Road Traffic Act 1988
Sections and provisions with full text and the judgments that cite each one.
Section 1 — Causing death by dangerous driving.
Causing death by dangerous driving. 1 A person who causes the death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence.
Section 1A — Causing serious injury by dangerous driving
Causing serious injury by dangerous driving 1A 1 A person who causes serious injury to another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty…
Section 2 — Dangerous driving.
Dangerous driving. 2 A person who drives a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence.
Section 2A — Meaning of dangerous driving.
Meaning of dangerous driving. 2A 1 For the purposes of sections 1 , 1A and 2 above a person is to be regarded as driving dangerously if (and, subject to subsection (2) below, only if)— a the way he…
Section 2B — Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving
Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving 2B A person who causes the death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care…
Section 2C — Causing serious injury by careless, or inconsiderate, driving
Causing serious injury by careless, or inconsiderate, driving 2C 1 A person who causes serious injury to another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place…
Section 3 — Careless, and inconsiderate, driving.
Careless, and inconsiderate, driving. 3 If a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for…
Section 3A — Causing death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs.
Causing death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs. 3A 1 If a person causes the death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public…
Section 3ZA — Meaning of careless, or inconsiderate, driving
Meaning of careless, or inconsiderate, driving 3ZA 1 This section has effect for the purposes of sections 2B , 2C and 3 above and section 3A below. 2 A person is to be regarded as driving without due…
Section 3ZB — Causing death by driving: unlicensed ... or uninsured drivers
Causing death by driving: unlicensed ... or uninsured drivers 3ZB A person is guilty of an offence under this section if he causes the death of another person by driving a motor vehicle on a road…
Section 3ZC — Causing death by driving: disqualified drivers
Causing death by driving: disqualified drivers 3ZC A person is guilty of an offence under this section if he or she— a causes the death of another person by driving a motor vehicle on a road, and b…
Section 3ZD — Causing serious injury by driving: disqualified drivers
Causing serious injury by driving: disqualified drivers 3ZD 1 A person is guilty of an offence under this section if he or she— a causes serious injury to another person by driving a motor vehicle on…
Section 4 — Driving, or being in charge, when under influence of drink or drugs.
Driving, or being in charge, when under influence of drink or drugs. 4 1 A person who, when driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place, is unfit…
Section 5 — Driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit.
Driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit. 5 1 If a person— a drives or attempts to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, or b…
Section 5A — Driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit
Driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit 5A 1 This section applies where a person (“D”)— a drives or attempts to drive a…
Section 6 — Power to administer preliminary tests
Power to administer preliminary tests 6 1 If any of subsections (2) to (5) applies a constable may require a person to co-operate with any one or more preliminary tests administered to the person by…
Section 6A — Preliminary breath test
Preliminary breath test 6A 1 A preliminary breath test is a procedure whereby the person to whom the test is administered provides a specimen of breath to be used for the purpose of obtaining, by…
Section 6B — Preliminary impairment test
Preliminary impairment test 6B 1 A preliminary impairment test is a procedure whereby the constable administering the test— a observes the person to whom the test is administered in his performance…
Section 6C — Preliminary drug test
Preliminary drug test 6C 1 A preliminary drug test is a procedure by which a specimen of sweat or saliva is— a obtained, and b used for the purpose of obtaining, by means of a device of a type…
Section 6D — Arrest
Arrest 6D 1 A constable may arrest a person without warrant if as a result of a preliminary breath test or preliminary drug test the constable reasonably suspects that— a the proportion of alcohol in…
Section 6E — Power of entry
Power of entry 6E 1 A constable may enter any place (using reasonable force if necessary) for the purpose of— a imposing a requirement by virtue of section 6(5) following an accident in a case where…
Section 7 — Provision of specimens for analysis.
Provision of specimens for analysis. 7 1 In the course of an investigation into whether a person has committed an offence under section 3A, 4 or 5 of this Act a constable may, subject to the…
Section 7A — Specimens of blood taken from persons incapable of consenting
Specimens of blood taken from persons incapable of consenting 7A 1 A constable may make a request to a medical or health care practitioner for him to take a specimen of blood from a person (“ the…
Section 8 — Breath specimen showing higher alcohol level to be disregarded.
Breath specimen showing higher alcohol level to be disregarded. 8 1 ... of any two specimens of breath provided by any person in pursuance of section 7 of this Act that with the lower proportion of…
Section 9 — Protection for hospital patients.
Protection for hospital patients. 9 1 While a person is at a hospital as a patient he shall not be required to co-operate with a preliminary test or to provide a specimen under section 7 of this Act…
Section 10 — Detention of persons affected by alcohol or a drug.
Detention of persons affected by alcohol or a drug. 10 1 Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, a person required under section 7 or 7A to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine may…
Section 11 — Interpretation of sections 4 to 10.
Interpretation of sections 4 to 10. 11 1 The following provisions apply for the interpretation of sections 3A to 10 of this Act. 2 In those sections— . . . “ controlled drug ” has the meaning given…
Section 12 — Motor racing on public ways.
Motor racing on public ways. 12 1 A person who promotes or takes part in a race or trial of speed between motor vehicles on a public way is guilty of an offence. 1A Subsection (1) is subject to— a in…
Section 12A — Motor race orders: England and Wales: overview
Motor race orders: England and Wales: overview 12A 1 Sections 12A to 12F allow highway authorities to make orders relating to the holding of a race or trial of speed between motor vehicles on a…
Section 12B — Permission to apply for motor race order
Permission to apply for motor race order 12B 1 A person who wishes to promote a race or trial of speed between motor vehicles on a highway in England and Wales may apply for a permit to a motor sport…
Section 12C — Application for motor race order
Application for motor race order 12C 1 A motor race order may only be made on an application under this section. 2 An application may be made only by a person who— a wishes to promote a race or trial…
Section 12D — Determination of applications for motor race orders
Determination of applications for motor race orders 12D 1 Before determining whether to make a motor race order, a highway authority must consider— a the likely impact of the event on the local…
Section 12E — Effect of motor race order
Effect of motor race order 12E 1 A motor race order made under section 12D has the effect described in this section. 2 Section 12(1) does not apply to the promoter of the event if that person— a…
Section 12F — Regulations by appropriate national authority: procedure
Regulations by appropriate national authority: procedure 12F 1 A power to make regulations conferred on the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers by section 12B(6), 12D(3)(c) or 12E(4) is…
Section 12G — Authorisation of races and trials of speed in Scotland
Authorisation of races and trials of speed in Scotland 12G 1 The Scottish Ministers may by regulations authorise, or make provision for authorising, the holding of races or trials of speed on public…
Section 12H — Races and trials of speed in Scotland: further provision
Races and trials of speed in Scotland: further provision 12H 1 Section 12(1) does not apply to the promoter of an event that has been authorised by or under regulations under section 12G if that…
Section 12I — Regulations under section 12G or 12H: procedure
Regulations under section 12G or 12H: procedure 12I 1 Before making regulations under section 12H(3), (4), (7) or (8), the Scottish Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate. 2…
Section 13 — Regulation of motoring events on public ways.
Regulation of motoring events on public ways. 13 1 A person who promotes or takes part in a competition or trial (other than a race or trial of speed) involving the use of motor vehicles on a public…
Section 13A — Disapplication of sections 1 to 3 for authorised motoring events.
Disapplication of sections 1 to 3 for authorised motoring events. 13A 1 A person shall not be guilty of an offence under sections 1, 1A, 2 , 2B , 2C or 3 of this Act by virtue of driving a vehicle in…
Section 14 — Seat belts: adults.
Seat belts: adults. 14 1 The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring, subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed, persons who are driving or riding in motor vehicles on a road to wear…
Section 15 — Restriction on carrying children not wearing seat belts in motor vehicles.
Restriction on carrying children not wearing seat belts in motor vehicles. 15 1 Except as provided by regulations, where a child under the age of fourteen years is in the front of a motor vehicle, a…
Section 15A — Safety equipment for children in motor vehicles.
Safety equipment for children in motor vehicles. 15A 1 The Secretary of State may make regulations prescribing (by reference to shape, construction or any other quality) types of equipment of any…
Section 15B — Requirement to notify bus passengers to wear seat belts
Requirement to notify bus passengers to wear seat belts 15B 1 Subject to subsection (6) below, the operator of a bus in which any of the passenger seats are equipped with seat belts shall take all…
Section 16 — Wearing of protective headgear.
Wearing of protective headgear. 16 1 The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring, subject to such exceptions as may be specified in the regulations, persons driving or riding (otherwise…
Section 17 — Protective helmets for motor cyclists.
Protective helmets for motor cyclists. 17 1 The Secretary of State may make regulations prescribing (by reference to shape, construction or any other quality) types of helmet recommended as affording…
Section 18 — Authorisation of head-worn appliances for use on motor cycles.
Authorisation of head-worn appliances for use on motor cycles. 18 1 The Secretary of State may make regulations prescribing (by reference to shape, construction or any other quality) types of…
Section 19 — Prohibition of parking of HGVs on verges, central reservations and footways.
Prohibition of parking of HGVs on verges, central reservations and footways. 19 1 Subject to subsection (2) below, a person who parks a heavy commercial vehicle (as defined in section 20 of this Act)…
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Section 20 — Definition of “heavy commercial vehicle” for the purposes of section 19.
Definition of “heavy commercial vehicle” for the purposes of section 19. 20 1 In section 19 of this Act, “ heavy commercial vehicle ” means any goods vehicle which has an operating weight exceeding…
Section 21 — Prohibition of driving or parking on cycle tracks.
Prohibition of driving or parking on cycle tracks. 21 1 Subject to the provisions of this section, any person who, without lawful authority, drives or parks a mechanically propelled vehicle wholly or…