Present laws

Road Traffic Act 1972 A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation. There are many types of ...

Highways Act 1980 The Highways Act 1980 (1980 c.66) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom dealing with the management and operation of the road network in England and Wales. It consolidated with amendments several earlier pieces of legislation. Man ...

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, which provided powers to regulate or restrict traffic on UK roads, in the interest of safety. It superseded some earlier legislation, including the majority of ...

Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation. There are many types of ...

Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (commonly abbreviated to TSRGD) is the law that sets out the design and conditions of use of official traffic signs that can be lawfully placed on or near roads in Great Britain (England, Sco ...

Highway Code ''The Highway Code'' is a set of information, advice, guides and mandatory rules for road users in the United Kingdom. Its objective is to promote road safety. The ''Highway Code'' applies to all road users including pedestrians, horse riders ...

History

*The

Locomotives on Highways Act 1896 The Locomotives on Highways Act 1896 removed the strict rules and UK speed limits that were included in the earlier Locomotive Acts which had greatly restricted the adoption of motorised vehicles in the United Kingdom. It came into operation on ...

*The

Motor Car Act 1903 The Motor Car Act 1903 (3 Edw.7, c. 36) was an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament that received royal assent on 14 August 1903, which introduced motor vehicle registration, driver licensing and increased the speed limit. Context The Act followe ...

*The

Roads Act 1920 The Roads Act 1920 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which established the Road Fund, and introduced tax discs. Clauses The Act: *Required county councils to register all new vehicles and to allocate a separate number to each ...

*The

Road Traffic Act 1930 The Road Traffic Act 1930 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced by the Minister of Transport Herbert Morrison. Context The last major legislation on road traffic was the Motor Car Act 1903. Amendments had been discussed ...

*The

Road Traffic Act 1934 The Road Traffic Act 1934 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced by the Minister of Transport, Leslie Hore-Belisha. The Act was made in a year in which there had been a record numbers of road casualties. Context The Locomo ...

Offences that apply to all vehicles

Causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving Causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving is a statutory offence in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. It has been abolished in the Republic of Ireland. Statute This offence is created bsection 35of the Offences against the Person Act ...

Motor vehicle offences

Causing death by dangerous driving Causing death by dangerous driving is a statutory offence in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is an aggravated form of dangerous driving. It is currently created by section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as substituted by the ...

Dangerous driving In United Kingdom law, dangerous driving is a statutory offence. It is also a term of art used in the definition of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving. It replaces the former offence of reckless driving. Canada's Criminal Code ha ...

Careless driving Driving without due care and attention or careless driving is a legal term for a particular type of moving traffic violation in the United States, Canada (at least in Ontario), the United Kingdom, and Ireland. It is often punishable by fines or endo ...

Driving without due care and attention Driving without due care and attention or careless driving is a legal term for a particular type of moving traffic violation in the United States, Canada (at least in Ontario), the United Kingdom, and Ireland. It is often punishable by fines or endo ...

Motor vehicle document offences: see English criminal law#Forgery, personation and cheating And see

Drink driving (United Kingdom) The laws of driving under the influence vary between countries. One difference is the acceptable limit of blood alcohol content before a person is charged with a crime. Africa The following is a list of the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) lim ...

Bicycles

*'' Taylor v Goodwin'' (1879) 4 QBD 228 bicycles are defined as "carriages" and therefore not allowed on pavements; biker convicted for "furious" cycling. Taylor v. Goodwin

also, '' Smith v Kynnersley''

903 __NOTOC__ Year 903 ( CMIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * King Berengar I of Italy proceeds to issue concessions and privileges to the Lo ...

1 KB 788 (cyclist not liable to pay bridge toll) and '' Corkery v Carpenter''

951 Year 951 ( CMLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * King Berengar II of Italy seizes Liguria, with help from the feudal lord Oberto I. He re ...

I KB 102 (cyclist liable for offence where cycling drunk) * Cycle Tracks Act 1984, allows footpaths to be converted into cycle paths *

Highway Act 1835 The Highway Act 1835 (5 & 6 Will 4 c 50) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was one of the Highway Acts 1835 to 1885. Parish boards The Highway Act 1835 placed highways under the direction of parish surveyors, and allowed t ...

s 72 (as amended by

Local Government Act 1888 Local may refer to: Geography and transportation * Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand * Local, Missouri, a community in the United States * Local government, a form of public administration, usually the lowest tier of administrat ...

s 85(1)) prohibits cycling on footways (pavement beside carriageway). The fixed penalty is £30 under the

s 51 and Sch 3. *'' Crank v Brooks''

980 Year 980 ( CMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Peace is concluded between Emperor Otto II (the Red) and King Lothair III (or Lothair IV) a ...

RTR 441, wheeling a bike is not "riding" it, per

Waller LJ Sir George Mark Waller PC (born 13 October 1940) is a former Lord Justice of Appeal who served as the Vice-President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. The son of the Rt Hon Sir George Waller, he was educated at ...

, *

Licensing Act 1872 The Licensing Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict c 94) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is one of the Licensing Acts 1828 to 1886 and was one of the Licensing (Ireland) Acts 1833 to 1886. It enacted various regulations and offences r ...

, an offence to be drunk and in charge of a bike. *

Road Traffic Act 1988 The Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, concerning licensing of vehicles, insurance and road regulation. Contents Part I contains a number of traffic offences including causing death by dangerous drivi ...

s 30, creates an offence for being ''incapable'' of having proper control, not necessarily being a bit drunk. *Maximum penalty for dangerous cycling is £2500. *£30 fine for running a red light. * Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, amended 2003, cyclists not included in law making it illegal to talk on a mobile phone.

Northern Ireland

Offences that apply to all vehicles

Motor vehicle offences

* Causing death or grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving *

Notes

External links

*Carlton Reid,
Cycling and the law
(retrieved 2.10.2009) Bikeforall.net {{DEFAULTSORT:United Kingdom Traffic Laws Road transport in the United Kingdom Law of the United Kingdom

Traffic law Traffic codes are laws that generally include provisions relating to the establishment of authority and enforcement procedures, statement of the Traffic#Rules of the road, rules of the road, and other safety provisions. Administrative regulations ...

Present laws

History

Offences that apply to all vehicles

Motor vehicle offences

Bicycles

Northern Ireland

Offences that apply to all vehicles

Motor vehicle offences

See also

Notes

External links