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MVRUS - Legislation

A summary of important legislation.

  1. 1861 Locomotives on Highways Act. Restricted speeds to 10 m.p.h. on open roads in towns.
  2. 1865 The Locomotives Act 1865 (The Red Flag Act): Reduced speeds to 4 m.p.h. on open roads and 2 m.p.h. in towns. Road locomotives were required to have a minimum crew of three, one of whom was required to walk 60 yards ahead, carrying a red flag.
  3. 1878 Highways and Locomotives(Amendment) Act. This did away with the red flag requirement, but still required someone to walk 20 yards ahead of the vehicle. All road carriages had to stop on sight of a horse and were forbidden to emit smoke or steam, in case it would frighten the animal.
  4. 1896 The Locomotives on Highways Act 1896 exempted light locomotives from the restrictions of the 1865 Act. Light locomotives were vehicles under 3 tons weight unladen and propelled by mechanical power, including petroleum. They were required to carry a bell or other instrument to give audible warning of approach. The speed limit for light locomotives on the public highway was 14 mph.
  5. 1903 The Motor Car Act 1903. Required a motor car to be registered and to have a registration plate (number plate). The driver of a motor car had to be licensed. The qualifying age for a car licence was 17 years and for a motor cycle 14 years. The Act introduced provisions for suspension, disqualification and endorsement of driving licences. Raised the speed limit on public highway to 20 mph.
  6. 1930 The Road Traffic Act 1930 repealed the Acts of 1865, 1896, and 1903 and introduced comprehensive provisions (in Great Britain) relating to:
    1. classification of motor vehicles;
    2. construction, weight and equipment of motor vehicles;
    3. licensing of drivers, including provisional licences, driving tests and physical fitness of drivers;
    4. speed limits, including abolition of speed limit for cars;
    5. driving offences - dangerous, reckless and careless driving and driving under the influence of drink or drugs;
    6. limitation of hours of continuous driving;
    7. compulsory third-party insurance;
    8. issue of Highway Code;
    9. issue of public service vehicles;
    10. conduct of drivers, conductors and passengers on public service vehicles.
  7. 1955 The Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 repealed, re-enacted and updated older legislation into a single consolidated Act, providing for:
    1. classification of motor vehicles;
    2. construction, equipment and use of motor vehicles;
    3. licensing of drivers, including provisional licenses, driving tests, physical fitness of drivers and age qualification of drivers - 17 years for car drivers and 16 years for motor cyclists;
    4. driving offences - dangerous driving, careless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving whilst uninsured;
    5. disqualification from driving;
    6. offences by pedestrians,cyclists, and motor cyclists;
    7. issue of Highway Code.
  8. 1959 Highways Act. This act covered motorway regulations, vehicle lighting regulations, and introduced double white lines.
  9. 1964 Road Traffic Act. This provided for a wider range of speed limits and introduced a trial 70 m.p.h. limit on motorways and other previously unrestricted roads.
  10. 1967 The Road Safety Act 1967. This made the 70 m.p.h. speed limit permanent, and made it an offence to drink and attempt to drive a vehicle with over 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.
  11. 1973 Road Traffic (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order.This order introduced traffic wardens and vehicle testing to Northern Ireland. It also gave the Department of the Environment the power to educate, train and publicise matters relating to road safety.
  12. 1974 Road Traffic Act. This introduced the compulsory wearing of safety helmets for two-wheeled motor vehicle users.
  13. 1981 The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 repealed the previous Northern Ireland Road Traffic Acts of 1926, 1955, 1964, 1967 and 1970 and embodies the current road traffic legislation in Northern Ireland, covering:
    1. driver licensing (including vocational licensing), driving tests, driving offences, drink driving (including obligatory disqualification);
    2. construction, equipment and use of motor vehicles;
    3. lighting of vehicles;
    4. speed of vehicles;
    5. inspection of vehicles (MOT);
    6. compulsory insurance;
    7. Highway Code and road safety ;
    8. seat belts;
    9. approved driving instructors.
  14. 1982 The Road Traffic (Seat Belts) (Northern Ireland) Order 1982. This order introduced the compulsory wearing of front seat belts in cars and light vans in Northern Ireland.
    1. Regulations requiring adults and children to wear belts in front seats became operative on 31 January 1983
    2. Regulations requiring adults to wear belts in rear seats became operative on 1 July 1991
  15. 1989 The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Rear Seat Belts by Children) (NI) Order 1989 amended the Road traffic (NI) Order 1981 so as to require children to wear belts in the rear of a motor vehicle. Regulations became operative on 1 september 1989
  16. 1991 The Road Traffic (Amendment)(Northern Ireland) Order 1991. Among other things this made provision with respect to offences arising out of driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drink or drugs.
  17. 1996 Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order. This order introduced a system of penalty points to Northern Ireland.
For Current Legislation, visit the Legislation Section of the Main Road Safety site.