevant highway authority to confirm whether additional permissions or controls are required for the planned vehicle movements. This ensures the work is carried out within the correct legal and safety framework.
A large outdoor music festival in the West Midlands carries out its production load-in over two days before the public event begins. During this period, articulated lorries delivering stage equipment need to travel along a section of public road within the festival area. The road remains open to public users because a formal closure has not been implemented.
The festival safety team recognises that standard traffic marshal training alone does not provide sufficient preparation for managing vehicle movements where public highway risks are involved. They deploy operatives with public highway banksman training who understand their legal responsibilities, recognise the limits of their authority, and work within the event's traffic management arrangements.
The operatives coordinate with the event safety team and police liaison officer where necessary, ensuring that any situation requiring formal public traffic direction is handled by the appropriate authorised personnel.
The load-in operation is completed safely, demonstrating the importance of having suitably trained personnel who understand both the practical and legal requirements of working around live public highway environments.
Public highway banksman training is a specialist area that builds on the core principles covered in standard banksman and traffic marshal qualifications. It provides additional knowledge and understanding for those who work in environments where vehicle movements interact with public roads, live traffic, and members of the public.
If you are new to the role and want to understand the wider responsibilities of a banksman or traffic marshal, our comprehensive guide provides a complete overview. It covers the fundamentals of banksman training, certification routes, key responsibilities, career progression, salary expectations, and the wider legal framework that applies to workplace vehicle movements.
This guide is a useful starting point for anyone looking to develop a clearer understanding of the role before progressing into more specialised areas such as public highway banksman training.
| 📖 Go Deeper: The Definitive Traffic Marshal Guide This article focuses on the public highway specialism. For a complete end-to-end guide to the banksman and traffic marshal role — covering standard training, legal requirements, career progression, salary, and more — read our comprehensive pillar guide: 👉 How to Become a Traffic Marshal — The Definitive Guide |
Whether you need standard training, public highway specialist training, or both, that guide will give you the complete context behind every element of the role.
Whether you are starting your career as a banksman or building on existing workplace experience, our Banksman / Traffic Marshal Training course provides the essential foundation required before progressing into specialist areas such as public highway banksman training.
Every competent highway banksman begins with a strong understanding of core banksman principles. Our course covers the essential knowledge and practical responsibilities required for safe vehicle marshalling, including recognised hand signals, risk assessment principles, workplace safety responsibilities, and emergency procedures.
The training provides a solid foundation for anyone looking to develop their skills and progress towards more specialised roles involving vehicle movements in complex environments, including work on or near the public highway.
✔ Aligned with relevant HSE guidance and the Safety Signs and Signals Regulations 1996
✔ Provides the core knowledge required before undertaking public highway banksman training
✔ Suitable for workers supporting construction, logistics, industrial, and workplace transport activities
✔ Flexible online learning format — study at your own pace, on any device
✔ Certificate issued upon successful completion
✔ No previous experience or formal qualifications required
| 🎓 GET THE TRAINING YOUR ROLE ACTUALLY REQUIRES Our accredited Banksman / Traffic Marshal course is the essential foundation — whether you work on private sites or near the public highway. HSE-aligned · Recognised nationwide · No experience needed 👉 Enrol on the Banksman / Traffic Marshal Course → |
A standard banksman certificate covers the core competencies required to guide vehicle movements on private sites, including hand signals, risk assessment, pedestrian segregation, communication procedures, and emergency arrangements.
However, it does not usually cover the additional legal framework, Chapter 8 traffic management principles, stop/go board procedures, or the specific public interaction and risk management considerations associated with highway works. Where a role involves vehicle movements that interact with the public highway, public highway banksman training is required in addition to standard banksman training to address these additional responsibilities.
No. A traffic marshal or highway banksman does not have the same legal authority as a police officer to direct public road users.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, only police officers, or individuals formally authorised under the relevant legislation, have the authority to direct traffic in circumstances where road users are legally required to comply. A highway banksman works within an authorised traffic management arrangement and manages work-related vehicle movements; they do not have independent authority to stop or direct public traffic.
Chapter 8 refers to the relevant sections of the Traffic Signs Manual that provide guidance on signing, lighting, and guarding arrangements for temporary traffic management on public roads in the UK.
A highway banksman needs to understand Chapter 8 because their role takes place within traffic management layouts designed around these principles. They need to understand the purpose of signs, cones, barriers, and other control measures, where they should safely position themselves, and what action to take if the traffic management arrangement becomes damaged or ineffective.
For works covered by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA), compliance with the relevant Code of Practice requirements is a key legal consideration.
A stop/go board is a hand-held traffic control sign displaying either STOP or GO, used to manage traffic flow through temporary single-lane working arrangements on the highway.
It is normally operated as part of an authorised traffic management system, often with one trained operative positioned at each end of the controlled section. Public highway banksman training may cover stop/go board procedures, including safe positioning, communication between operatives, and the correct response if a driver does not comply with the traffic management arrangement.
In many cases, yes. Work affecting the public highway usually requires appropriate legal authority before it begins. Depending on the type and location of the work, this may include a Section 50 licence under NRSWA for certain non-statutory undertakers, a permit under a local authority permit scheme, a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for specific traffic restrictions, or other required notifications.
The exact requirements depend on the nature of the work and the relevant highway authority. Operatives should not begin highway activities without confirming that the required permissions and traffic management arrangements are in place. Obtaining these permissions is generally the responsibility of the employer, contractor, or organisation managing the works.
Industries that commonly require public highway banksman training include:
Any organisation carrying out work that involves vehicle movements on or immediately adjacent to public roads should assess whether its operatives require specialist highway training based on their role and responsibilities.
Some elements of public highway banksman training, such as legal awareness, traffic management principles, Chapter 8 awareness, and permit requirements, can be delivered through online learning.
However, many training providers include practical elements, such as stop/go board procedures, communication exercises, and traffic management layout activities, which may require practical demonstrations or classroom-based instruction. Employers and contractors should confirm that the chosen training format meets their operational requirements and any client or site-specific expectations.
No. Public highway banksman training is generally designed as additional specialist training that builds on existing banksman knowledge.
Workers who already hold a standard banksman qualification do not usually need to repeat the basic principles of vehicle marshalling. Instead, the specialist training focuses on the additional legal responsibilities, highway-specific risks, Chapter 8 awareness, and procedures required when working around public roads.
Training providers may require evidence of previous banksman training or relevant experience before enrolment.
Working as a highway banksman is not simply the same as carrying out banksman duties in a different location. The public highway presents a different working environment, with more complex legal requirements, greater interaction with the public, and additional risks associated with live traffic.
A standard banksman qualification provides an essential foundation, but it does not normally cover all of the knowledge and responsibilities required for highway-based work. Public highway banksman training provides the additional understanding needed to work safely within authorised traffic management arrangements and to recognise the limits of the highway banksman's role.
For anyone whose duties involve vehicle movements on or adjacent to public roads, gaining appropriate specialist training helps support safer working practices, legal compliance, and better protection for workers and members of the public.
Start with the recognised foundation. Enrol on our Banksman / Traffic Marshal Training Course today.
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