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Road traffic law resources

Lawfinder: Law Resources: Road Traffic

Road Traffic Act

Part I: Principal Road Safety Provisions

Driving offences

1 Causing death by reckless driving
2 Reckless driving
3 Careless, and inconsiderate, driving

Motor vehicles: drink and drugs

4 Driving, or being in charge, when under influence of drink or drugs
5 Driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit
6 Breath tests
7 Provision of specimens for analysis
8 Choice of specimens of breath
9 Protection for hospital patients
10 Detention of persons affected by alcohol or a drug
11 Interpretation of sections 4 to 10

Motor racing and motoring events on public ways

12 Motor racing on public ways
13 Regulation of motoring events on public ways

Protective measures: seat belts, helmets, etc

14 Seat belts: adults
15 Restriction on carrying children not wearing seat belts in motor vehicles
16 Wearing of protective headgear
17 Protective helmets for motor cyclists
18 Authorisation of head-worn appliances for use on motor cycles

Stopping on verges, etc., or in dangerous positions, etc

19 Prohibition of parking of HGVs on verges, central reservations and footways
20 Definition of "heavy commercial vehicle" for the purposes of section 19
21 Prohibition of driving or parking on cycle tracks
22 Leaving vehicles in dangerous positions

Other restrictions in interests of safety

23 Restriction of carriage of persons on motor cycles
24 Restriction of carriage of persons on bicycles
25 Tampering with motor vehicles
26 Holding or getting on to vehicle in order to be towed or carried
27 Control of dogs on roads

Cycling offences and cycle racing

28 Reckless cycling
29 Careless, and inconsiderate, cycling
30 Cycling when under influence of drink or drugs
31 Regulation of cycle racing on public ways
32 Electrically assisted pedal cycles

Use of motor vehicles away from roads

33 Control of use of footpaths and bridleways for motor vehicle trials
34 Prohibition of driving motor vehicles elsewhere than on roads

Directions to traffic and to pedestrians and traffic signs

35 Drivers to comply with traffic directions
36 Drivers to comply with traffic signs
37 Directions to pedestrians

Promotion of road safety

38 The Highway Code
39 Powers of Secretary of State and local authorities as to giving road safety information and training
40 Powers of Secretary of State to subsidise bodies other then local authorities for giving road safety information and training

Part II: Construction and Use of Vehicles and Equipment

General regulation of construction, use etc

Tests of vehicles other than goods vehicles to which section 49 applies

45 Tests of satisfactory condition of vehicles
46 Particular aspects of regulations under section 45
47 Obligatory test certificates
48 Supplementary provisions about test certificates

Tests of certain classes of goods vehicles

49 Tests of satisfactory condition of goods vehicles and determination of plated weights, etc
50 Appeals against determinations
51 Particular aspects of regulations under section 49
52 Supplementary provisions about tests, etc., of goods vehicles
53 Obligatory goods vehicle test certificates

Approval of design, construction, equipment and marking of vehicles

54 Type approval requirements
55 Type approval certificates
56 Conditions of, and cancellation or suspension of, type approval certificates
57 Certificates of conformity
58 Minister's approval certificates
59 Supplementary provisions as to certificates of conformity and Minister's approval certificates
60 Appeals
61 Regulations for the purposes of sections 54 to 60
62 Other supplementary provisions
63 Obligatory type approval certificates, certificates of conformity and Minister's approval certificates
64 Using goods vehicle with unauthorised weights as well as authorised weights marked on it
65 Vehicles and parts not to be sold without required certificate of conformity or Minister's approval certificate

Conditions for grant of excise licence

66 Regulations prohibiting the grant of excise licences for certain vehicles except on compliance with certain conditions

Testing vehicles on roads

67 Testing of condition of vehicles on roads

Maintenance and loading of goods vehicles

68 Power to inspect goods vehicles to secure proper maintenance
69 Power to prohibit the driving of unfit goods vehicles
70 Power to prohibit driving of overloaded goods vehicles
71 Offences in connection with unfit or overloaded goods vehicles
72 Removal of prohibitions
73 Provisions supplementary to sections 69 to 72

Miscellaneous provisions about vehicles and vehicle parts

74 Operator's duty to inspect, and keep records of inspections of, goods vehicles
75 Vehicles not to be sold in unroadworthy condition or altered so as to be unroadworthy
76 Fitting and supply of defective or unsuitable vehicle parts
77 Testing condition of used vehicles at sale rooms, etc
78 Weighing of motor vehicles
79 Further provisions relating to weighing of motor vehicles
80 Approval marks

Pedal cycles and horse-drawn vehicles

81 Regulation of brakes, bells etc., on pedal cycles
82 Regulation of brakes on horse-drawn vehicles

Miscellaneous

83 Offences to do with reflectors and tail lamps
84 Appointment of officials and destination of fees
85 Interpretation of Part II
86 Index to Part II

Part III: Licensing of Drivers of Vehicles

Requirement to hold licence

87 Drivers of motor vehicles to have driving licences
88 Exceptions

Tests

89 Tests of competence to drive
90 Review of conduct of test
91 Repayment of test fees

Physical fitness

92 Requirements as to physical fitness of drivers
93 Revocation of licence because of disability or prospective disability
94 Provision of information, etc. relating to disabilities
95 Notification of refusal of insurance on grounds of health
96 Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight

Granting of licences, their form and duration

97 Grant of licences
98 Form of licence
99 Duration of licences

Appeals

100 Appeals relating to licences

Disqualification (otherwise than on conviction)

101 Disqualification of persons under age
102 Disqualification to prevent duplication of licences
103 Obtaining licence, or driving, while disqualified

Miscellaneous

104 Conduct of proceedings in certain courts by or against the Secretary of State
105 Regulations
106 Destination of fees for licences, etc
107 Service of notices
108 Interpretation
109 Provisions as to Northern Ireland drivers' licences

Part IV: Licensing of Drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicles

Requirement for HGV licence

110 Drivers of heavy goods vehicles to be licensed

Grant, duration and revocation of licences

111 Licensing authority, and applications, for HGV drivers' licences
112 Grant of HGV drivers' licences
113 Duration of HGV drivers' licences
114 Disqualification on revocation of HGV driver's licence

Appeals and review of tests

115 Review of conduct of test
116 Appeals relating to HGV drivers' licences

General and supplemental

117 Regulations
118 Fees and expenses
119 Common test of competence to drive for the purposes of Parts III and IV
120 Interpretation
121 Provisions as to Northern Ireland heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences
122 Protection of public interests

Part V: Driving Instruction

Instructors to be registered or licensed

123 Driving instruction for payment to be given only by registered or licensed persons
124 Exemption of police instructors from prohibition imposed by section 123

Registration

125 The register of approved instructors
126 Duration of registration
127 Extension of duration of registration
128 Removal of names from register

Licences

129 Licences for giving instruction so as to obtain practical experience
130 Revocation of licences

Appeals

131 Appeals

Examinations and tests

132 Examinations and tests of ability to give driving instruction
133 Review of examinations

General and supplemental

134 Power to alter conditions for entry or retention in, and removal from, register and for grant or revocation of licences
135 Power to prescribe form of certificate of registration, etc
136 Surrender of certificates and licences
137 Production of certificates and licences to constables and authorised persons
138 Offences by corporations
139 Service of notices
140 Receipts
141 Regulations
142 Index to Part V

Part VI: Third-Party Liabilities

Compulsory insurance or security against third-party risks

143 Users of motor vehicles to be insured or secured against third-party risks
144 Exceptions from requirement of third-party insurance or security
145 Requirements in respect of policies of insurance
146 Requirements in respect of securities
147 Issue and surrender of certificates of insurance and of security
148 Avoidance of certain exceptions to policies or securities
149 Avoidance of certain agreements as to liability towards passengers
150 Insurance or security in respect of private use of vehicle to cover use under car-sharing arrangements
151 Duty of insurers or persons giving security to satisfy judgment against persons insured or secured against third-party risks
152 Exceptions to section 151
153 Bankruptcy, etc., of insured or secured persons not to affect claims by third parties
154 Duty to give information as to insurance or security where claim made
155 Deposits
156 Power to require evidence of insurance or security on application for vehicle excise licence

Payments for treatment of traffic casualties

157 Payment for hospital treatment of traffic casualties
158 Payment for emergency treatment of traffic casualties
159 Supplementary provisions as to payments for treatment

General

160 Regulations
161 Interpretation
162 Index to Part VI

Part VII: Miscellaneous and General

Powers of constables and other authorised persons

163 Power of police to stop vehicles
164 Power of constables to require production of driving licence and in certain cases statement of date of birth
165 Power of constables to obtain names and addresses of drivers and others, and to require production of evidence of insurance or security and test certificates
166 Powers of certifying officers and examiners as respects goods vehicles
167 Power of arrest in Scotland for reckless or careless driving or cycling

Duty to give name and address

168 Failure to give, or giving false, name and address in case of reckless or careless or inconsiderate driving or cycling
169 Pedestrian contravening constable's direction to stop to give name and address

Duties in case of accident

170 Duty of driver to stop, report accident and give information or documents

Other duties to give information or documents

171 Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information for verifying compliance with requirement of compulsory insurance or security
172 Duty to give information as to identity of driver, etc., in certain cases

Forgery, false statements, etc

173 Forgery of documents, etc
174 False statements and withholding material information
175 Issue of false documents
176 Power to seize articles in respect of which offences under sections 173 to 175 may have been committed
177 Impersonation of, or of person employed by, authorised examiner

Offences in Scotland

178 Taking motor vehicle without authority, etc

Inquiries

179 General power to hold enquiries
180 General provisions as to inquiries
181 General provisions as to accident inquiries
182 Special provisions as to accident inquiries in Greater London

Application to the Crown

183 Application to the Crown
184 Application of sections 5 to 10 to persons subject to service discipline

Interpretation

185 Meaning of "motor vehicle" and other expressions relating to vehicles
186 Supplementary provisions about those expressions
187 Articulated vehicles
188 Hover vehicles
189 Certain vehicles not to be treated as motor vehicles
190 Method of calculating weight of motor vehicles and trailers
191 Interpretation of statutory references to carriages
192 General interpretation of Act
193 Exemptions for tramcars, trolley vehicles, railway locomotives, carriages and trucks
194 General index

Supplementary

195 Provisions as to regulations
196 Provision, etc., of weighbridges
197 Short title, commencement and extent

Schedules:

Schedule 1 Supplementary provisions in connection with proceedings for offences under sections 17 and 18(4)

Schedule 2 Deferred tests of condition of vehicles

Schedule 3 Appeals under section 131 against decisions of the Registrar

Schedule 4 Provisions not applicable to tramcars, etc

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