Legislation – Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Part I
General Provisions for Traffic Regulation

1 Traffic regulation orders outside Greater London.

2 What a traffic regulation order may provide.

3 Restrictions on traffic regulation orders.

4 Provisions supplementary to ss. 2 and 3.

5 Contravention of traffic regulation order.

6 Orders similar to traffic regulation orders.

7 Supplementary provisions as to orders under s. 6.

8 Contravention of order under s. 6.

9 Experimental traffic orders.

10 Supplementary provisions as to experimental traffic orders.

11 Contravention of experimental traffic order.

12 Experimental traffic schemes in Greater London.

13 Contravention of regulations under s. 12.

13A Temporary suspension of provisions under s. 6 or 9 orders.

Part II
Traffic Regulation in Special Cases

14
Temporary prohibition or restriction on roads.

15
Duration of orders and notices under s.14.

16 Supplementary provisions as to orders and notices under s. 14.

16A Prohibition or restriction on roads in connection with certain events.

16B Restrictions on orders under s. 16A.

16C Supplementary provisions as to orders under s. 16A.

17 Traffic regulation on special roads.

17A
Further provisions as to special roads.

18 One-way traffic on trunk roads.

19 Regulation of use of highways by public service vehicles.

20 Prohibition or restriction of use of vehicles on roads of certain classes.

21 Permit for trailer to carry excess weight.

22 Traffic regulation for special areas in the countryside.

22A Traffic regulation on certain roads for purpose of conserving natural beauty.

22B Traffic regulation on long distance routes

22BB Traffic regulation on byways etc. in National Parks in England and Wales

22BC Section 22BB: supplementary

22CA Section 22C: power to impose charges

22D Section 22C: supplemental

Part III
Crossings and Playgrounds

23 Powers of strategic highways companies and local traffic authorities with respect to pedestrian crossings

24 Pedestrian crossings on other roads.

25 Pedestrian crossing regulations.

26 Arrangements for patrolling school crossings.

27 Expenses under s. 26 in metropolitan police district.

28 Stopping of vehicles at school crossings.

29
Power to prohibit traffic on roads to be used as playgrounds.

30 Similar power for local authorities in Greater London.

31 Byelaws with respect to roads used as playgrounds.

Part IV
Parking Places

32 Power of local authorities to provide parking places.

33 Additional powers of local authorities in connection with off-street parking places.

34 Provision of access to premises through off-street parking place.

35 Provisions as to use of parking places provided under s. 32 or 33.

35A Offences and proceedings in connection with parking places provided under s. 32 or 33.

35B Display of information.

35C
Variation of charges at off-street parking places.

36 Provisions as to authorising use of roads for parking.

37 Extension of powers for purposes of general scheme of traffic control.

38 Parking place to be used as bus or coach station.

39 Supplementary provisions as to exercise of powers under ss. 32–35 in England or Wales.

40 Acquisition of land: provisions as to parking places.

41 Financial provisions relating to parking places.

42 Provisions as to foreshore in Scotland.

43 Control of off-street parking in Greater London.

44 Control of off-street parking outside Greater London.

45 Designation of paying parking places on highways.

46 Charges at, and regulation of, designated parking places.

46A
Variation of charges at designated parking places.

47 Offences relating to designated parking places.

48 Acceptance of payment as bar to proceedings under s. 47.

49 Supplementary provisions as to designation orders and designated parking places.

50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51 Parking devices for designated parking places.

52 Offences and proceedings in connection with parking devices and associated apparatus.

53 Designation orders outside Greater London.

54 Designation orders in Wales.

55 Financial provisions relating to designation orders.

56 Grants where parking place designated by Secretary of State.

57 General powers of parish or community councils for provision of parking places.

58 Consents for purposes of s. 57(1).

59 Consents for, and provisions as to use of, parking places under s. 57(1)(b).

60 Supplementary provisions relating to ss. 57–59.

61 Loading areas.

62 Parking in Royal Parks.

63 Stands and racks for bicycles.

63A Parking attendants.

Part V
Traffic Signs

64 General provisions as to traffic signs.

65 Powers and duties of traffic authorities as to placing of traffic signs.

66 Traffic signs for giving effect to local traffic regulations.

67 Emergencies and temporary obstructions.

68 Placing of traffic signs in connection with exercise of other powers.

69 General provisions as to removal of signs.

70 Default powers of Secretary of State as to traffic signs.

71 Power to enter land in connection with traffic signs.

72 Powers exercisable by parish or community councils.

73 Powers and duties of local traffic authorities in Greater London in respect of traffic signs.

74 Affixing of traffic signs to walls.

74A London borough councils and the London traffic control system.

74B Transfer of traffic control systems between Secretary of State or a strategic highways company and Transport for London.

74C The traffic authority for traffic signs.

75 Similar provisions applicable in City of London.

76 Traffic signs in connection with experimental traffic schemes in London.

77 Traffic signs: modifications as respects trunk roads.

78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

79 Advances by Secretary of State towards expenses of traffic signs.

80 References to highway authorities in Part V.

Part VI
Speed Limits

81 General speed limit for restricted roads.

82 What roads are restricted roads.

83 Provisions as to directions under s. 82(2)

84 Speed limits on roads other than restricted roads.

85 Traffic signs for indicating speed restrictions.

86 Speed limits for particular classes of vehicles.

87 Exemption of fire brigade, ambulance and police vehicles from speed limits.

88 Temporary speed limits.

89 Speeding offences generally.

90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part VII
Bollards and Other Obstructions

92 Bollards and other obstructions outside Greater London.

93 Powers of Secretary of State in relation to functions under s. 92.

94 Bollards and other obstructions in Greater London.

94A Bollards and other obstructions: terrorism

Part VIII
Control and Enforcement

95 Appointment of traffic wardens.

96 Additional powers of traffic wardens.

97 Supplementary provisions as to traffic wardens.

98 Control and Enforcement

99 Removal of vehicles illegally, obstructively or dangerously parked, or abandoned or broken down.

100 Interim disposal of vehicles removed under s. 99.

101 Ultimate disposal of vehicles abandoned and removeable under this Act.

101A Right of owner to recover vehicle or proceeds of sale

101B Representations and appeals

102 Charges for removal, storage and disposal of vehicles.

103 Supplementary provisions as to removal of vehicles.

104 Immobilisation of vehicles illegally parked.

105 Exemptions from s. 104.

106 Initial experimental period for immobilisation of vehicles.

106A
Immobilisation of vehicles in London

107 Liability of vehicle owner in respect of excess parking charge.

108 Notice in respect of excess parking charge.

109 Modifications of ss. 107 and 108 in relation to hired vehicles.

110 Time for bringing, and evidence in, proceedings for certain offences.

111 Supplementary provisions as to excess charges.

Part IX
Further Provisions as to Enforcement

112 Information as to identity of driver or rider.

113, 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

115 Mishandling of parking documents and related offences.

116 Provisions supplementary to s. 115.

117 Wrongful use of disabled person’s badge.

118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119 Aiding and abetting.

120, 121 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part X
General and Supplementary Provisions

121A
Traffic authorities.

121B London borough council exercising powers so as to affect another traffic authority’s roads.

121C Functions of GLA under this Act to be exercisable by the Mayor.

122 Exercise of functions by strategic highways companies or local authorities.

122A
Prospective exercise of powers.

123 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

124 Provisions as to certain orders.

124A GLA side roads.

124B
Orders of the Authority changing what are GLA side roads.

124C Certification and records of GLA side roads.

125 Boundary roads.

126 Exercise of powers as respects part of width of road.

127 Footpaths, bridleways , restricted byways and byways open to all traffic.

128 Power to hold inquiries.

129 General provisions as to inquiries.

130 Application of Act to Crown.

131 Application of road traffic enactments to Crown roads.

132 Special provisions as to certain Crown roads.

132A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

132AA Royal Parks or highways in London affected by proposals relating to the other.

133 Vehicles used for marine salvage.

134 Provisions as to regulations.

135 Application of Act to Isles of Scilly.

136 Meaning of “motor vehicle” and other expressions relating to vehicles.

137 Supplementary provisions relating to s. 136.

138 Meaning of “heavy commercial vehicle”.

139 Hovercraft.

140 Certain vehicles not to be treated as motor vehicles.

141 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

141A
Tramcars and trolley vehicles: regulations.

142 General interpretation of Act.

143 Saving for law of nuisance.

144 Transitional provisions and savings.

145 Commencement and temporary provisions.

146 Amendments and repeals.

147 Short title and extent.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Matters as to which Orders can be made under Section 6

SCHEDULE 4 Control of Off-Street Parking

SCHEDULE 5 Buildings in Relation to Which a Secretary of State is the Appropriate Authority for the Purposes of Section 74

SCHEDULE 6 Speed Limits for Vehicles of Certain Classes

SCHEDULE 8 Statutory Statements (Excess Charges)

SCHEDULE 9 Special Provisions as to certain Orders

SCHEDULE 10 Transitional Provisions and Savings

SCHEDULE 11 Provisions of This Act and Instruments Referred to in Section 144(2)

SCHEDULE 13 Consequential Amendments

SCHEDULE 14 Repeals

Which version?
Latest available (Revised)
Original (As enacted)

Changes to legislation:

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Section 87 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 10 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

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 legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 87:

s. 87 substituted by 2006 c. 49 s. 19

Part VI Speed Limits

87 Exemption of fire brigade, ambulance and police vehicles from speed limits.

F1(1)

No statutory provision imposing a speed limit on motor vehicles shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for F2fire and rescue authority, for ambulance purposes or police purposes, if the observance of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.

F3(1A)

Subsection (1) above applies in relation to a vehicle that, although not being used for ambulance purposes, is being used for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service.

(1B)

In subsection (1A), “an NHS ambulance service” means—

(a)

an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust established under the National Health Service Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;

(b)

an NHS trust established under the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;

(c)

the Scottish Ambulance Service Board.

F4(2)

Subsection (1) above applies in relation to a vehicle being used—

(a)

for F5National Crime Agency purposes, or

(b)

for training persons to drive vehicles for use for F5National Crime Agency purposes,

as it applies in relation to a vehicle being used for police purposes.

(3)

But (except where it is being used for training the person by whom it is being driven) subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to a vehicle by virtue of subsection (2) above unless it is being driven by a person who has been trained in driving vehicles at high speeds.

87 Exemption of fire brigade, ambulance and police vehicles from speed limits.

No statutory provision imposing a speed limit on motor vehicles shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes F6or for or in connection with the exercise of any function of F7the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, if the observance of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.

F3(1A)

Subsection (1) above applies in relation to a vehicle that, although not being used for ambulance purposes, is being used for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service.

(1B)

In subsection (1A), “an NHS ambulance service” means—

(a)

an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust established under the National Health Service Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;

(b)

an NHS trust established under the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;

(c)

the Scottish Ambulance Service Board.