OpenLegislation

Road Traffic Act 1991

1991 c. 40 · Enacted 25 July 1991 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 5 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 28 November 2024.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 4 para. 53repealedRoad Traffic (Vehicle Testing) Act 1999 s. 7(2)(b)
Sch. 4 para. 75repealedRoad Traffic (Vehicle Testing) Act 1999 s. 7(2)(b)
s. 82(1)words substitutedGreater London Authority Act 1999 s. 287(2)
Sch. 2 para. 3repealedRoad Safety Act 2006 Sch. 7(6)
Sch. 2 para. 4repealedRoad Safety Act 2006 Sch. 7(6)

An Act to amend the law about road traffic.

[25th July 1991]

C2I1E1 Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act amendment to earlier affecting provision SSI 2005/11 art. 5(2) Sch. 3 Pt. 11 (1.10.2006) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (City of Glasgow, Perth and Kinross Council, Aberdeen City Council, Dundee City Council and South Lanarkshire Council) Designation Amendment Order 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/446), art. 4(b)(d)

C2

Act applied (with modifications) (20.9.2000) by 2000 c. vii, s. 4(4)(5)

Commencement

I1

Act partly in force at Royal Assent see s. 84(1)(2)

Extent

E1

This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland except in so far as it amends any enactment extending there see s. 86

Contents

  1. Part I: General
  2. Driving offences
  3. 1Offences of dangerous driving.
  4. 2Careless, and inconsiderate, driving.
  5. Drink and drugs
  6. 3Causing death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs.
  7. 4Driving under influence of drink or drugs.
  8. Motoring events
  9. 5Disapplication of sections 1 to 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for authorised motoring events.
  10. Danger to road-users
  11. 6Causing danger to road-users.
  12. Cycling
  13. 7Cycling offences.
  14. Construction and use
  15. 8Construction and use of vehicles.
  16. 9Vehicle examiners.
  17. 10Testing vehicles on roads.
  18. 11Inspection of vehicles.
  19. 12Power to prohibit driving of unfit vehicles.
  20. 13Power to prohibit driving of overloaded vehicles.
  21. 14Unfit and overloaded vehicles: offences.
  22. 15Removal of prohibitions.
  23. 16Supply of unroadworthy vehicles etc.
  24. Licensing of drivers
  25. 17Requirement of licence.
  26. 18Physical fitness.
  27. 19Effects of disqualification.
  28. Insurance
  29. 20Exception from requirement of third-party insurance.
  30. Information
  31. 21Information as to identity of driver etc.
  32. Trial
  33. 22Amendment of Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
  34. 23Speeding offences etc: admissibility of certain evidence.
  35. 24Alternative verdicts.
  36. 25Interim disqualification.
  37. Penalties
  38. 26Amendment of Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
  39. 27Penalty points to be attributed to offences.
  40. 28Penalty points to be taken into account on conviction.
  41. 29Disqualification for certain offences.
  42. 30Courses for drink-drive offenders.
  43. 31Experimental period for section 30. Repealed
  44. 32Disqualification until test is passed.
  45. 33Short periods of disqualification.
  46. 34Conditional offer of fixed penalty.
  47. Miscellaneous
  48. 35Disabled persons’ badges.
  49. 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  51. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  52. 39Disqualification in Scotland where vehicle used to commit offence.
  53. 40Power to install equipment for detection of traffic offences.
  54. 41Variation of charges at off-street parking places.
  55. 42Variation of charges at designated parking places.
  56. 43Permitted and special parking areas outside London.
  57. 44Parking attendants.
  58. 45Variable speed limits.
  59. 46Tramcars and trolley vehicles.
  60. 47Applications for licences to drive hackney carriages etc.
  61. 48Minor and consequential amendments.
  62. 49Omission of enactments not brought into force. Repealed
  63. Part II: Traffic In London
  64. Priority routes
  65. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  66. 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  67. 52The Traffic Director for London.
  68. 53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  69. Local plans and trunk road local plans
  70. 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  71. 55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  72. 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  73. 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  74. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  75. 59Variation of local plans.
  76. 60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  77. 61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  78. 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  79. Parking in London
  80. 63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  81. 64Charges at designated parking places.
  82. 65Contravention of certain orders relating to parking places in London not to be criminal offence.
  83. 66Parking penalties in London.
  84. 67Recovery of vehicles or of proceeds of disposal.
  85. 68Charges for removal, storage and disposal of vehicles.
  86. 69Immobilisation of vehicles in parking places.
  87. 70Exemptions from section 69.
  88. 71Representations in relation to removal or immobilisation of vehicles.
  89. 72Appeals to parking adjudicator in relation to decisions under section 71.
  90. 73Appointment of parking adjudicators by joint committee of the appointing authorities.
  91. 74Fixing of certain parking and other charges for London.
  92. 74AAdditional parking charges: reserve powers of Secretary of State.
  93. 75Immobilisation of vehicles in London by police.
  94. 76Special parking areas.
  95. 76AVariation of special parking areas by Mayor of London.
  96. 77Application of provisions in relation to special parking areas.
  97. Miscellaneous
  98. 78Enforcement.
  99. 79Application to Crown and visiting forces.
  100. 80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  101. 81Minor and consequential amendments.
  102. 82Interpretation of Part II.
  103. Part III: Supplementary
  104. 83Repeals.
  105. 84Commencement.
  106. 85Expenses.
  107. 86Extent.
  108. 87Short title.
  109. Schedule 1: Amendment of Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
  110. 1Paragraph 1
  111. 2Paragraph 2
  112. 3Paragraph 3
  113. 4Paragraph 4
  114. 5Paragraph 5
  115. 6Paragraph 6
  116. 7Paragraph 7
  117. 8Paragraph 8
  118. 9Paragraph 9
  119. 10Paragraph 10
  120. 11Paragraph 11
  121. 12Paragraph 12
  122. 13Paragraph 13
  123. 14Paragraph 14
  124. 15Paragraph 15
  125. 16Paragraph 16
  126. 17Paragraph 17
  127. Schedule 2: Amendment of Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
  128. 1Paragraph 1
  129. 2Paragraph 2
  130. 3Paragraph 3
  131. 4Paragraph 4
  132. 5Paragraph 5
  133. 6Paragraph 6
  134. 7Paragraph 7
  135. 8Paragraph 8
  136. 9Paragraph 9
  137. 10Paragraph 10
  138. 11Paragraph 11
  139. 12Paragraph 12
  140. 13Paragraph 13
  141. 14Paragraph 14
  142. 15Paragraph 15
  143. 16Paragraph 16
  144. 17Paragraph 17
  145. 18Paragraph 18
  146. 19Paragraph 19
  147. 20Paragraph 20
  148. 21Paragraph 21
  149. 22Paragraph 22
  150. 23Paragraph 23
  151. 24Paragraph 24
  152. 25Paragraph 25
  153. 26Paragraph 26
  154. 27Paragraph 27
  155. 28Paragraph 28
  156. 29Paragraph 29
  157. 30Paragraph 30
  158. 31Paragraph 31
  159. 32Paragraph 32
  160. Schedule 3: Permitted and special parking areas outside London
  161. Permitted parking areas
  162. 1Paragraph 1
  163. Special parking areas
  164. 2Paragraph 2
  165. Control of parking in permitted and special parking areas
  166. 3Paragraph 3
  167. Orders under this Schedule
  168. 4Paragraph 4
  169. Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments
  170. The Transport Act 1968 (c.73)
  171. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  172. 2Paragraph 2
  173. The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (c.44)
  174. 3Paragraph 3
  175. The Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971 (c.10)
  176. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  177. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  178. The Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act 1972 (c.27)
  179. 6Paragraph 6
  180. 7Paragraph 7
  181. 8Paragraph 8
  182. 9Paragraph 9
  183. The International Road Haulage Permits Act 1975 (c.46)
  184. 10Paragraph 10
  185. The Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
  186. 11Paragraph 11
  187. 12Paragraph 12
  188. 13Paragraph 13
  189. The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (c.14)
  190. 14Paragraph 14
  191. 15Paragraph 15
  192. 16Paragraph 16
  193. The Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c.48)
  194. 17Paragraph 17
  195. The Transport Act 1982 (c.49)
  196. 18Paragraph 18
  197. 19Paragraph 19
  198. 20Paragraph 20
  199. 21Paragraph 21
  200. 22Paragraph 22
  201. 23Paragraph 23
  202. The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c.27)
  203. 24Paragraph 24
  204. 25Paragraph 25
  205. 26Paragraph 26
  206. 27Paragraph 27
  207. 28Paragraph 28
  208. 29Paragraph 29
  209. 30Paragraph 30
  210. 31Paragraph 31
  211. 32Paragraph 32
  212. 33Paragraph 33
  213. 34Paragraph 34
  214. 35Paragraph 35
  215. 36Paragraph 36
  216. 37Paragraph 37
  217. The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54)
  218. 38Paragraph 38
  219. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c.60)
  220. 39Paragraph 39 Repealed
  221. The Coroners Act 1988 (c.13)
  222. 40Paragraph 40
  223. 41Paragraph 41
  224. The Road Traffic Act 1988 (c.52)
  225. 42Paragraph 42
  226. 43Paragraph 43
  227. 44Paragraph 44
  228. 45Paragraph 45
  229. 46Paragraph 46
  230. 47Paragraph 47
  231. 48Paragraph 48
  232. 49Paragraph 49
  233. 50Paragraph 50
  234. 51Paragraph 51
  235. 52Paragraph 52
  236. 53Paragraph 53
  237. 54Paragraph 54
  238. 55Paragraph 55
  239. 56Paragraph 56
  240. 57Paragraph 57
  241. 58Paragraph 58
  242. 59Paragraph 59
  243. 60Paragraph 60
  244. 61Paragraph 61
  245. 62Paragraph 62
  246. 63Paragraph 63
  247. 64Paragraph 64
  248. 65Paragraph 65
  249. 66Paragraph 66
  250. 67Paragraph 67
  251. 68Paragraph 68
  252. 69Paragraph 69
  253. 70Paragraph 70
  254. 71Paragraph 71
  255. 72Paragraph 72
  256. 73Paragraph 73
  257. 74Paragraph 74
  258. 75Paragraph 75
  259. 76Paragraph 76
  260. 77Paragraph 77
  261. 78Paragraph 78
  262. 79Paragraph 79 Repealed
  263. The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c.53)
  264. 80Paragraph 80
  265. 81Paragraph 81
  266. 82Paragraph 82
  267. 83Paragraph 83
  268. 84Paragraph 84
  269. 85Paragraph 85
  270. 86Paragraph 86
  271. 87Paragraph 87
  272. 88Paragraph 88
  273. 89Paragraph 89
  274. 90Paragraph 90
  275. 91Paragraph 91
  276. 92Paragraph 92
  277. 93Paragraph 93 Repealed
  278. 94Paragraph 94 Repealed
  279. 95Paragraph 95
  280. 96Paragraph 96
  281. 97Paragraph 97
  282. 98Paragraph 98
  283. 99Paragraph 99 Repealed
  284. 100Paragraph 100
  285. 101Paragraph 101
  286. 102Paragraph 102
  287. 103Paragraph 103
  288. 104Paragraph 104 Repealed
  289. 105Paragraph 105
  290. 106Paragraph 106
  291. 107Paragraph 107
  292. 108Paragraph 108
  293. 109Paragraph 109
  294. 110Paragraph 110
  295. 111Paragraph 111
  296. 112Paragraph 112
  297. 113Paragraph 113
  298. The Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54)
  299. 114Paragraph 114
  300. Schedule 5
  301. Status
  302. 1Paragraph 1
  303. 2Paragraph 2
  304. Tenure of office
  305. 3Paragraph 3
  306. Remuneration etc
  307. 4Paragraph 4
  308. Staff
  309. 5Paragraph 5
  310. Financial provisions
  311. 6Paragraph 6
  312. Accounts
  313. 7Paragraph 7
  314. Annual report etc
  315. 8Paragraph 8
  316. Evidence
  317. 9Paragraph 9
  318. Public records
  319. 10Paragraph 10
  320. The Parliamentary Commissioner
  321. 11Paragraph 11
  322. Parliamentary disqualification
  323. 12Paragraph 12
  324. Schedule 6: Parking Penalties
  325. The notice to owner
  326. 1Paragraph 1
  327. Representations against notice to owner
  328. 2Paragraph 2
  329. Cancellation of notice to owner
  330. 3Paragraph 3
  331. Rejection of representations against notice to owner
  332. 4Paragraph 4
  333. Adjudication by parking adjudicator
  334. 5Paragraph 5
  335. Charge certificates
  336. 6Paragraph 6
  337. Enforcement of charge certificate
  338. 7Paragraph 7
  339. Invalid notices
  340. 8Paragraph 8
  341. Offence of giving false information
  342. 9Paragraph 9
  343. Service by post
  344. 10Paragraph 10
  345. Schedule 7: Minor and Consequential Amendments in Relation to London
  346. The Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 (c. 62)
  347. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  348. The Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974 (c. xxiv)
  349. 2Paragraph 2
  350. The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27)
  351. 3Paragraph 3
  352. 4Paragraph 4
  353. 5Paragraph 5
  354. 6Paragraph 6
  355. 7Paragraph 7
  356. The Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51)
  357. 8Paragraph 8
  358. 9Paragraph 9
  359. 10Paragraph 10
  360. 11Paragraph 11
  361. The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22)
  362. 12Paragraph 12
  363. Schedule 8Repeals