Transport Law

Legislation pertaining to the use of vehicles

Transport law is composed of the rules and regulations revolving around the issues of transport and transport management. Transportation measures are increasingly developed to meet the demand for a progressive society lead by industry and demand. Key areas commonly requiring legal guidance and support regarding their tightly regulated infrastructures are:

• the haulage industry
• operator licensing, planning and environmental issues
• Agricultural appliances
• Health and safety and environmental issues
• operators' licence requirements and best practice
• public inquiries and disciplinary hearings before the traffic commissioner
• International carriage of gods by road (CMR)
• liens and conditions of carriage
• Special Orders, STGO (Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types)) and general abnormal load issues
• Crown and High Court Appeals and judicial reviews
• Fuel rebate (red diesel) claims
• Training for drivers

Road traffic law

Below you can find a list of some of the most commonly known acts and regulations, followed by their abbreviations.

Acts and regulations prior to 1988

• Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons Act 1970 [CSDPA]
• Functions of Traffic Wardens Order 1970 [FTWO]
• Greater London (General Powers) Act 1974 [GL(GP)A]
• Highway Act 1835 or 1980 (as indicated) [HA]
• Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations 1980 [MC(PH)R]
• Motorways Traffic (England & Wales) Regulations 1982 [MT(E&W)R]
• Motorways Traffic (England & Wales) Amended Regulations [MT(E&W)(A)R]
• Pedal Cycles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1983 [PCUR]
• Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 [PPVA]
• Road Traffic Act 1984, 1988 or 1991 (as indicated) [RTA]
• Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 [RTRA]
• Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 [CUR]
• Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 [R(S)A]

Acts and regulations from 1988 onwards

• Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Act 1990 [H(PHYR)A]
• Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Regulations 1992 [H(PHYR)R]
• Motor Cycles (Eye Protectors) Regulations 1999 [MC(EP)R]
• Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1995 [MT(S)R]
• Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 [MV(DL)R]
• Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993 [MV(WSB)R]
• Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 [MV(WSB)(A)R]
• Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts by Children in Front Seats) Regulations 1993 [MV(WSBCFS)R]
• New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991 [NRSWA]
• Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 [PCC(S)A]
• Police Reform Act 2002 [PRA]
• Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Premises (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (SI no 90) [PSCP(S)R]
• Road Safety Act 2006 [RSA]
• Road Traffic Act 1988 [RTA]
• Road Traffic Act 1991 [RTA]
• Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 [RT(ND)A]
• Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 [RTOA]
• Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 [RV(DRM)R]
• Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 [RVLR]
• Road Vehicles (Registration & Licensing) Regulations 2002 [RV(R&L)R] (PDF, 45K)
• Traffic Management Act 2004 [TMA]
• Traffic Signs Regulations & General Directions 2002 [TSRGD]
• Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988 [UICHR]
• Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 [VERA]
• Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 [ZPPPCRGD]

The majority of the above laws apply on all roads within Great Britain, however there are exceptions.

The definition of a road in England and Wales is: ‘any highway and any other road to which the public has access and includes bridges over which a road passes’ (RTA 1988 sect 192(1)).

In Scotland the definition differs somewhat, extended to include instance in which the public have a right of passage (R(S)A 1984 sect 151(1)).

The term ‘road’ often additionally includes:

• footpaths
• bridleways
• cycle tracks
• many roadways
• private driveways
• many car parks

In most instances, law applies to the above; however there may be additional rules for some paths or ways. Serious driving offences, for example drink-driving and speeding offences, will also apply to car parks and other vehicle access public areas.

Acts and regulations

Office of Public Sector Information website (OPSI) displays in full the above acts and regulations from 1988. Those prior to 1988 can only be viewed in their original print format, which can be viewed from The Stationery Office.