FAQs

What is Quiet Lanes Suffolk?

Quiet Lanes Suffolk was a county-wide project supported by Suffolk County Council’s Suffolk 2020 Fund, the East Suffolk Community Partnerships and the East Suffolk Greenprint Forum. Our aim is to benefit everyone who lives in, works in and visits our county, by creating Quiet Lanes to encourage the use of more active forms of travel such as walking, cycling and horse-riding. Not only will this improve people’s wellbeing it will support the drive towards making Suffolk carbon neutral by 2030 in response to the climate emergency.

What is a Quiet Lane?

A Quiet Lane is a nationally recognised designation of single-track road (i.e. no line markings), typically with less than 1,000 vehicles using it per day. They are routes where visitors and locals can enjoy the natural surroundings and use them for activities such as cycling, horse-riding, jogging and walking. However, the idea is not to restrict motor vehicles on these rural routes, but to encourage considerate use of the road, so they can be shared and enjoyed by all.

Who can use Quiet Lanes?

Quiet Lanes are for everyone!

Is a Quiet Lane a traffic calming measure?

While a Quiet Lane encourages drivers to exercise caution when travelling along it to respect other users, it isn’t a traffic calming measure.

Can additional Quiet Lanes be added?

The funding for the current project has now been fully allocated. However, it is still possible to nominate potential Quiet Lanes. Initial contact should be with your local Parish Council who can make contact with the Safety and Speed Management Team at Suffolk Highways SafetyandSpeedManagement@suffolkhighways.org if they think they have lanes that would be suitable for designation.

How do I go about finding out if a lane that I use is going to be made into a Quiet Lane?

Your Parish Council will be able to give you that information, find their contact details here (this link will take you to an external site). Signs are being installed in the designated lanes.

What can I do if my Parish Council haven’t registered the lane with Quiet Lanes Suffolk?

Unfortunately, the funding for this project is already allocated to parishes who registered with Quiet Lanes Suffolk by the required deadline. However, your Parish Council could contact the Safety and Speed Management Team at Suffolk Highways for further information - SafetyandSpeedManagement@suffolkhighways.org

Will motorists take any notice of the signs?

An important part of the project is a publicity campaign to raise awareness of Quiet Lanes and the way they should be used.

The Quiet Lane is a road where there are no speed restrictions. Is it safe for walkers / cyclists / horseriders to use?

All roads outside the built-up area of a village are derestricted. That doesn’t mean drivers can or should drive at 60 mph though. The Highway Code instructs drivers that Quiet Lanes are 'places where people could be using the whole of the road for a range of activities ... You should drive slowly and carefully and be prepared to stop to allow people extra time to make space for you to pass them in safety’.

Who is responsible for installing and maintaining the signs?

Suffolk County Council Highways.

How will signage clutter be avoided in rural locations?

The designated lane is required by law to be identified by an entry and exit sign. Parish Councils, Quiet Lanes Suffolk and Suffolk Highways Authority all recognise the need to minimise sign clutter and use the smallest sign allowed under government regulations. Repeater signs may occasionally be found on longer lanes. Signs are mounted on existing posts where practical, manufactured to highways specification and designed to be long lasting and low maintenance. In conservation areas signposts that are in keeping with the area may be used.

My home is on a Quiet Lane, how will it affect vehicular access?

Quiet Lane designation does not impose traffic calming or access restrictions for any residents or businesses along the route.

My business is on a Quiet Lane how will it affect me?

Rural businesses are often found along narrow country lanes, and Quiet Lane designation does not impose traffic calming or access restrictions so there should be no negative impacts to your business. Indeed, for many businesses in the leisure and tourist industry, being situated on a Quiet Lanes is seen as a marketing opportunity.

As a driver, what are my responsibilities?

Your responsibilities are governed by Highway Code Rule 218: ‘Home Zones and Quiet Lanes. These are places where people could be using the whole of the road for a range of activities … You should drive slowly and carefully and be prepared to stop to allow people extra time to make space for you to pass them in safety.’ In essence, expect and respect!

I represent a group outside of Suffolk who are interested in the Suffolk Quiet Lanes project. Who can I contact to find out more?

Email SafetyandSpeedManagement@suffolkhighways.org for more information.

Who is running the project and how has it been funded?

This is a community-driven, volunteer-led project. Parish Councils all over Suffolk are supporting their communities in their strong desire to be able to continue using their rural back lanes for recreation, exercise and sustainable travel in more safety. A small team of volunteers have developed a new ‘self-help’ model which involves minimal costs and have supported Parish Councils in the use of that to proceed through the process to get their lanes legally designated as ‘Quiet Lanes’. The money that is being spent on signage has been allocated by Suffolk County Council from their Suffolk 2020 Fund and East Suffolk Council, and is one of several county-wide community-led projects to get funding.

Will there be a complete network which joins villages across the county?

Parish Councils are working together where they have suitable lanes that cross parish boundaries to create a network of Quiet Lanes.

What’s the difference between a Quiet Lane, a bridleway and a Green Lane?

While a Quiet Lane is a single-track piece of road, both Bridleways and Green Lanes are unsurfaced. The difference between the two is that Bridleways are for walkers, horse riders and cyclists, while motor vehicles can use Green Lanes.

What does the Countryside Code say about Quiet Lanes?

The latest version of the Countryside Code can be read here.