Road Traffic Act 1988

[F2 133A Assessment of [F1 disabled person’s] ability to control a motor car in an emergency. E+W+S

(1) This section applies to any person who, by or under any provision of this Part of this Act,—

(a) is authorised to apply to undergo an emergency control assessment, or

(b) is required by the Registrar to submit himself for an emergency control assessment.

(2) An emergency control assessment is an assessment of whether the person being assessed would be able either—

(a) to take control of a motor car of a [F3 prescribed class] without any modifications, or

(b) to take control of a motor car of a [F4 prescribed class] only with appropriate modifications of such a motor car,

if an emergency arose while he was giving, in such a motor car, instruction in the driving of [F5 a] motor car.

(3) Where a person is authorised to apply to undergo an emergency control assessment, for the application to be duly made, it must be made to the Secretary of State and must include—

(a) a declaration by the person making the application, in such form as the Secretary of State may require, stating every relevant disability or prospective disability from which the person is suffering or has at any time (or, if a period is prescribed by regulations, has during that period) suffered; and

(b) such other particulars as the Secretary of State may require.

(4) Where a person is required to submit himself for an emergency control assessment he must furnish to the Secretary of State such particulars as the Secretary of State may require.

[F6 (4A) Regulations may require a person who applies to undergo an emergency control assessment (or a part of such an assessment), or is required to submit himself for such an assessment, to pay a fee to the Secretary of State.]

(5) An emergency control assessment—

(a) shall be conducted by a person appointed by the Secretary of State (in this section referred to as “the assessor”); and

(b) shall consist of such practical tests and other means of assessment as the Secretary of State may determine.

(6) On completing an emergency control assessment of a person, the assessor shall grant him an emergency control certificate if he is satisfied either—

(a) that, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) above, that person would be able to take control of a motor car of a [F7 prescribed class] without any modifications, or

(b) that, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) above, that person would be able to take control of a motor car of a [F8 prescribed class] only with appropriate modifications of such a motor car;

but if the assessor is not so satisfied, he shall refuse to grant a certificate to that person.

(7) An emergency control certificate granted to any person—

(a) shall specify the class of motor car [F9 covered by his disabled person’s limited driving licence] in relation to which the assessor is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (6)(a) or (b) above, specifying, in a case falling within paragraph (b) the modifications that are appropriate; and

(b) may include a recommendation that that person should undergo a further emergency control assessment after the end of such period as is specified in the certificate;

and shall otherwise be in such form as the Secretary of State may determine.

(8) Different modifications for different classes of motor car may be specified under subsection (7)(a) above.

(9) The assessor who has assessed any person under this section—

(a) if he grants an emergency control certificate, shall—

(i) give or send the certificate to that person, and

(ii) send a copy of the certificate to the Registrar; and

(b) if he refuses to grant such a certificate, shall—

(i) give notice in writing to that person of his decision and of the reasons for it, and

(ii) send a copy of the notice to the Registrar.]

[F10 (10) In this Part, “modifications”, in relation to a motor car, includes equipment.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 133A heading omitted (8.6.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(6); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

F2 Ss. 133A, 133B and cross-heading inserted (9.9.1996) by 1993 c. 31, s. 3; S.I. 1996/1980, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 133A(2)(a) substituted (8.6.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(2)(a); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

F4 Words in s. 133A(2)(b) substituted (8.6.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(2)(b); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

F5 Word in s. 133A(2) substituted (8.6.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(2)(c); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

F6 S. 133A(4A) inserted (1.4.2002) by 2000 c. 38, s. 260, Sch. 29 para. 10; S.I. 2002/658, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2

F7 Words in s. 133A(6)(a) substituted (8.6.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(3)(a); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

F8 Words in s. 133A(6)(b) substituted (8.6.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(3)(b); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

F9 Words in s. 133A(7)(a) omitted (8.6.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(4); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

F10 S. 133A(10) inserted (8.6.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(5); S.I. 2015/994, art. 7(a) (with Sch. Pt. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 133A excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 8(1)(b)(2)(b)