The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) Regulations 2023

Made: 21st February 2023

Laid before Parliament: 23rd February 2023

Coming into force: 20th March 2023

In accordance with section 195(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the Secretary of State has consulted with representative organisations.

Citation, commencement, extent and revocation

1

• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) Regulations 2023 and come into force on 20th March 2023.

• (2) These Regulations extend to Great Britain.

• (3) The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) Regulations 2022[^f00002] are revoked.

Interpretation

2

In these Regulations—

• “the 1988 Act” means the Road Traffic Act 1988;

• “chief officer” means— in relation to a police force maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996[^f00003], the chief constable; in relation to Police Scotland, the chief constable; in relation to the metropolitan police force, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; in relation to the City of London police force, the Commissioner of Police for the City of London; in relation to the British Transport Police Force, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the chief constable, and in relation to the National Crime Agency, the Director General.

Prescribed training provided in England and Wales

3

A training course listed in column 1 of Table 1 in the Schedule is prescribed training for the purposes of sections 2A and 3ZA of the 1988 Act if—

• (a) it is delivered by a provider licensed by the College of Policing;

• (b) the instructor or trainer has met, respectively, the College of Policing Standard for Instructors or the College of Policing Standard for Trainers;

• (c) it includes consideration of and instruction on—

• (i) the National Decision Model, and

• (ii) the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice for Roads Policing: Police Drivers and, where relevant, Police Pursuits;

• (d) it meets the relevant requirements in columns 2 and 3 of Table 1.

Required refresher training frequency for training provided by a provider licensed by the College of Policing

4

At the end of the period specified in column 4 of Table 1 in the Schedule, a training course listed in column 1 of Table 1 is prescribed training for the purposes of sections 2A and 3ZA of the 1988 Act if refresher training has been undertaken in accordance with the requirements in Table 2 in the Schedule.

Prescribed training provided in Scotland

5

A training course listed in column 1 of Table 1 in the Schedule is prescribed training for the purposes of sections 2A and 3ZA of the 1988 Act if—

• (a) it is delivered by Police Scotland;

• (b) the instructor or trainer has completed the relevant Scottish Police College training and the Police Scotland Training for Trainers Course;

• (c) it includes consideration of and instruction on the National Decision Model;

• (d) it meets the relevant requirements in columns 2 and 3 of Table 1.

Required refresher training frequency for training provided by Police Scotland

6

At the end of the period specified in column 4 of Table 1 in the Schedule, a training course listed in column 1 of Table 1 is prescribed training for the purposes of sections 2A and 3ZA of the 1988 Act if refresher training has been undertaken in accordance with the requirements in Table 2 in the Schedule.

Prescribed training completed prior to 30th November 2022

7

• (1) Training completed by designated persons prior to 30th November 2022 is prescribed training for the purposes of sections 2A and 3ZA of the 1988 Act if—

• (a) it was approved by a chief officer, and

• (b) that chief officer is satisfied that it is equivalent to a type of training specified in Table 1.

• (2) At the end of the relevant period, training described in paragraph (1) is prescribed training for the purposes of sections 2A and 3ZA of the 1988 Act if refresher training for the type of training that it is equivalent to has been undertaken in accordance with the requirements in Table 2 in the Schedule.

• (3) The relevant period in paragraph (2) is the period specified in column 4 of Table 1 for the type of training that it is equivalent to, beginning with 30th November 2022.

SCHEDULE

Table 1

Signed

Chris Philp — Minister of State — Home Office — 21st February 2023

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations prescribe training for the purposes of sections 2A and 3ZA of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52).

These Regulations revoke the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1112). These Regulations are materially the same as the Regulations revoked, except technical changes have been made. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32) amended sections 2A and 3ZA of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make provision as to the meaning of dangerous driving and careless driving in respect of police driving. Those standards for police driving refer to the driver having undertaken “prescribed training”. Regulation 3 sets out when a training course provided in England and Wales only will be prescribed training. Regulation 4 makes provision for refresher training to be undertaken for a training course provided in England and Wales following the end of the validity period for that course. Regulation 5 sets out when a training course provided in Scotland only will be prescribed training. Regulation 6 makes provision for refresher training to be undertaken for a training course provided in Scotland following the end of the validity period for that course. Regulation 7 makes provision for training completed prior to the commencement of the Regulations revoked to be prescribed training.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1988 c. 52. Section 2A was inserted by section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40) and amended by section 143(1) and (3) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 9) and section 5 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c.32) (‘the 2022 Act’). Section 3ZA was inserted by section 30 of the Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49) and amended by section 6 of the 2022 Act. The definition of “prescribed” in section 192(1) was amended by paragraphs 1 and 7 of Schedule 22 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22). There are other amendments to section 192(1) that are not relevant to this instrument. Section 195(7) was inserted by section 7 of the 2022 Act.

[^f00002]: S.I. 2022/1112.

[^f00003]: 1996 c. 16.

Editorial notes

[^key-49be5a8189f009f8e5a11389e5116df7]: Reg. 1 in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-a06daa854b70f22df85af4f46a68482f]: Reg. 2 in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-5f3b4df00a08045743113c650fff09b4]: Reg. 3 in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-3f83eeaa732de4f84c1c2c30f6d3998b]: Reg. 4 in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-eb50366ae6b2262db69258f82e60a612]: Reg. 5 in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-fff8d33296c61df0091441201694311e]: Reg. 6 in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-1329e12b8d3a7deff2eb0a95449e8c06]: Reg. 7 in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-42eff3a3b99542fece16474ebd9effc0]: Sch. in force at 20.3.2023, see reg. 1(1)

[^key-166a491f40711daa767c9cbd3580b28d]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(i)

[^key-51d10a1a2f3ffb32bb881c83b6c175ae]: Word in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(ii)

[^key-579024e1821e7e495a8f6b22265d3463]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(iii)

[^key-a9de5f15bc72b53c379ee611b682f68b]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(iv)

[^key-90d2a137830e37f7facf6bb06379ddc9]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(v)

[^key-aa17796f9d6460a3c88840eb2f1e885d]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(vi)(aa)

[^key-a3bfc27029017e263117086fbe2284dd]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(vi)(bb)

[^key-cce1abd4785ac3798b011f0a8341c383]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(vii)(aa)

[^key-da5c036fa4320273c3dde6b15130ed96]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(vii)(bb)

[^key-696ce4faf9a33cd8512e2fa605a07a16]: Words in Sch. Table 1 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(viii)

[^key-8f6d81c31c23f60cd8de764cf881a819]: Words in Sch. Table 1 omitted (24.7.2025) by virtue of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(ix)

[^key-8d1880e9809155298d4ae1e6537ca630]: Words in Sch. Table 1 omitted (24.7.2025) by virtue of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(x)

[^key-ed3b884f3ed40a0214c9761e7ea7263c]: Words in Sch. Table 1 omitted (24.7.2025) by virtue of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(a)(xi)

[^key-88ea6c6019676a6ce6f53ca9ec50be20]: Words in Sch. Table 2 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(b)(i)

[^key-9478f52b1f11e71f46ea39837c53e345]: Words in Sch. Table 2 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(b)(ii)

[^key-6d64c4906f4334f51b0ecc03bb5a7d03]: Word in Sch. Table 2 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(b)(iii)

[^key-215ec927e5b354d18617e2d02adcf8b2]: Words in Sch. Table 2 inserted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(b)(iv)

[^key-647cd160141e41c4023288822b47a67d]: Words in Sch. Table 2 substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(b)(v)

[^key-eb7636adc9fc93cdefea5ac15b053cfd]: Words in Sch. Table 2 omitted (24.7.2025) by virtue of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 7(b)(vi)

[^key-42373879103b1bd0d7153c749e8912c9]: Words in reg. 3 heading substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 3(a)

[^key-027a5ecd528f644a32591baf839b3548]: Words in reg. 3(b) substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 3(b)

[^key-7954f834baa1995d822df9b7537e9d73]: Words in reg. 4 heading substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 4

[^key-60ed8ea127132ff8e6c5e87e9e1e73b3]: Words in reg. 5 heading substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 5

[^key-555e384c9d4f5f0ff5b75787ee84c96b]: Words in reg. 6 heading substituted (24.7.2025) by The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Police Driving: Prescribed Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/792), regs. 1(1), 6

Prescribed training provided by a provider licensed by the College of Policing

Prescribed training provided by Police Scotland