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Road Safety Act 2006

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Road Safety Act 2006 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. Payments for road safety

    1. 1.Road safety grants

    2. 2.Application of surplus income from safety camera enforcement

  3. Fixed penalties

    1. 3.Graduated fixed penalties

    2. 4.Graduated fixed penalty points

    3. 5.Giving of fixed penalty notices by vehicle examiners

    4. 6.Goods vehicles operator licensing

    5. 7.Public passenger vehicle licensing

  4. New system of endorsement

    1. 8.Driving record

    2. 9.Unlicensed and foreign drivers

    3. 10.All drivers

  5. Deposits and prohibition on driving

    1. 11.Financial penalty deposits

    2. 12.Prohibition on driving: immobilisation, removal and disposal of vehicles

  6. Drink-driving etc.

    1. 13.High risk offenders: medical enquiries following disqualification

    2. 14.Period of endorsement for failure to allow specimen to be tested

    3. 15.Alcohol ignition interlocks

    4. 16.Experimental period for section 15

  7. Speeding

    1. 17.Penalty points

    2. 18.Speed assessment equipment detection devices

    3. 19.Exemptions from speed limits

  8. New offences

    1. 20.Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving

    2. 21.Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers

    3. 22.Offence of keeping vehicle which does not meet insurance requirements

  9. Increases in penalties

    1. 23.Careless, and inconsiderate, driving

    2. 24.Breach of requirements relating to children and seat belts

    3. 25.Using vehicle in dangerous condition etc.

    4. 26.Breach of requirements as to control of vehicle, mobile telephones etc.

    5. 27.Power of police to stop vehicle

    6. 28.Furious driving

    7. 29.Breach of duty to give information as to identity of driver etc.

  10. Other provisions about offences

    1. 30.Meaning of driving without due care and attention

    2. 31.Extension of offence in section 3A of Road Traffic Act 1988

    3. 32.Alternative verdict on unsuccessful culpable homicide prosecution

    4. 33.Alternative verdict on unsuccessful manslaughter prosecution

  11. Attendance on courses

    1. 34.Penalty points

    2. 35.Reduced disqualification period for attendance on course

  12. Driving standards

    1. 36.Driving tests

    2. 37.Disqualification until test is passed

    3. 38.Granting of full licence

    4. 39.Compulsory surrender of old-form licences

    5. 40.Fee for renewal of photocard licence and issue of certain alternative licences

    6. 41.Driver training

    7. 42.Driving instruction

    8. 43.Tests: approved assistants

  13. Regulation of registration plate suppliers

    1. 44.Enforcement authorities

    2. 45.Registration plates

    3. 46.Extension to Scotland and Northern Ireland

  14. Information

    1. 47.Particulars to be included in vehicles register

    2. 48.Records of goods vehicle examinations

    3. 49.Disclosure to foreign authorities of licensing and registration information

    4. 49A.Disclosure of information relating to foreign-registered vehicles

    5. 49B.Use of information relating to foreign-registered vehicles

  15. Level crossings

    1. 50.Safety arrangements at level crossings

    2. 51.Delegation of power to make level crossing orders

  16. Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles

    1. 52.Immediate suspension and revocation of drivers' licences

    2. 53.Abolition of “contract exemption”

    3. 54.Private hire vehicles in London

  17. Miscellaneous

    1. 55.Trunk road picnic areas

    2. 56.Vehicles modified to run on fuel stored under pressure

    3. 57.Powers to regulate transport of radioactive material

    4. 58.Minor corrections

  18. Supplementary

    1. 59.Repeals and revocations

    2. 60.Power to make amendments

    3. 61.Commencement

    4. 62.Extent

    5. 63.Short title

  19. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Giving of fixed penalty notices by vehicle examiners etc.

      1. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)

        1. 1.Part 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (fixed...

        2. 2.In section 52(3)(c) (fixed penalty notice must state to whom...

        3. 3.(1) Section 54 (notices on-the-spot or at a police station)...

        4. 4.(1) Section 56 (licence receipts) is amended as follows.

        5. 5.(1) Section 57 (endorsement of licences without hearings) is amended...

        6. 6.(1) Section 61 (fixed penalty notice mistakenly given: exclusion of...

        7. 7.In section 62(1) (fixing notices to vehicles), after “constable” insert...

        8. 8.(1) Section 63 (service of notice to owner if penalty...

        9. 9.(1) Section 66 (hired vehicles) is amended as follows.

        10. 10.In section 68(4) (meaning of “official form”), after “police” insert...

        11. 11.(1) Section 69 (payment of fixed penalty) is amended as...

        12. 12.(1) Section 70 (registration certificates) is amended as follows.

        13. 13.(1) Section 72 (notices on-the-spot or at a police station:...

        14. 14.(1) Section 73 (notices fixed to vehicles: when registration invalid)...

        15. 15.(1) Section 75 (issue of conditional offer) is amended as...

        16. 16.(1) Section 76 (effect of order and payment of penalty)...

        17. 17.(1) Section 77 (endorsement where penalty paid) is amended as...

        18. 18.(1) Section 79 (statements by constables) is amended as follows....

        19. 19.In section 80 (certificates about payment), for “fixed penalty clerk”,...

        20. 20.In section 82(1) (accounting for fixed penalties), after “paid” insert...

        21. 21.(1) Section 83 (powers of court where clerk deceived) is...

        22. 22.In section 84(1) (regulations), for “75(2) and (3) or 76(5)...

        23. 23.In section 89(1) (interpretation), after the definition of “proceedings” insert...

      2. Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 (c. 13)

        1. 24.The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 is amended as...

        2. 25.(1) Section 2 (surrender of licences) is amended as follows....

        3. 26.(1) Section 3 (revocation of licences) is amended as follows....

        4. 27.(1) Schedule 1 (newly qualified drivers holding test certificates) is...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

      1. Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (c. 14)

        1. 1.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

      2. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)

        1. 2.The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 is amended as follows....

        2. 3.In section 28(3) (penalty points to be attributed to an...

        3. 4.In section 29(1)(b) (penalty points to be taken into account...

        4. 5.(1) Section 30 (modification of sections 28 and 29 in...

        5. 6.(1) Section 31 (court may take particulars endorsed on licence...

        6. 7.In section 36 (disqualification until test passed), after subsection (10)...

        7. 8.(1) Section 42 (removal of disqualification) is amended as follows....

        8. 9.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

        9. 10.After that section insert— Effect of endorsement of driving records...

        10. 11.(1) Section 46 (combination of disqualification and endorsement with certain...

        11. 12.(1) Section 47 (supplementary provisions as to disqualification and endorsements)...

        12. 13.In section 48(1)(b) and (2)(b) (exemption from disqualification and endorsement...

        13. 14.(1) Section 54 (notices on-the-spot etc.) is amended as follows....

        14. 15.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

        15. 16.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

        16. 17.After that section insert— Effect of endorsement of driving record...

        17. 18.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

        18. 19.After that section insert— Fixed penalty notice mistakenly given to...

        19. 20.In section 69(4) (payment of penalty), for “77” substitute “...

        20. 21.(1) In section 70(4) (registration certificates), after paragraph (b) insert...

        21. 22.(1) Section 71 (registration of sums payable in default) is...

        22. 23.(1) Section 72 (notices on-the-spot etc.: when registration and endorsement...

        23. 24.(1) Section 75 (issue of conditional offer) is amended as...

        24. 25.(1) Section 76 (effect of offer and payment of penalty)...

        25. 26.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

        26. 27.After that section insert— Endorsement of driving records where penalty...

        27. 28.(1) Section 83 (powers of court in cases of deception)...

        28. 29.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

        29. 30.After section 84 insert— Notices to Secretary of State Any notice sent to the Secretary of State under this...

        30. 31.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

        31. 32.Endorsement: unlicensed and foreign drivers

      3. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)

        1. 33.In section 40B(9) of the Child Support Act 1991 (disqualification...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Endorsement: all drivers

      1. Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (c. 14)

        1. 1.(1) Section 24 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981...

      2. Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)

        1. 2.The Road Traffic Act 1988 is amended as follows.

        2. 3.In section 88(6) (requirement for driving licence: exceptions), omit “,...

        3. 4.In section 92(7ZB)(a) and (7C) (requirements as to physical fitness...

        4. 5.(1) Section 93 (revocation of licence because of disability or...

        5. 6.(1) Section 97 (grant of licences) is amended as follows....

        6. 7.In section 98(1)(c) (form of licence), omit “or its counterpart”....

        7. 8.(1) Section 98A (compulsory surrender of old-form licences) (inserted by...

        8. 9.(1) Section 99 (duration of licences) is amended as follows....

        9. 10.In section 99A (authorisation to drive in Great Britain), omit...

        10. 11.(1) Section 99B (information about resident Community licence holders) is...

        11. 12.(1) Section 99C (revocation of authorisation conferred by Community licence...

        12. 13.(1) Section 105 (regulations) is amended as follows.

        13. 14.In section 108 (interpretation), omit the definition of “counterpart”.

        14. 15.In section 109 (provisions as to Northern Ireland drivers' licences),...

        15. 16.(1) Section 109A (counterparts issued to Northern Ireland licence holders)...

        16. 17.(1) Section 109B (revocation of authorisation conferred by Northern Ireland...

        17. 18.In section 115A(1) (community licence holders: cessation of authorisation), omit...

        18. 19.In section 117A (community licences: disqualification, etc.), omit “and its...

        19. 20.(1) Section 118 (revoked or suspended licences: surrender, return and...

        20. 21.In section 121 (interpretation), omit the definition of “counterpart”.

        21. 22.In section 122(3) (provisions as to Northern Ireland licences)—

        22. 23.In section 125A(8) (registration of disabled persons), in paragraph (c)...

        23. 24.In section 141A(5) (interpretation of Part 5) (as substituted by...

        24. 25.In section 142 (index to Part 5) (as substituted by...

        25. 26.(1) Section 164 (power of constables to require production of...

        26. 27.In section 167(a) (power of arrest in Scotland for reckless...

        27. 28.(1) Section 173 (forgery of documents etc.) is amended as...

        28. 29.In section 176 (power to seize articles), omit subsections (1A),...

      3. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)

        1. 30.The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (as amended by Schedule...

        2. 31.In section 7(1) (duty of accused to provide licence), omit...

        3. 32.(1) Section 26 (interim disqualification) is amended as follows.

        4. 33.(1) Section 27 (production of licence) is amended as follows....

        5. 34.In section 28(3) (penalty points to be attributed to an...

        6. 35.(1) Section 29 (penalty points to be taken into account...

        7. 36.(1) Section 30 (modification of sections 28 and 29 in...

        8. 37.In section 31(1) (court may take particulars endorsed into consideration),...

        9. 38.Omit section 32 (in Scotland court may take extract from...

        10. 39.In section 36 (disqualification until test passed), omit subsection (10)....

        11. 40.(1) Section 42 (removal of disqualification) is amended as follows....

        12. 41.Omit section 45 (effect of endorsement of counterparts).

        13. 42.In section 45A (effect of endorsement of driving records), for...

        14. 43.In section 46(2)(b) (combination of disqualification and endorsement with probation...

        15. 44.(1) Section 47 (supplementary provisions as to disqualifications and endorsements)...

        16. 45.(1) Section 48 (exemption from disqualification and endorsement for certain...

        17. 46.(1) Section 56 (licence receipts) is amended as follows.

        18. 47.Omit section 58 (effect of endorsement of counterpart without hearing)....

        19. 48.Omit section 61 (fixed penalty notice mistakenly given to licence...

        20. 49.(1) Section 61A (fixed penalty notice mistakenly given to unlicensed...

        21. 50.(1) Section 72 (notices on-the-spot etc.: when registration and endorsement...

        22. 51.(1) Section 75 (issue of conditional offer) is amended as...

        23. 52.(1) Section 76 (effect of offer and payment of penalty)...

        24. 53.Omit section 77 (endorsement of counterparts where penalty paid).

        25. 54.(1) Section 77A (endorsement of driving records where penalty paid)...

        26. 55.(1) Section 83 (powers of court in cases of deception)...

        27. 56.In section 84(1)(a) (regulations), for “54(4) or (5C)” substitute “...

        28. 57.(1) Section 91ZA (application to Northern Ireland licence holders) is...

        29. 58.Omit section 91ZB (effect of endorsement on Northern Ireland licence...

        30. 59.(1) Section 91A (application to Community licence holders) is amended...

        31. 60.Omit section 91B (effect of endorsement on Community licence holders)....

        32. 61.In section 98(1) (interpretation)— (a) in the definition of “the...

        33. 62.(1) Schedule 1 (offences to which sections 1, 6, 11...

        34. 63.(1) Part 1 of Schedule 2 (prosecution and punishment of...

        35. 64.In Schedule 5 (Scotland: additional offences open to conditional offer),...

      4. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)

        1. 65.(1) Section 40B of the Child Support Act 1991 (disqualification...

      5. Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 (c. 13)

        1. 66.The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 is amended as...

        2. 67.(1) Section 2 (surrender of licences) is amended as follows....

        3. 68.In section 3 (revocation of licences), for subsection (1) substitute—...

        4. 69.In section 9(5) (interpretation etc.), omit “and its counterpart” in...

        5. 70.(1) Schedule 1 (newly qualified drivers holding test certificates) is...

      6. Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (c. 6)

        1. 71.The Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 is amended...

        2. 72.(1) Section 146 (driving disqualification for any offence) is amended...

        3. 73.(1) Section 147 (driving disqualification where vehicle used for purposes...

      7. Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32)

        1. 74.The Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 is amended as follows....

        2. 75.(1) Section 63 (production of licence: Great Britain) is amended...

        3. 76.(1) Section 64 (production of licence: Northern Ireland) is amended...

        4. 77.(1) Section 68 (endorsement of licence: Great Britain) is amended...

        5. 78.(1) Section 69 (endorsement of licence: Northern Ireland) is amended...

        6. 79.In section 74(1) (interpretation), omit the definition of “counterpart”.

      8. Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44)

        1. 80.(1) Section 301 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (fine...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Prohibition on driving: immobilisation, removal and disposal of vehicles

      1. Cases to which regulations may apply

        1. 1.The Secretary of State may make regulations with respect to...

      2. Immobilisation

        1. 2.(1) The regulations may provide that an authorised person or...

      3. Offences connected with immobilisation etc.

        1. 3.(1) The regulations may provide that a person who fails...

      4. Removal and disposal of vehicles

        1. 4.(1) The regulations may provide that where such conditions as...

      5. Offences as to securing possession of vehicles

        1. 5.(1) The regulations may provide that a person who fails...

      6. Disputes

        1. 6.The regulations may make provision about the proceedings to be...

      7. Authorised persons

        1. 7.As regards anything falling to be done under the regulations...

      8. Application of Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)

        1. 8.The regulations may make provision for the application of any...

      9. Interpretation

        1. 9.References in this Schedule to a vehicle include references to...

        2. 10.(1) This paragraph makes provision about the meaning of “authorised...

        3. 11.In this Schedule— (a) references to an immobilisation device are...

        4. 12.In this Schedule “prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations.

        5. 13.(1) The regulations may make provision as to the meaning...

      10. Supplementary provisions about regulations

        1. 14.(1) The power to make regulations under this Schedule is...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      New Schedule 2A to the Road Traffic Act 1988

      1. The Schedule inserted after Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic...

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      Driving instruction

      1. Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)

        1. 1.The Road Traffic Act 1988 is amended as follows.

        2. 2.For section 123 (instruction in the driving of motor cars...

        3. 3.For section 124 (exemption of police instructors) substitute— Exemption from...

        4. 4.For section 125 (register of approved instructors) substitute— Register (1) Regulations shall make provision for the establishment and maintenance...

        5. 5.After that section insert— Conditions of registration (1) Where a person duly applies to be registered in...

        6. 6.(1) Section 125A (registration of disabled persons) is amended as...

        7. 7.(1) Section 125B (provisions supplementary to section 125A) is amended...

        8. 8.For section 126 (duration of registration) substitute— Duration of registration...

        9. 9.(1) Section 127 (extension of duration of registration) is amended...

        10. 10.For section 128 (removal of names from register) substitute— Termination...

        11. 11.After that section insert— Power to give direction as to...

        12. 12.Omit sections 129 and 130 (licences for giving instruction so...

        13. 13.(1) Section 131 (appeals) is amended as follows.

        14. 14.For sections 132 and 133 and the heading before them...

        15. 15.In section 133A (assessment of disabled person's ability to control...

        16. 16.(1) Section 133B (further assessments) is amended as follows.

        17. 17.(1) Section 133C (duty to disclose further disability) is amended...

        18. 18.(1) Section 133D (offences relating to giving by disabled person...

        19. 19.For section 134 (power to alter conditions for entry or...

        20. 20.For section 135 substitute— Evidence of registration (1) Regulations may prescribe— (a) certificates or other items that...

        21. 21.In section 136 (surrender of certificates)— (a) for paragraphs (a)...

        22. 22.(1) Section 137 (production of certificates to constables and authorised...

        23. 23.(1) Section 140 (receipts) is to be renumbered as subsection...

        24. 24.(1) Section 141 (regulations) is to be renumbered as subsection...

        25. 25.For section 141A (meaning of “motor car”) substitute— Interpretation of...

        26. 26.For section 142 substitute— Index to Part 5 The expressions listed in the left-hand column below are respectively...

        27. 27.In section 173(2) (forgery of documents etc.), for paragraph (g)...

        28. 28.In section 174(1) (false statements), after paragraph (d) insert—

        29. 29.In section 183 (application to Crown), after subsection (6) insert—...

        30. 30.In section 195(2) (duty to consult before making regulations under...

      2. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)

        1. 31.The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 is amended as follows....

        2. 32.(1) Section 18 (evidence by certificate as to registration of...

        3. 33.(1) Part 1 of Schedule 2 (prosecution and punishment of...

    7. SCHEDULE 7

      Repeals and revocations

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