Road Traffic Act 1988

Type Public General Act
Publication 1988-11-15
Last updated 2026-10-05
State In force
Department Statute Law Database
PDF Download
articles Not indexed

An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to road traffic with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.

Reform history JSON API
336

Words in s. 88(1A)(b)(ii) inserted (1.6.1997) by 1995 c. 13, s. 10(4), Sch. 2 para. 2(2)(a) (with ss. 8, 10(3)); S.I. 1997/267, art. 2(2)

338

Words in s. 88(1B)(a) inserted (28.1.2010) by Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32), ss. 91(1), 94, Sch. 5 para. 18(b); S.I. 2008/3009, art. 2; London Gazette issue no. 59317 dated 26.1.2010, p. 1229; Edinburgh Gazette issue no. 26739 dated 26.1.2010, p. 244; Belfast Gazette issue no. 7156 dated 22.1.2010, p. 33

339

S. 88(1B)(aa) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 1(3)(a)

340

Words in s. 88(1B)(d) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 1(3)(b)

341

Words in s. 88(2)(a) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 3(3)

342

S. 88(2)(c) and word immediately preceding it inserted by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 3(4)

344

S. 88(7)(a)(i)(ii) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) for words in s. 88(7)(a) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 1(4)

346

Words in s. 89(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(a)

347

S. 89(a)–(f) substituted (1.4.1991) for paras. (a)–(d) by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 4(1)(2)

348

Words in s. 89(1)(a)(d)(6) repealed (8.11.2006) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 59, 61, Sch. 7(19)

349

Words in s. 89(1)(c) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(b)

350

Words in s. 89(1)(e) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(c)(i)

351

Words in s. 89(1)(e) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(c)(ii)

352

S. 89(1)(ea) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(d)

353

S. 89(1)(f) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(e)

355

S. 89(2)(a) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(4)(a)

356

S. 89(2)(b) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(4)(b)

357

S. 89(2A) excluded by S.I. 1987/1378, regs. 23E(2)(4), 23F, 23G(1) (as inserted by S.I. 1990/2334, reg. 4)

359
360

Words in s. 89(3)(a) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(2)(a), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(a)

361

Words in s. 89(3)(b) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(2)(b), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(a)

362

S. 89(3)(ba) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(2)(c), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

363

Words in s. 89(4) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(a), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

364

Words in s. 89(4)(a) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(b), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

365

Words in s. 89(4)(a) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(c), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

366

S. 89(4)(aa) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(5)

367

S. 89(4)(b) substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(3)(d), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

368

S. 89(5)(b) and preceding word repealed (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(4), 59, 61, Sch. 7(9); S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

369

S. 89(5ZA) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 36(5), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

374

Words in s. 89(7)(including paras. (a) and (b)) substituted (1.4.1991) for words by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 8(c)

375

Words in s. 89(7)(a) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(6)

376

Words in s. 89(8) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(7)

379

Words in s. 89(9)(a) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(8)

380

Words in s. 89(10) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(9)(a)

381

Words in s. 89(10) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(9)(b)

382

Words in s. 89(10)(a) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(9)(c)

383

Words in s. 89(11) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 2(10)

385

S. 89A(2)(3)(6) repealed (8.11.2006) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 59, 61, Sch. 7(19)

386

1981 c.14 (107:1).

387

Words in s. 90(1)(a) repealed (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1)(3), 110, Sch. 8 para. 306, Sch. 10; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

388

Words in s. 91 substituted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 91), ss. 36(6), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(b)

389

Words in the definition of “disability" in s. 92(2) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 3(2)

392

Word in s. 92(5)(a) repealed (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 17, Sch.

394

S. 92(5)(c) and the word “or" immediately preceding it inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 4(2)

395

Words in s. 92(6)(a) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 3(3)

396

S. 92(7)-(7A) substituted (1.7.1998) for s. 92(7)(7A) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 4(3)

398

S. 92(7D) inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 3(5)

405

Words in s. 93(1)(b) omitted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes otherwise 1.1.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 4

406

S. 93(2A) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 5

411
418

S. 94A(1)(a)(b) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 5(2)

423

S. 95(2)-(5) substituted (1.12.2001) for s. 95(2) by S.I. 2001/3649, arts. 1, 312

429

S. 97(1)(c) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 6(2)

431

Words in s. 97(1)(d) inserted (1.6.1997) by 1995 c. 13, s. 10(4), Sch. 2 para. 2(2)(b) (with ss. 8, 10(3)); S.I. 1997/267, art. 2(2)

433

S. 97(1A) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 6(2)

435

S. 97(3) excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 8(4)

437
438

S. 97(3)(e) excluded by S.I. 1987/1378, regs. 23E(2), 23G(2) (as inserted by S.I. 1990/2334, reg. 4)

439

Words in s. 97(3)(e) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 6(3)

440

Word in s. 97(3)(e) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 6(3)(b)

442

Words in s. 97(3A) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 6(4)

443

Words in s. 97(3A) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 6(4)

444

Words in s. 97(4) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 6(5)

445

Words in s. 97(4) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 6(5)

447

S. 98(1)(1A) substituted (1.7.1998) for s. 98(1) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 7(2)

448

S. 98(2) restricted by S.I. 1987/1378, reg. 34 (as inserted by S.I. 1990/842, reg. 11)

449

S. 98(2) excluded (1.4.1991) by S.I. 1990/2612, reg. 10(1)(2)(3) S. 98(2) restricted (12.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2864, reg. 19(1)(3)

451
454

S. 98(3) excluded (1.4.1991) by S.I. 1990/2612, reg. 10(1)(2)(3) S. 98(3) excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 8(4)

455
457

S. 98(3)(c) excluded by S.I. 1987/1378, regs. 23E(3), 23G(3) (as inserted by S.I. 1990/2334, reg. 4) S. 98(3)(c) excluded (12.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2864, reg. 69(1)(5)

458

Words in s. 98(3)(c) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 7(3)

461
463

S. 99 applied (S.) (21.3.1999) by S.I. 1999/854, art. 3(4)(a)(b)

464

Words commencing “In so far as" substituted (1.4.1991) for words “A licence" by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 7, Sch. 3 para. 12(a)

466

Words in s. 99(2) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 8

467

Words in s. 99(2) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 8(2)

468

S. 99(3) paras. (a)(aa) substituted for para. (a) by S.I. 1990/144, regs. 2(1), 3, Sch. 1 para. 5(a)(i)

471

Words in s. 99(4) omitted (1.7.1998) by virtue of S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 8(4)

473

Words in s. 99(5) inserted (1.7.1998) by s.I. 1998/1420, reg. 8(5)

474

S. 99(7)-(8) substituted (1.7.1998) for s. 99(7)(8) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 8(1)(6)

475

Words in s. 99(7) repealed (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 40(1)(a), 59, 61, Sch. 7(12); S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(c)

476

S. 99(7ZA) inserted (27.2.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 40(1)(b), 61; S.I. 2007/237, art. 2(c)

477

Words in s. 98A(1) repealed (prosp.) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 10(12), 59, 61, Sch. 3 para. 8(2), Sch. 7(4)

478

Words in s. 98A(3) repealed (prosp.) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 10(12), 59, 61, Sch. 3 para. 8(3), Sch. 7(4)

479

Words in s. 98A(4) repealed (prosp.) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 10(12), 59, 61, Sch. 3 para. 8(4), Sch. 7(4)

480

Words in s. 98A(7) repealed (prosp.) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 10(12), 59, 61, Sch. 3 para. 8(5), Sch. 7(4)

481

S. 98A inserted (prosp.) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 39(1), 61

482

Ss. 99ZA-99ZC and cross-heading inserted (1.5.2002) by 2000 c. 38, s. 257; S.I. 2002/1014, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II

483

Ss. 99ZA-99ZC and cross-heading inserted (1.5.2002) by 2000 c. 38, s. 257; S.I. 2002/1014, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II

484

Ss. 99ZA-99ZC and cross-heading inserted (1.5.2002) by 2000 c. 38, s. 257; S.I. 2002/1014, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II

485

Words in s. 99ZC(1)(b)(c) inserted (24.9.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 41(2), 61; S.I. 2007/2472, art. 2(l)

486

Word in s. 99ZC(1)(d) repealed (24.9.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 59, 61, Sch. 7(13); S.I. 2007/2472, art. 2(n)

487

S. 99ZC(1)(f) and preceding word inserted (24.9.2007) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 41(3), 61; S.I. 2007/2472, art. 2(l)

488

Ss. 99ZA-99ZC and cross-heading inserted (1.5.2002) by 2000 c. 38, s. 257; S.I. 2002/1014, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II

489

S. 99A inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 9

490

S. 99A(4)(a) substituted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 9

491

S. 99A(5) restricted (12.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/2864, reg. 19(1)(3)(8)

492

S. 99B inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 10

493

S. 99C inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 11

494

S. 99D inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 12

495

Subsection (3A) was inserted by section 18(2) of the 1991 Act; subsections (4) and (5)(c) were amended by section 5(7) and (8) of the 1989 Act.

496

S. 99E inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 13

497

S. 99A and cross-heading inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 9

500

Words in s. 100(1) repealed (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1)(3), 110, Sch. 8 para. 307, Sch. 10; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3

501

S. 101 excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 8(5)

502

Table in s. 101(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 15

504

This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only

507

Words in s. 103(6)(a) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 16

508

This version of this provision extents to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland

509

S. 103 modified (16.8.2006) by The Dover Harbour Revision Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2167), {art. 27(2)-(4)(6)}

510
511

Words in s. 103(4) substituted (1.10.2002) by 2002 c. 30, s. 107, Sch. 7 para. 11(1)(3); S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(g)(i)(ii)

512

Words in s. 103(5) substituted (1.10.2002) by 2002 c. 30, s. 107, Sch. 7 para. 11(1)(4), S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(g)(i)(ii)

513

Words in s. 103(6) substituted (1.10.2002) by 2002 c. 30, s. 107, Sch. 7 para. 11(1)(5), S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(g)(i)(ii)

514

Words in s. 103(6)(a) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 16

515

S. 103 and cross heading substituted (1.7.1992) for s. 103 by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s.19; S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2,Sch.

518

S. 105(2)(a)(b) substituted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 17(a)

520

S. 105(2)(b) repealed (12.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26, ss. 112(1)(2), 116(6), Sch. 7 para. 130, {Sch. 8 Pt. 13}

521
522

Word in s. 105(2)(e) repealed (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, regs. 10(2)(a), 17, Sch.

523

Words in s. 105(2)(e) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 10(2)(b)

525

Words in s. 105(2)(ee) repealed (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 83, Sch. 8; S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2, Sch.

526

Words in s. 105(2)(f) repealed (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 83, Sch. 8; S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2, Sch.

527

Words in s. 105(2)(f) inserted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 17(c)

529

Words in s. 105(4) inserted (1.7.1998) by S.I. 1998/1420, reg. 10(3)

531

Words in s. 105(5) substituted (23.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 17(3)

532

Words in s. 105(5) inserted (8.11.2006) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 58(2), 61(9)

533

S. 107 applied (1.6.1997) by 1995 c. 13, s. 9(4) (with ss. 8, 10(3)); S.I. 1997/267, art. 2(2)

534

Words in s. 107 substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 18

538

Definition of “agricultural or forestry tractor" in s. 108(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) for definition of “agricultural tractor" by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 19(2)(a)

540

Words in the definition of “Community licence" in s. 108(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 19(2)(b)(i)

541

Words in the definition of “Community licence" in s. 108(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 19(2)(b)(ii)

542

S. 108(1): para. (c) in definition of “Community licence" and the word “or" immediately preceding it inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 19(2)(b)(iii)

544

Definition of “exchangeable licence" in s. 108(1) substituted (31.8.1998) by S.I. 1998/1917, art. 2(2)

Reading this document does not replace reading the official text published on legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from the conversion of the original CLML XML to this format.

This text is published under legislation.gov.uk's own terms of reuse, not a Legalize or public-domain licence. legislation.gov.uk
Open Government Licence v3.0 (attribution required)
© Crown and database right. Derived from content available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 from legislation.gov.uk.