The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which provided powers to regulate or restrict traffic on roads in Great Britain, in the interest of safety. It superseded some earlier legislation, including the majority of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967. The Act is split into 10 parts covering 147 sections, it also includes 14 schedules.
The act does not apply in Northern Ireland,[1] where the Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (SI 1997/276)[2] makes similar provision.
Part 1: General provisions for traffic regulation
Part 1 includes sections 1 to 13 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO),[3] known as Traffic Management Orders (TMO) in Greater London
Regulations outside Greater London
Regulations in Greater London
Experimental traffic schemes - these can be introduced for up to 18 months, to allow an authority to assess the impacts of a scheme such as traffic diversions.[4]
Part 3: Crossings and playgrounds
Part 3 includes sections 23 to 31 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Pedestrian crossings
School crossings
Street playgrounds
Part 4: Parking places
Part 4 includes sections 32 to 63 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Provision of off-street parking and parking on roads without payment
Control of off-street parking
Parking on highways for payment[6]
Provision of parking places by parish or community councils
Special parking provisions
Part 5: Traffic signs
Part 5 includes sections 64 to 80 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
General provisions
Provisions as to Greater London
Supplementary provision
Part 6: Speed limits
Part 6 includes sections 81 to 91 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Various powers relating to speed limits including:
Speed limits on restricted and non-restricted roads
Traffic signs indicating speed restrictions
Speeding offences
Approval of radar speed measuring devices
Speed limitations to certain types of vehicle (section 86)
Part 7: Bollards and other obstructions
Part 7 includes sections 92 to 94 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Bollards and other obstructions
Part 8: Control and enforcement
Part 8 includes sections 95 to 111 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Traffic wardens
Penalties other than fixed penalties
Removal or immobilisation of vehicles
Enforcement of excess parking charges
Part 9: Further provisions as to enforcement
Part 9 includes sections 112 to 121 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
General provisions
Special provisions relating to Scotland
Part 10: General and supplementary provisions
Part 10 includes sections 122 to 147 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Various supplementary powers including:
Exercise of functions by local authorities
Boundary roads
Footpaths, bridleways and byways open to all traffic
^"Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984: Section 147", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 26 June 1984, 1984 c. 27 (s. 147), retrieved 12 March 2024, This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.
^"The Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 12 February 1997, SI 1997/276, retrieved 12 March 2024
^Gloucestershire County Council https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/traffic-regulation-orders-tro-and-traffic-schemes/what-is-a-traffic-regulation-order-tro/
^Southwark Council https://www.southwark.gov.uk/transport-and-roads/traffic-orders-licensing-strategies-and-regulation/traffic-management-orders
^Camden Council https://www.camden.gov.uk/play-streets
^RAC Foundation, The control of parking by local authorities, https://www.racfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/elliot-parking-enforcement-main-report-16082010.pdf