Road Traffic Act 1988

Overview

The Road Traffic Act 1988 applies to all vehicles and drivers in the UK and covers the correct and appropriate use of vehicles on the road. The Act is laid out in 6 main parts and they are set out as follows:

• Part I Principal Road Safety Provisions
• Part II Construction and Use of Vehicles and Equipment
• Part III Licensing of drivers of vehicles
• Part IV Licensing of drivers of large goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles.
• Part IV Licensing of drivers of heavy goods vehicles
• Part V Driving Instruction
• Part VI Third-Party Liabilities

The Highway Code is a key aspect of how the requirements of safe road use is promoted. 

Subsequent Acts and Regulations are associated or developed out of the Road Traffic Act, and these include the Operator Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995.