Legislation – Deregulation Act 2015
Changes to legislation:
Deregulation Act 2015, SCHEDULE 9 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 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.
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SCHEDULE 9Road traffic legislation: use of vehicles in emergency response by NHS
Traffic Management Act 2004
1
The Traffic Management Act 2004 is amended as follows.
2
“—
(a)
for fire brigade or police purposes, or
(b)
for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service.
“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.”
3
“—
(a)
for fire brigade or police purposes, or
(b)
for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service.
“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.”
Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/1078)
4
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 are amended as follows.
5
“an NHS ambulance service
(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
(1)
Regulation 37 (audible warning instruments) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (5)(a), omit “, ambulance”.
(3)
“(aza)
used for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;”.
7
(1)
Regulation 82 (restriction on width of loads) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (10)(a), omit “, ambulance”.
(3)
“(aa)
for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;”.
8
(1)
Regulation 101 (parking in darkness) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (2)(a), omit “ambulance”.
(3)
“(aa)
being used for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service if compliance with those provisions would hinder or be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion;”.
9
(1)
Regulation 107 (leaving motor vehicles unattended) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (2)(a), omit “ambulance,”.
(3)
“(aa)
being used for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;”.
Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1796)
10
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 are amended as follows.
11
(1)
The Table in regulation 3(2) (which sets out the meaning of expressions used in the regulations) is amended as follows.
(2)
In column 2, in paragraph (a) of the definition of “emergency vehicle”, omit “, ambulance”.
(3)
“(aza) a vehicle used for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;”
(4)
“An NHS ambulance service
(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.”
12
(1)
Regulation 11 (colour of light shown by lamps and reflectors) is amended as follows.
(2)
Omit paragraph (2)(y)(iii).
(3)
“(z)
reflected light from yellow or orange retro reflective material fitted to the rear of a vehicle—
(i)
used for ambulance purposes, or
(ii)
used for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service.”
13
In Part 2 of Schedule 17 (requirements relating to optional side retro reflectors), in the first column of the Table, below “Ambulance” (but in the same row) insert “
.
The provision of a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service but only in respect of a vehicle which is owned by the service or held by it under a lease or hire agreement
”
14
(1)
Part 2 of Schedule 18 (requirements relating to optional rear retro reflectors) is amended as follows.
(2)
The first sentence becomes paragraph 1.
(3)
At the end of that paragraph insert “
, subject to paragraphs 2 and 3.
”
(4)
The second sentence becomes paragraph 2.
(5)
In that paragraph—
(a)
omit “But”;
(b)
omit paragraph (c).
(6)
“3
The colour of rear retro reflectors fitted to—
(a)
a vehicle used for ambulance purposes, or
(b)
a vehicle used for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service,
may be red, yellow or orange (or any combination), provided that, in the case mentioned in paragraph (b), the vehicle is owned by the NHS ambulance service or held by it under a lease or hire agreement.”
Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 (S.I. 1997/2400)
15
The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 are amended as follows.
16
““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;”.
17
(1)
Regulation 12 (significance of vehicular light signals at Pelican crossings) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (1)(e), omit “, ambulance, national blood service”.
(3)
“(eza)
when a vehicle is being used for ambulance or national blood service purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service and the observance of the prohibition conveyed by the steady amber or the red signal in accordance with sub-paragraph (c) or (d) would be likely to hinder the use of that vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used, then those sub-paragraphs shall not apply to the vehicle, and the steady amber and the red signal shall each convey the information that the vehicle may proceed beyond the stop line if the driver—
(i)
accords precedence to any pedestrian who is on that part of the carriageway which lies within the limits of the crossing or on a central reservation which lies between two crossings which do not form part of a system of staggered crossings; and
(ii)
does not proceed in a manner or at a time likely to endanger any person or any vehicle approaching or waiting at the crossing, or to cause the driver of any such vehicle to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident;”.
18
(1)
Regulation 13 (significance of vehicular light signals at Puffin crossings) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (1)(f), omit “, ambulance, national blood service”.
(3)
“(fa)
when a vehicle is being used for ambulance or national blood service purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service and the observance of the prohibition conveyed by the amber, red or red-with-amber signal in accordance with sub-paragraph (c), (d) or (e) would be likely to hinder the use of that vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used, then those sub-paragraphs shall not apply to the vehicle, and the red signal, red-with-amber and amber signals shall each convey the information that the vehicle may proceed beyond the stop line if the driver—
(i)
accords precedence to any pedestrian who is on that part of the carriageway which lies within the limits of the crossing or on a central reservation which lies between two crossings which do not form part of a system of staggered crossings; and
(ii)
does not proceed in a manner or at a time likely to endanger any person or any vehicle approaching or waiting at the crossing, or to cause the driver of any such vehicle to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident;”.
19
(1)
Regulation 21 (stopping in controlled areas) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (c), omit “, ambulance”.
(3)
“(ca)
when the vehicle 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; or”.
Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (S.I. 2002/3113)
20
The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 are amended as follows.
21
““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.”
22
(1)
Regulation 15 (keep right and kept left signs) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (2)—
(a)
omit “ambulance,”;
(b)
omit “, national blood service”.
(3)
“(2ZA)
On an occasion where a vehicle is being used for ambulance or national blood service purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service and the observance of the requirement specified in paragraph (1) would be likely to hinder the use of that vehicle for one of those purposes then, instead of that requirement, the requirement conveyed by the sign in question shall be that the vehicle shall not proceed beyond that sign in such a manner or at such a time as to be likely to endanger any person.”
23
(1)
Regulation 26 (double white lines) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (5)(b), omit “ambulance,”.
(3)
“(bza)
to a vehicle for the time being used for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;”.
24
(1)
Regulation 27 (zig zag lines) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (3)(c), omit “ambulance,”.
(3)
“(ca)
when the vehicle 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;”.
25
(1)
Regulation 36 (light signals) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph (1)(b)—
(a)
omit “ambulance,”;
(b)
omit “, national blood service”.
(3)
“(bza)
when a vehicle is being used for ambulance or national blood service purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service and the observance of the prohibition conveyed by the red signal in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) would be likely to hinder the use of that vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used, then sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply to the vehicle, and the red signal shall convey the prohibition that that vehicle shall not proceed beyond the stop line in a manner or at a time likely to endanger any person or to cause the driver of any vehicle proceeding in accordance with the indications of light signals operating in association with the signals displaying the red signal to change its speed or course in order to avoid an accident;”.
26
(1)
Schedule 19 (bus stop and bus stand clearways and box junctions) is amended as follows.
(2)
In paragraph 4 (bus stop and bus stand clearways)—
(a)
in paragraph (a), omit “ambulance,”;
(b)
“(aza)
a vehicle being used for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;”.
(3)
In paragraph 9 (box junctions)—
(a)
omit “ambulance,”;
(b)
omit “, national blood service”.
(4)
“10
When a vehicle is being used for ambulance or national blood service purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service and the observance of the prohibition in paragraph 7(1) or 8 would be likely to hinder the use of that vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used, then that prohibition shall not apply to the driver of the vehicle.”