Road Traffic Act 1988

For works with similar titles, see Road Traffic Act.

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Road Traffic Act 1988

CHAPTER 52

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I
Principal Road Safety Provisions
Section
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.
41. Regulation of construction, weight, equipment and use of vehicles.
42. Offence where regulations are contravened, etc.
43. Temporary exemption from application of regulations under section 41.
44. Authorisation of use on roads of special vehicles not complying with regulations under section 41. ​
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. Regulation of brakes on horse-drawn vehicles.
136. Offences to do with reflectors and tail lamps.
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. Payments for 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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