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Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Type Public General Act

Publication 1984-06-26

Last updated 2026-03-11

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

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the statement shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been signed by the accused and shall be evidence (and, in Scotland, sufficient evidence) in the proceedings of any facts stated in it tending to show that the accused was the owner, the hirer or the driver of the vehicle concerned at a particular time.

Statutory statements under this Schedule

9

(1) A statutory statement of ownership under this Schedule is a statement in the prescribed form, signed by the person furnishing it and stating—

(a) whether he was the owner of the vehicle at the relevant time; and

(b) if he was not the owner of the vehicle at the relevant time, whether he ceased to be the owner before, or became the owner after, the relevant time, and, if the information is in his possession, the name and address of the person to whom, and the date on which, he disposed of the vehicle or, as the case may be, the name and address of the person from whom, and the date on which, he acquired it.

(2) A statutory statement of hiring under this Schedule is a statement in the prescribed form signed by the person furnishing it, being the person by whom a statement of liability under this Schedule was signed, and stating—

(a) whether at the relevant time the vehicle was let to him under the hiring agreement to which the statement of liability refers; and

(b) if it was not, the date on which he returned the vehicle to the possession of the vehicle-hire firm concerned.

(3) A statutory statement of facts under this Schedule is a statement which is in the prescribed form and which—

(a) states that the person furnishing it was the driver of the vehicle at the relevant time and is signed by him; or

(b) states that that person was not the driver of the vehicle at the relevant time, states the name and address of the person who was the driver of the vehicle at the relevant time and is signed both by the person furnishing it and by the person stated to be the driver of the vehicle at the relevant time.

Service of notices

10

(1) A notice under paragraph 5(6) of this Schedule may be served on any person—

(a) by delivering it to him or by leaving it at his proper address, or

(b) by sending it to him by post;

and, where the person on whom such a notice is to be served is a body corporate, it shall be duly served if it is served on the secretary or clerk of that body.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above and of section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (references to service by post) in its application to that sub-paragraph the proper address of any person on whom such a notice is to be served—

(a) shall, in the case of the secretary or clerk of a body corporate, be that of the registered or principal office of that body or the registered address of the person who is the registered keeper of the vehicle concerned at the time of service, and

(b) shall in any other case be the last known address of the person to be served.

(3) For the purposes of sections 1(2) and 2(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (power to issue summons or warrant and jurisdiction to try offences) any offence under paragraph 6(2) of this Schedule shall be treated as committed at any address which at the time of service of the notice under paragraph 5(6) of this Schedule to which the offence relates was the accused’s proper address (in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) above) for service of any such notice, as well as at the address to which any statutory statement furnished in response to that notice is required to be returned in accordance with the notice.

Interpretation

11

(1) In this Schedule—

“appropriate period”, in relation to a notice under paragraph 5(6) of this Schedule, means the period of 14 days from the date on which the notice is served, or such longer period as may be allowed by the chief officer of police by or on behalf of whom the notice is served;

“driver”, in relation to the alleged offence referred to in paragraph 5(1) of this Schedule, means the person by whom, assuming the alleged offence to have been committed, it was committed;

“the interim period” has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph 1 of this Schedule;

“relevant time”, in relation to the alleged offence referred to in paragaph 5(1) of this Schedule, means the time at which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

(2) For the purposes of this Schedule the owner of a vehicle shall be taken to be the peson by whom the vehicle is kept; and for the purpose of determining, in the course of any proceedings brought by virtue of this Schedule, who was the owner of the vehicle at any time, it shall be presumed that the owner was the person who was the registered keepr of the vehicle at that time.

(3) Notwithstanding the presumption in sub-paragraph (2) above it shall be open to the defence in any proceedings to prove that the person who was the registered keeper of a vehicle at a particular time was not the person by whom the vehicle was kept at that time, and it shall be open to the prosecution to prove that the vehicle was kept by some other person at that time.

(4) References in this Schedule to the person who was or is the registered keeper of a vehicle at any time are references to the person in whose name the vehicle was or is at that time registered under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971; and, in relation to any such person, the reference in paragraph 10(2)(a) above to that person’s registered address is a reference to the address recorded in the record kept under that Act with respect to that vehicle as being that person’s address.

Transitional provisions

12

For the purposes of the provisions of the Interpretation Act 1978 in their application to this Act, and for the purposes of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Schedule 10 to this Act—

(a) paragraphs 1 to 11 of this Schedule shall be taken to be enactments by which enactments repealed by this Act are re-enacted (with or without modification), and

(b) those paragraphs shall be taken to be provisions corresponding to enactments so repealed,

notwithstanding that the operation of those paragraphs of this Schedule is limited by reference to the interim period.

SCHEDULE 13

THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1960 (c. 16)

1

In section 253(11), for “section 78 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ section 86 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

THE LONDON GOVERNMENT ACT 1963 (c. 33)

2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE COUNTRYSIDE (SCOTLAND) ACT 1967 (c. 86)

3

In section 51—

(a) in subsection (1), for the words from “local authorities” to “1967” substitute “ local highway authorities in Scotland by section 32 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”; and

(b) in subsection (2), for “sections 28, 29, 31, 32, 52, 53 and 96 of the said Act of 1967” substitute “ sections 32, 33, 35, 41, 101 and 102 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

THE LONDON CAB ACT 1968 (c. 7)

4

In section 3(2), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

THE COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1968 (c. 41)

5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE TRANSPORT ACT 1968 (c. 73)

6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7

In section 117(5), for the words from “12” to the end of the subsection substitute “ or 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

In section 42, the reference to any of the provisions of the Transport (London) Act 1969 shall be construed as including a reference to any provision of this Act which repeals and re-enacts (with or without modification) any provision of the said Act of 1969.

THE CHRONICALLY SICK AND DISABLED PERSONS ACT 1970 (c. 44)

10

In section 20(1)(b), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

11

In section 21—

(a) in subsection (1), for the words from “section 84C” to “Transport Act 1968)” substitute “ Part III of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”;

(b) in subsection (7)(c), after “before” insert “ the time when ” and after “or” insert “ at that time ”; and

THE PENSIONS (INCREASE) ACT 1971 (c. 56)

12

In paragraph 51(b) of Schedule 2, after “1967” insert “ or section 95(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

13–28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE LAND COMPENSATION ACT 1973 (c. 26)

29

In section 20—

(a) in subsection (6), after “1967” insert “ or section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”; and

(b) in subsection (12), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

THE CONTROL OF POLLUTION ACT 1974 (c. 40)

30

In section 23—

(a) in subsection (2A), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”;

(b) in subsection (4), for “sections 20, 52 and 53 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ sections 99 to 102 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”; and

(c) in subsection (9), for the words from “sections” to the end of subsection substitute “ sections 46(2)(a), 142(1) and 64(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. ”.

THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1974 (c. 50)

31

In section 17—

(a) in subsection (6)(a), for “the 1967 Act” substitute “ the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”; and

(b) in subsection (9), for “section 54 of the 1967 Act” substitute “ section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

THE GREATER LONDON COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) ACT 1974 (c. xxiv)

32

In section 15—

(a) in subsection (2)(a), for “section 80(1)(b) of the Act of 1967” substitute “ Schedule 12 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”; and

(b) in subsection (12)—

(i) for “section 71 of the Act of 1967” substitute “ section 81 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”; and

(ii) for “section 74 of the Act of 1967” substitute “ section 84 of that Act ”.

33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1976 (c. 57)

34

In section 7(3), for “Section 84C(1) to (5) and (6) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ Paragraphs 20 to 23, paragraph 24 (except so much of it as relates to appeals by district councils) and paragraph 25 of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”, and for “subsections (1) and (5) of that section” substitute “ paragraphs 20(1) and 24(a) and (b) of that Schedule ”.

35

In section 44—

(a) in subsection (1), in the definition of “traffic sign”, for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”; and

(b) in subsection (5), for “or 37(2)(c) of this Act” substitute “ of this Act or section 61(2)(c) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

36

In section 64(2), for “section 54 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (SCOTLAND) ACT 1980 (c. 62)

37

At the end of Schedule 1 the following entry shall be inserted as follows in columns 1, 2 and 3—

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PLANNING AND LAND ACT 1980 (c. 65)

38

In Schedule 7—

(a) in paragraph 14(3) and (4), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”; and

(b) in paragraph 14(4), for “section 104(1)” substitute “ section 142 ”.

THE HIGHWAYS ACT 1980 (c. 66)

39

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

40

In section 42(2)(c), for “section 71 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ section 81 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”, . . .

41

In section 60(1), for “section 12 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

42

In section 90F(2), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

43

In section 115(6)—

(a) for “Section 31 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ Section 35 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”;

(b) for “section 28” substitute “ section 32 ”;

(c) for “sections 84A, 84B, 84C, 84D and 85 of” substitute “ section 112 of and Parts I, II, III and IV of Schedule 9 to ”;

(d) for “the said section 31”, wherever it occurs, substitute “ the said section 35 ”;

(e) in paragraph (b), for “section 84D” substitute “ Part IV of Schedule 9 ”; and

(f) in paragraph (c), for “section 85(2)” substitute “ section 112(2) ”.

44

In section 115A(2), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

45

In section 265(10), for “21 and 75 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1967” substitute “ 23 and 85 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

46

In section 285(3), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”, and for “section 84A(2) or (4) of” substitute “ paragraph 3 or paragraph 7 of Schedule 9 to ”.

47

In section 329(1), in the definition of “traffic sign”, for “section 54 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967” substitute “ section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ”.

48

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

52

In Schedule 10, in Part II, in paragraph 9(1), for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

THE WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981 (c. 69)

53

In section 54, for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

54–56

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE LEVEL CROSSINGS ACT 1983 (c. 16)

57

In section 1(11), in the definition of “traffic sign”, for “1967” substitute “ 1984 ”.

SCHEDULE 14

TABLE OF DERIVATIONSNote:The following abbreviations are used in this Table:—

The Table does not take account of successive transfers of Ministerial functions under the enactments consolidated by the Act.

Editorial notes

[^c13543491]: Act extended by Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53, SIF 102), s. 35, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 11

[^c13543501]: Act extended (with modifications) by Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53, SIF 102), s. 6, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 26

[^c13543511]: Act extended (with modifications) (E.W.) by Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988 (c. 20, SIF 59), ss. 3, 19, Sch. 3 para. 10(1)(2)

[^c13543521]: Act amended by Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52, SIF 107:1), ss. 187(1)(3), 188(1), 189(1), 190(1) Act amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/593, reg. 2, Sch. 1

[^c13543531]: Act applied (E.W.) by Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988 (c. 20, SIF 59), ss. 5(2), 19 Act applied (E.W.) (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 173(2); S.I. 1993/2762, art.3 Act applied (E.W.) (11.10.1993) by 1980 c. 65, s. 157B(2) (as inserted (11.10.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s.178); S.I. 1993/2134, art. 4(b) (with Sch. 1 para. 8) Act applied (with modifications) (3.3.1997) by S.I. 1997/56, art. 6(1), Sch. 4 Pt. I Act applied (with modifications): (1.9.2003) by S.I. 2003/1924, art. 6, Sch. 2; (1.9.2003) by S.I. 2003/1984, art. 6, Sch. 2; (6.10.2003) by S.I. 2003/2326, art. 6, Sch. 2; (20.10.2003) by S.I. 2003/2336, art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c13543571]: Act restricted (1.10.1991) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), ss. 60(1), 84(1) (with s. 79(1)); S.I. 1991/2054, art. 3, Sch. Act restricted (1.9.1992) by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51), s. 8, Sch. 5 para. 5(3)(4) (as substituted by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40), s. 81, Sch. 7 para. 8; S.I. 1992/2010, art. 2 (with arts. 3, 5))

[^c13543541]: Act modified and restricted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), ss. 3(1)(2), 43(1)(2) (with ss. 25(2), 47(4), 167(2)); which is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2(2), Sch.2 and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.

[^c13543561]: Act: definition of "traffic authority " applied (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991 (c. 26, SIF 107:1), s. 2(5)(7); S.I. 1992/1218, art. 2 Act: definition of "traffic authority" and "traffic sign" applied (E.W.) (14.7.1992) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 105(1) (with s. 167(4)(5)); S.I. 1992/1686, art. 3, Sch. Act: definition of "traffic authority" and "traffic sign" applied (S.) (14.7.1992) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 164(1) (with s. 167(4)(5)); S.I. 1992/1671, art. 2, Sch.

[^c13543551]: Act: transfer of certain functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1; S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(1)

[^c19683421]: Act modified (26.3.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of Tameside) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/547), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19683551]: Act modified (W.) (1.4.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Gwynedd) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/714), art. 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (W.) (1.4.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of the Isle of Anglesey) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1043), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19683441]: Act modified (2.4.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Isle of Wight) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/648), art 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (2.4.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Hampshire) (Borough of Fareham) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/652), art. 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (2.4.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Surrey) (Borough of Waverley) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/664), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19683601]: Act modified (24.6.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1511), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19683621]: Act modified (2.7.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Leicestershire) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1582), art. 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (2.7.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1583), art. 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (2.7.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (South Gloucestershire) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1584), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19683811]: Act modified (30.7.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of North Yorkshire) (Borough of Scarborough) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1902), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19683981]: Act modified (5.8.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Northamptonshire) (Corby, Wellingborough, East Northamptonshire and South Northamptonshire) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1934), art. 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (6.8.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Warwickshire) (District of Warwick) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1935), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19684181]: Act modified (10.9.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of West Sussex) (Borough of Worthing) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2322), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19684241]: Act modified (1.10.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Staffordshire) (Staffordshire Moorlands and East Staffordshire) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2534), art. 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (1.10.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of Solihull) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2535), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19684351]: Act modified (8.10.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Worcestershire) (District of Wyre Forest) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2684), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19687081]: Act modified (1.11.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Staffordshire) (Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2797), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19687061]: Act modified (5.11.2007) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Gloucestershire) (Cheltenham, Cotswold, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2837), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19687101]: Act modified (14.1.2008) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/3553), art. 6, Sch. 2 Act modified (21.1.2008) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Cheshire) (Borough of Crewe and Nantwich) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/3566), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19975571]: Act modified (W.) (1.3.2008) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County Borough of Wrexham) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/226), art. 6, Sch. 2

[^c19975591]: Act applied (S.) (13.11.2009) by Glasgow Commonwealth Games Act 2008 (asp 4), ss. 39(2), 49; S.S.I. 2009/377, art. 2, Sch.

[^c13544131]: S. 1 restricted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 2, 8(2), Sch. 5 para. 6(3)

[^c13544141]: S. 1 restricted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 8(2), Sch. 5 para. 12 S. 1 restricted (S.) (4.1.1995) by 1994 c. 39, ss. 7(2), 44(2); S.I. 1994/2850, art. 3(a), Sch. 2

[^c13544151]: S. 1 applied (with modifications) (6.3.1992) by Aberdeen Harbour Order Confirmation Act 1992 (c. ii), s. 1, Sch. s. 3(2).

[^c13544161]: S. 1 modified (1.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1217, reg. 3(1)(a) (with reg. 11) S. 1 modified (1.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1217, reg. 5 (with reg. 11).

[^c16323921]: Ss. 1, 2, 4: power to make orders extended (S.) (1.4.2002) by The Forth Estuary Transport Authority Order 2002 (S.S.I. 2002/178), art. 9

[^c18778731]: S. 1: transfer of functions (23.3.2005) by The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/849), art. 2, Sch. (with transitional provisions and savings in art. 6) S. 1: functions made exercisable concurrently (S) (1.11.2006) by The Transfer of Functions to the Shetland transport Partnership Order 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/527), art. 4, Sch. 2 S. 1: functions made exercisable concurrently (S) (7.11.2006) by The Transfer of Functions to the South West of Scotland Transport Partnership Order 2006 (S.S.I 2006/538), art. 4, {Sch. 2}

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