Legislation – Deregulation Act 2015
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Changes to legislation:
Deregulation Act 2015, Cross Heading: Transport is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 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.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Crossheading Transport:
- s. 110A inserted by 2016 c. 12 s. 16(1)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 110A inserted by 2016 c. 12 s. 16(1)
Transport
49Removal of restrictions on provision of passenger rail services
(1)
In Part 2 of the Transport Act 1968 (integrated transport areas and passenger transport areas), in section 10(1)
(general powers of Executive)—
(a)
“(ia)
to carry passengers by railway—
(a)
where that area is in England, between places in that area, between such places and any place in Great Britain which is outside that area, or between places in Great Britain which are outside that area, or
(b)
where that area is in Wales or Scotland, between places in that area or between such places and any place outside that area but within the permitted distance, that is to say, the distance of twenty-five miles from the nearest point on the boundary of that area;”;
(b)
in paragraph (ii), for “other form of land transport” substitute “
.
form of land transport other than road or railway
”
(2)
Schedule 8 contains—
(a)
amendments in consequence of subsection (1), and
(b)
further amendments in connection with the provision of passenger rail services.
50Road traffic legislation: use of vehicles in emergency response by NHS
(1)
Section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (exemptions from speed limits), as substituted by section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006, is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).
(2)
In subsection (1)—
(a)
in paragraph (a), omit “, for ambulance purposes”;
(b)
“(aa)
it is being used for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service”;
(c)
in paragraph (c), after “paragraph (a)” insert “
.
, (aa)
”
(3)
“(1A)
In subsection (1)(aa), “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.”
(4)
If this section comes into force before section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006, section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as it has effect until section 19 comes into force) is amended as follows.
(5)
“(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.”
(6)
Schedule 9 makes further amendments to road traffic legislation in connection with the use of vehicles in the provision of an emergency response by the NHS.
51Reduction of burdens relating to the use of roads and railways
Schedule 10 makes provision about the following matters—
(a)
the duration of driving licences to be granted to drivers with relevant or prospective disabilities;
(b)
permit schemes;
(c)
road humps;
(d)
pedestrian crossings;
(e)
off-road motoring events;
(f)
testing of vehicles;
(g)
rail vehicle accessibility regulations: exemption orders.
52Reduction of burdens relating to enforcement of transport legislation
Schedule 11 makes provision about the following matters—
(a)
drink and drug driving offences;
(b)
bus lane contraventions.
53Civil penalties for parking contraventions: enforcement
(1)
Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (civil enforcement of traffic contraventions) is amended as follows.
(2)
“78ANotification of penalty charge: parking contraventions in England
(1)
Regulations under section 78 must include provision requiring notification of a penalty charge to be given by a notice affixed to the vehicle where the charge is in respect of a parking contravention on a road in a civil enforcement area in England.
(2)
The regulations may, however, provide that the requirement does not apply in circumstances specified in the regulations (which may be framed by reference to the type of contravention, the circumstances in which a contravention occurs or in any other way) and, where the regulations so provide, they may make any such alternative provision for notification as is authorised by section 78.”
(3)
“87APower to prohibit use of devices etc: parking contraventions in England
(1)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision to prohibit the use by civil enforcement officers of a device of a description specified in the regulations, or of records produced by such a device, in connection with the enforcement of parking contraventions on a road in a civil enforcement area in England.
(2)
The prohibition may be—
(a)
general, or
(b)
limited to particular uses specified in the regulations.
(3)
The regulations may provide that a general or limited prohibition does not apply in circumstances specified in the regulations (which may be framed by reference to the type of contravention, the circumstances in which a contravention occurs or in any other way).
(4)
Regulations under this section may amend this Part or any provision made under it.”
54Removal of restriction on investigation of tramway accidents in Scotland by RAIB
(1)
The Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 is amended as follows.
(2)
In section 14 (extent of Part 1: investigation of railway accidents by Rail Accident Investigation Branch), omit subsection (2) (which prevents the Part from applying to tramways in Scotland).
(3)
In consequence of subsection (2), omit section 1(3).
55Removal of duty to order re-hearing of marine accident investigations
In section 269(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (power to order re-hearing of investigation into marine accident and duty to do so in certain cases)—
(a)
omit paragraph (a) (duty to order re-hearing where new and important evidence discovered), and the “or” following it;
(b)
in paragraph (b), omit “other”.