Road Traffic Act 1972

1972 c. 20 · Enacted 30 March 1972

Contents

1. Part I: Principal Road Safety Provisions
2. Offences connected with driving of motor vehicles
3. 1Causing death by reckless or dangerous driving
4. 2Reckless, and dangerous, driving generally
5. 3Careless, and inconsiderate, driving
6. 4Driving under age
7. 5Driving, or being in charge, when under influence of drink or drugs
8. 6Driving, or being in charge, with blood-alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit
9. 7Evidence on charge of unfitness to drive
10. 8Breath tests
11. 9Laboratory tests
12. 10Ancillary provisions as to evidence in proceedings for an offence under s.5 or 6
13. 11Detention of persons while affected by alcohol
14. 12Interpretation of ss.6 to 11
15. 13Person liable to be charged with offence under ss.5, 6 or 9 not liable to be charged with certain other offences
16. 14Motor racing on highways
17. 15Regulation of motoring events on highways
18. 16Restriction on carriage of persons on motorcycles
19. Offences connected with riding of pedal cycles
20. 17Reckless, and dangerous, cycling
21. 18Careless, and inconsiderate, cycling
22. 19Cycling when under influence of drink or drugs
23. 20Regulation of cycle racing on highways
24. 21Restriction on carriage of persons on bicycles
25. Offences connected with traffic generally
26. 22Drivers to comply with traffic directions
27. 23Pedestrians to comply with directions to stop given by constables regulating vehicular traffic
28. 24Leaving vehicles in dangerous positions
29. Accidents
30. 25Duty to stop, and furnish particulars, in case of accident
31. 26General provisions as to accident inquiries
32. 27Special provisions as to accident inquiries in Greater London
33. 28Inquests on road deaths in Greater London
34. Ancillary provisions for preventing, or mitigating effects of, accidents
35. 29Penalisation of tampering with motor vehicles
36. 30Penalisation of holding or getting on to vehicle in order to be towed or carried
37. 31Control of dogs on roads
38. 32Wearing of protective headgear
39. 33Protective helmets for motor cyclists
40. Manning of locomotives and trailers
41. 34Requirements as to employment of persons to attend to locomotives and trailers
42. Restrictions on use of motor vehicles off roadway
43. 35Control of use of footpaths and bridleways for motor vehicle trials
44. 36Prohibition of driving motor vehicles elsewhere than on roads
45. Road safety information and road training
46. 37The Highway Code
47. 38Powers of Secretary of State and local authorities as to giving road safety information and training
48. 39Powers of Secretary of State to subsidise bodies other than local authorities for giving road safety information and training
49. Part II: Construction and Use of Vehicles and Equipment
50. General provisions
51. 40Regulation of construction, weight, equipment and use of vehicles
52. 41Temporary exemption from application of regulations under s.40
53. 42Authorisation of use on roads of special vehicles not complying with regulations under s.40
54. 43Tests of satisfactory condition of vehicles other than goods vehicles to which s.45 applies
55. 44Obligatory test certificates for vehicles other than goods vehicles to which s.45 applies
56. 45Tests of satisfactory condition of certain classes of goods vehicles and determination of plated weights and other particulars therefor
57. 46Obligatory test certificates for goods vehicles to which s.45 applies
58. 47Approval of design, construction, etc., of goods vehicles
59. 48Supplementary provisions as to type approval and other certificates
60. 49Appeals
61. 50Regulations for purposes of ss.47 to 49 and other supplementary provisions
62. 51Obligatory type approval, manufacturers' and Minister's approval, certificates
63. 52Regulations prohibiting the grant of excise licences for certain vehicles except on compliance with certain conditions
64. 53Testing of condition of vehicles on roads
65. 54Remedying of defects discovered on roadside tests
66. 55Tests to check whether defects have been remedied
67. 56Power to inspect goods vehicles to secure proper maintenance
68. 57Power to prohibit the driving of unfit goods vehicles
69. 58Removal of prohibition of driving of unfit goods vehicle
70. 59Operators' duty to inspect, and keep records of inspections of, goods vehicles
71. 60Vehicles not to be sold in unroadworthy condition or altered so as to be unroadworthy
72. 61Testing condition of used vehicles at sale rooms, etc.
73. 62Goods vehicles not to be sold without required manufacturer's or Minister's approval certificate
74. 63Approval marks
75. 64Provisions as to proceedings for certain offences in connection with goods vehicles
76. 65Restriction on number of trailers drawn
77. Provisions as to pedal cycles and horse-drawn vehicles
78. 66Regulation of brakes, bells, etc., on pedal cycles
79. 67Regulation of brakes on horse-drawn vehicles
80. Provisions as to lighting of vehicles
81. 68Obligatory front and rear lamps and headlamps
82. 69Obligatory reflectors
83. 70Restriction on the nature of the lamps to be carried
84. 71Restriction on movement of lamps
85. 72Multi-purpose lamps and combined lamps and reflectors
86. 73Regulation of position, character, use, etc., of lamps and reflectors
87. 74Bicycles, tricycles and invalid carriages
88. 75Horse-drawn agricultural vehicles
89. 76Vehicles carrying overhanging or projecting loads
90. 77Vehicles towing and being towed
91. 78Power of exemption and variation of requirements
92. 79Power to impose additional requirements for vehicles over prescribed length and trailers
93. 80Application of ss.68 to 79 to reflecting material
94. 81Offences
95. Supplementary
96. 82Interpretation of Part II
97. 83Administrative expenses, appointment of officials and destination of fees
98. Part III: Licensing of drivers of vehicles
99. Driving licences
100. 84Drivers of motor vehicles to have driving licences
101. 85Tests of competence to drive
102. 86Repayment of test fees
103. 87Requirements as to physical fitness of drivers
104. 88Grant of licences
105. 89Duration of licences
106. 90Appeals relating to licences
107. 91Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight
108. 92Notification of disease or disability
109. Disqualification and endorsement of licences
110. 93Disqualification on conviction of certain offences
111. 94Appeal against disqualification, and rule for determining end of period thereof
112. 95Removal of disqualification
113. 96Disqualification of persons under age
114. 97Disqualification to prevent duplication of licences
115. 98Effect of disqualification
116. 99Offence of obtaining licence, or driving, while disqualified
117. 100Arrest without warrant of persons driving while disqualified
118. 101Endorsement of licences
119. 102Combination of disqualification and endorsement with probation orders and orders for discharge in England or Wales
120. 103Interim disqualification on committal in England or Wales under s.56 of Criminal Justice Act 1967, etc.
121. 104Information as to date of birth and sex
122. 105Supplementary provisions as to disqualifications and endorsements
123. Supplementary
124. 106Conduct of proceedings in certain courts by or against the Secretary of State
125. 107Regulations for purposes of Part III
126. 108Destination of fees for licences, etc., under Part III
127. 109Service of notices
128. 110Interpretation of Part III
129. 111Provisions as to Northern Ireland drivers' licences
130. Part IV: Licensing of drivers of heavy goods vehicles
131. 112Drivers of heavy goods vehicles to be licensed
132. 113Licensing authority, and applications, for heavy goods vehicle driver's licences
133. 114Grant of heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences
134. 115Duration of heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences
135. 116Disqualification on revocation of heavy goods vehicle driver's licence
136. 117Court may determine whether test of competence to drive was properly conducted
137. 118Appeals relating to heavy goods-vehicle drivers' licences
138. 119Regulations for purposes of Part IV
139. 120Fees and expenses
140. 121Common test of competence to drive for the purposes of Parts III and IV
141. 122Transitional provisions as to certain heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences
142. 123Restriction on institution of proceedings for certain offences
143. 124Interpretation of Part IV
144. 125Provisions as to Northern Ireland heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences
145. Part V: Driving Instruction
146. 126Driving instruction for payment to be given only by registered or licensed persons
147. 127Exemption of police instructors from prohibition imposed by s.126
148. 128The register and registration and duration thereof
149. 129Extension of duration of registration
150. 130Removal of names from register
151. 131Licences
152. 132Appeals
153. 133Examinations and tests of ability to give driving instruction
154. 134Power to alter conditions for entry or retention in, and removal from, register and grant or revocation of licences
155. 135Power to prescribe form of certificate of registration, etc.
156. 136Surrender of certificate and licences
157. 137Production of certificate and licences to constables and authorised persons
158. 138Evidence by certificate as to registration and licences
159. 139Offences by corporations
160. 140Service of notices
161. 141Expenses and receipts
162. 142Regulations for purposes of Part V
163. Part VI: Third-Party Liabilities
164. Compulsory insurance or security against third-party risks
165. 143Users of motor vehicles to be insured or secured against third-party risks
166. 144Exceptions from requirement of third-party insurance or security
167. 145Requirements in respect of policies of insurance
168. 146Requirements in respect of securities
169. 147Issue and surrender of certificates of insurance and of security
170. 148Avoidance of certain exceptions to policies or securities and of certain agreements, etc., as to risks required to be covered thereby
171. 149Duty of insurers or persons giving security to satisfy judgment against persons insured or secured against third-party risks
172. 150Bankruptcy, etc., of insured or secured persons not to affect claims by third parties
173. 151Duty to give information as to insurance or security where claim made
174. 152Deposits
175. 153Power to require evidence of insurance or security on application for vehicle excise licence
176. Payments for treatment of traffic casualties
177. 154Payment for hospital treatment of traffic casualties
178. 155Payment for emergency treatment of traffic casualties
179. 156Supplementary provisions as to payments for treatment
180. Supplementary
181. 157Regulations for purposes of Part VI
182. 158Interpretation of Part VI
183. Part VII: Miscellaneous and General
184. Furnishing of information and production of documents
185. 159Power of police to stop vehicles
186. 160Weighing of motor vehicles
187. 161Power of constables to require production of driving licences and in certain cases statement of date of birth
188. 162Power of constables to obtain names and addresses of drivers and others, and to require production of evidence of insurance or security and test certificates
189. 163Powers of certifying officers and examiners as respects goods vehicles
190. 164Penalisation of failure to give name and address, and power of arrest, in case of dangerous or careless driving or cycling, etc.
191. 165Pedestrian contravening constable's direction to stop to give name and address
192. 166Duty of driver, in case of accident involving injury to another, to produce evidence of insurance or security or to report accident
193. 167Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information for verifying compliance with requirement of compulsory insurance or security
194. 168Duty to give information as to identity of driver, etc. in certain cases
195. Forgery, false statements, etc.
196. 169Forgery of documents, etc.
197. 170False statements and withholding material information
198. 171Issue of false documents
199. 172Using goods vehicle with unauthorised weights as well as authorised weights marked thereon
200. 173Power to seize articles with respect to which offences under ss.169 to 171 may have been committed
201. 174Personation of, or of person employed by, authorised examiner
202. Offences in Scotland
203. 175Taking motor vehicle without authority, etc.
204. 176Penalty for aiding, abetting, etc. commission of offences
205. Prosecution and punishment of offences and other provisions relating to legal proceedings, etc.
206. 177Prosecution and punishment of offences
207. 178Penalty for breach of regulations
208. 179Restrictions on prosecutions for certain offences
209. 180Time within which summary proceedings for certain offences must be commenced
210. 181Evidence by certificate
211. 182Admissibility of records as evidence
212. 183Proof, in summary proceedings, of identity of driver of vehicle
213. 184Jurisdiction of courts of summary jurisdiction in Scotland for certain offences
214. 185Destination of fines
215. Inquiries
216. 186General power to hold inquiries
217. 187General provisions as to inquiries
218. Application to the Crown
219. 188Application to Crown
220. 189Application of ss.6 to 11 to persons subject to service discipline
221. Interpretation
222. 190Interpretation of expressions relating to motor vehicles and classes thereof
223. 191Articulated vehicles
224. 192Hover vehicles
225. 193Certain vehicles not to be treated as motor vehicles
226. 194Method of calculating weight of motor vehicles and trailers
227. 195Interpretation of statutory references to carriages
228. 196General interpretation provisions
229. 197Effect of certain references to Scottish local authorities
230. Exclusion of application of certain provisions to tramcars, trolley vehicles, etc.
231. 198Exclusion of application of certain provisions to tramcars, trolley vehicles, etc.
232. Supplementary
233. 199Exercise of regulation-making powers and Parliamentary control thereover
234. 200Provision, etc. of weighbridges
235. 201Provisions as to Thames embankment
236. 202Protection of public interests
237. 203Consequential and other amendments of other Acts
238. 204Transitory modifications of this Act
239. 205General repeals, revocations, savings and transitional provisions
240. 206Saving for s.38 of Interpretation Act 1889
241. 207Saving for law of nuisance
242. 208Commencement
243. 209Short title and extent
244. Schedule 1: Supplementary Provisions in connection with Proceedings for Offences under Section 33
245. 1Paragraph 1
246. 2Paragraph 2
247. 3Paragraph 3
248. 4Paragraph 4
249. 5Paragraph 5
250. Schedule 2: Travelling, etc., Allowances for Attendance at Road Safety Conferences
251. 1Paragraph 1
252. 2Paragraph 2
253. 3Paragraph 3
254. Schedule 3: Deferred Tests of Condition of Vehicles
255. 1Paragraph 1
256. 2Paragraph 2
257. 3Paragraph 3
258. 4Paragraph 4
259. 5Paragraph 5
260. Schedule 4: Prosecution and Punishment of Offences
261. Part I
262. Offences under this Act
263. Part II
264. Other Offence Involving Obligatory Disqualification and Endorsement
265. Part III
266. Other Offences Involving Discretionary Disqualification and Obligatory Endorsement
267. 1Paragraph 1
268. 2Paragraph 2
269. 3Paragraph 3
270. 4Paragraph 4
271. 5Paragraph 5
272. 6Paragraph 6
273. 7Paragraph 7
274. 8Paragraph 8
275. Part IV
276. Supplementary provisions as to prosecution, trial and punishment of offences
277. 1Paragraph 1
278. 2Paragraph 2
279. 3Paragraph 3
280. 4Paragraph 4
281. 5Paragraph 5
282. 6Paragraph 6
283. 7Paragraph 7
284. 8Paragraph 8
285. Part V
286. Interpretation
287. 1Paragraph 1
288. 2Paragraph 2
289. Schedule 5: Transitional Provisions Relating to Licences to Drive Heavy Goods Vehicles
290. 1Paragraph 1
291. 2Paragraph 2
292. 3Paragraph 3
293. 4Paragraph 4
294. 5Paragraph 5
295. 6Paragraph 6
296. Schedule 6: Appeals under Section 132 against Decisions of the Registrar
297. 1Paragraph 1
298. 2Paragraph 2
299. 3Paragraph 3
300. 4Paragraph 4
301. 5Paragraph 5
302. Schedule 7: Consequential Amendments of other Acts
303. The Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Act 1878
304. The Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892
305. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947
306. The Road Traffic Act 1960
307. The Administration of Justice Act 1965
308. The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967
309. The Criminal Justice Act 1967
310. The Firearms Act 1968
311. The Countryside Act 1968
312. The Transport Act 1968
313. The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
314. The Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971
315. Schedule 8: Transitory Modifications of this Act
316. 1Paragraph 1
317. 2Paragraph 2
318. 3Paragraph 3
319. 4Paragraph 4
320. 5Paragraph 5
321. Schedule 9: Repeals and Revocations
322. IEnactments Repealed
323. IIOrders Revoked
324. Schedule 10: Savings and Transitional Provisions
325. 1Paragraph 1
326. 2Paragraph 2
327. 3Paragraph 3
328. 4Paragraph 4
329. 5Paragraph 5
330. 6Paragraph 6
331. 7Paragraph 7
332. 8Paragraph 8
333. 9Paragraph 9
334. 10Paragraph 10
335. 11Paragraph 11