Commencement and citationE+W

1.  These Regulations shall come into operation on 15th September 1982 and may be cited as the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982.

RevocationE+W

2.  The Motorways Traffic Regulations 1959(3) and the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1971(4) are hereby revoked.

InterpretationE+W

3.—(1) In these Regulations, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them:—

[F1(a)“the 1984 Act” means the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;]

[F2(b)“carriageway ” means that part of a motorway which—

(i)is provided for the regular passage of vehicular motor traffic along the motorway; and

(ii)where a hard shoulder is provided, has the approximate position of its left-hand or near-side edge marked with a traffic sign of the type shown in diagram 1012.1 in Schedule 2 to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981.]

(c)“central reservation” means that part of a motorway which separates the carriageway to be used by vehicles travelling in one direction from the carriageway to be used by vehicles travelling in the opposite direction;

[F3(ca)emergency refuge area” means a part of the motorway—

(i)which is adjacent to and situated on the left hand or near side of the hard shoulder or carriageway when facing in the direction in which, in accordance with regulation 6, vehicles may be driven, and

(ii)whose boundary with the hard shoulder or carriageway indicated by a marking of the type shown in diagram 1010 in Schedule 6 to the Traffic Signs Regulations 2002;]

(d)“excluded traffic” means traffic which is not traffic of Classes I or II;

(e)“hard shoulder” means a part of the motorway which is adjacent to and situated on the left hand or near side of the carriageway when facing in the direction in which vehicles may be driven in accordance with Regulation 6, and which is designed to take the weight of a vehicle;

(f)“motorway” means any road or part of a road to which these Regulations apply by virtue of Regulation 4;

[F4(ff) “traffic officer” means an individual designated as such by, or under an authority given by, the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with section 2 of the Traffic Management Act 2004;]

(g)“verge” means any part of a motorway which is not a carriageway, a hard shoulder, [F5an emergency refuge area,] or a central reservation.

(2) A vehicle shall be treated for the purposes of any provision of these Regulations as being on any part of a motorway specified in that provision if any part of the vehicle (whether it is at rest or not) is on the part of the motorway so specified.

(3) Any provision of these Regulations containing any prohibition or restriction relating to the driving, moving or stopping of a vehicle, or to its remaining at rest, shall be construed as a provision that no person shall use a motorway by driving, moving or stopping the vehicle or by causing or permitting it to be driven or moved, or to stop or remain at rest, in contravention of that prohibition or restriction.

(4) In these Regulations references to numbered classes of traffic are references to the classes of traffic set out in Schedule 4 to the Highways Act 1980(5).

ApplicationE+W

[F64.  Subject to section 17(5) of the 1984 Act, these Regulations apply to every special road or part of a special road which can be used only by traffic of Class I or II.]

Vehicles to be driven on the carriageway onlyE+W

5.  Subject to the following provisions of these Regulations, no vehicle shall be driven on any part of a motorway which is not a carriageway.

Direction of drivingE+W

6.—(1) Where there is a traffic sign indicating that there is no entry to a carriageway at a particular place, no vehicle shall be driven or moved onto that carriageway at that place.

(2) Where there is a traffic sign indicating that there is no left or right turn into a carriageway at a particular place, no vehicle shall be so driven or moved as to cause it to turn to the left or (as the case may be) to the right into that carriageway at that place.

(3) Every vehicle on a length of carriageway which is contiguous to a central reservation, shall be driven in such a direction that the central reservation is at all times on the right hand or off side of the vehicle.

(4) Where traffic signs are so placed that there is a length of carriageway (being a length which is not contiguous to a central reservation) which can be entered at one end only by vehicles driven in conformity with paragraph (1) of this Regulation, every vehicle on that length of carriageway shall be driven in such a direction only as to cause it to proceed away from that end of that length of carriageway towards the other end thereof.

(5) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Regulation, no vehicle which—

(a)is on a length of carriageway on which vehicles are required by any of the foregoing provisions of this Regulation to be driven in one direction only and is proceeding in or facing that direction, or

(b)is on any other length of carriageway and is proceeding in or facing one direction,

shall be driven or moved so as to cause it to turn and proceed in or face the opposite direction.

Restriction on stoppingE+W

7.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Regulation, no vehicle shall stop or remain at rest on a carriageway.

(2) Where it is necessary for a vehicle which is being driven on a carriageway [F7or on any emergency refuge area which is adjacent to that carriageway or hard shoulder] to be stopped while it is on a motorway—

(a)by reason of a breakdown or mechanical defect or lack of fuel, oil or water, required for the vehicle; or

(b)by reason of any accident, illness or other emergency; or

(c)to permit any person carried in or on the vehicle to recover or move any object which has fallen onto a motorway; or

(d)to permit any person carried in or on the vehicle to give help which is required by any other person in any of the circumstances specified in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph,

the vehicle shall, as soon and in so far as is reasonably practicable, be driven or moved off the carriageway on to, and may stop and remain at rest on, any hard shoulder which is contiguous to that carriageway.

(3) —

(a)A vehicle which is at rest on a hard shoulder [F8or emergency refuge area] shall so far as is reasonably practicable be allowed to remain at rest on that hard shoulder [F8or emergency refuge area] in such a position only that no part of it or of the load carried thereby shall obstruct or be a cause of danger to vehicles using the carriageway.

(b)A vehicle shall not remain at rest on a hard shoulder [F8or emergency refuge area] for longer than is necessary in the circumstances or for the purposes specified in paragraph (2) of this Regulation.

(4) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Regulation shall preclude a vehicle from stopping or remaining at rest on a carriageway while it is prevented from proceeding along the carriageway by the presence of any other vehicle or any person or object.

Restriction on reversingE+W

8.  No vehicle on a motorway shall be driven or moved backwards except in so far as it is necessary to back the vehicle to enable it to proceed forwards or to be connected to any other vehicle.

[F9Restriction on the use of hard shoulders and emergency refuge areasE

9.  No vehicle shall be driven or stop or remain at rest on any hard shoulder or emergency refuge area except in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of Regulation 7.]

Restriction on the use of hard shouldersW

9.  No vehicle shall be driven or stop or remain at rest on any hard shoulder except in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of Regulation 7.

Vehicles not to use the central reservation or vergeE+W

10.  No vehicle shall be driven or moved or stop or remain at rest on a central reservation or verge.

Vehicles not to be driven by learner driversE+W

[F1011.—(1) Subject to [F11paragraphs (3) and (3A)], a person shall not drive on a motorway a motor vehicle to which this regulation applies if he is authorised to drive that vehicle only by virtue of his being the holder of a provisional licence.

(2) This regulation applies to—

(a)a motor vehicle in category A or B or sub-category C1+E (8.25 tonnes), D1 (not for hire or reward), D1+E (not for hire or reward) or P, and

(b)a motor vehicle in category B+E or sub-category C1 if the provisional licence authorising the driving of such a motor vehicle was in force at a time before 1st January 1997.

(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to a vehicle if the holder of the provisional licence has passed a test of competence prescribed under section 89 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for the grant of a licence to drive that vehicle.

[F12(3A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where the holder of the provisional licence—

(a)is driving a category B vehicle the transmission of which may be disengaged, and the brakes operated, independently from the driver by a person sitting in the front passenger seat, and

(b)is under the supervision of a person who is present with him in the vehicle, and whose name is in Part 1 or Part 2 of the register of approved instructors, referred to in section 123(1)(a) and (aa) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and the registration is not suspended.]

(4) In this regulation —

(a)the expression “in force”and expressions relating to vehicle categories shall be construed in accordance with [F13regulations 3(1) and (2)(a) and 4(3) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999];

(b)“provisional licence”, in relation to any vehicle, means a licence —

(i)granted under section 97(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, or

(ii)treated, by virtue of section 98 of that Act and regulations made thereunder, as authorising its holder to drive that vehicle as if he were authorised by a provisional licence to do so.]

Restriction on use of right hand or off side laneE+W

[F1412.—(1) This Regulation applies to—

[F15(a)a goods vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes,]

[F16(aa)a goods vehicle—

(i)having a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, and

(ii)to which regulation 36B of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 applies or would apply but for paragraph (14)(a) or (b) of that regulation;]

[F17(b)a passenger vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver the maximum laden weight of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes;]

[F18(bb)a passenger vehicle—

(i)which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver the maximum laden weight of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, and

(ii)to which regulation 36A of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (Speed limiters) applies or would apply but for paragraph (13)(a) or (b) of that regulation;]

(c)a motor vehicle drawing a trailer, and

[F19(d)a vehicle which is a motor tractor, a light locomotive or a heavy locomotive.]

(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) below, no vehicle to which this Regulation applies shall be driven or moved or stop or remain at rest on the right hand or offside lane of a length of carriage way which has three or more traffic lanes at any place where all the lanes are open for use by traffic proceeding in the same direction.

(3) The prohibition contained in paragraph (2) above shall not apply to a vehicle while it is being driven on any right hand or offside lane such as is mentioned in that paragraph in so far as it is necessary for the vehicle to be driven to enable it to pass another vehicle which is carrying or drawing a load of exceptional width.

[F20(4) Nothing in this regulation shall have effect so as to require a vehicle to change lane during a period when it would not be reasonably practicable for it to do so without involving danger of injury to any person or inconvenience to other traffic.

[F21(5) In this Regulation “goods vehicle”, “passenger vehicle” and “maximum laden weight” have the same meanings as in Schedule 6 to the 1984 Act.]]]

Restrictions affecting persons on foot on a motorwayE+W

F2213.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Restrictions affecting animals carried in vehiclesE+W

14.  The person in charge of any animal which is carried by a vehicle using a motorway shall, so far as is practicable, secure that—

(a)the animal shall not be removed from or permitted to leave the vehicle while the vehicle is on a motorway, and

(b)if it escapes from, or it is necessary for it to be removed from, or permitted to leave, the vehicle—

(i)it shall not go or remain on any part of the motorway other than a hard shoulder [F23or an emergency refuge area], and

(ii)it shall whilst it is not on or in the vehicle be held on a lead or otherwise kept under proper control.

Use of motorway by excluded trafficE+W

15.—(1) Excluded traffic is hereby authorised to use a motorway on the occasions or in the emergencies and to the extent specified in the following provisions of this paragraph, that is to say—

(a)traffic of Classes III or IV may use a motorway for the maintenance, repair, cleaning or clearance of any part of a motorway or for the erection, laying, placing, maintenance, testing, alteration, repair or removal of any structure, works or apparatus in, on, under or over any part of a motorway;

(b)pedestrians may use a motorway—

(i)when it is necessary for them to do so as a result of an accident or emergency or of a vehicle being at rest on a motorway in any of the circumstances specified in paragraph (2) of Regulation 7, or

(ii)in any of the circumstances specified in sub-paragraphs (b), (d), (e) or (f) of paragraph (1) of Regulation 16.

(2) The Secretary of State may authorise the use of a motorway by any excluded traffic on occasion or in emergency or for the purpose of enabling such traffic to cross a motorway or to secure access to premises abutting on or adjacent to a motorway.

(3) Where by reason of any emergency the use of any road (not being a motorway) by any excluded traffic is rendered impossible or unsuitable the Chief Officer of Police of the police area in which a motorway or any part of a motorway is situated, or any officer of or above the rank of superintendent authorised in that behalf by that Chief Officer, may—

(a)authorise any excluded traffic to use that motorway or that part of a motorway as an alternative road for the period during which the use of the other road by such traffic continues to be impossible or unsuitable, and

(b)relax any prohibition or restriction imposed by these Regulations in so far as he considers it necessary to do so in connection with the use of that motorway or that part of a motorway by excluded traffic in pursuance of any such authorisation as aforesaid.

Exceptions and relaxationsE+W

16.—(1) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of these Regulations shall preclude any person from using a motorway otherwise than in accordance with the provisions in any of the following circumstances, that is to say—

(a)where he does so in accordance with any direction or permission given by a constable in uniform [F24, a traffic officer in uniform] or with the indication given by a traffic sign;

(b)where, in accordance with any permission given by [F25a traffic officer in uniform or] a constable, he does so for the purpose of investigating any accident which has occurred on or near a motorway;

(c)where it is necessary for him to do so to avoid or prevent an accident or to obtain or give help required as the result of an accident or emergency, and he does so in such manner as to cause as little danger or inconvenience as possible to other traffic on a motorway;

(d)where he does so in the exercise of his duty as a constable [F26, a traffic officer, when in uniform,] [F27as a member of the Serious Organised Crime Agency for the purposes of that Agency,] or as a member of [F28an ambulance service or as an employee of a fire and rescue authority employed for the purposes of that authority];

(e)where it is necessary for him to do so to carry out in an efficient manner—

(i)the maintenance, repair, cleaning, clearance, alteration or improvement of any part of a motorway, or

(ii)the removal of any vehicle from any part of a motorway, or

(iii)the erection, laying, placing, maintenance, testing, alteration, repair or removal of any structure, works or apparatus in, on, under or over any part of a motorway; or

(f)where it is necessary for him to do so in connection with any inspection, survey, investigation or census which is carried out in accordance with any general or special authority granted by the Secretary of State.

(2) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of these Regulations, the Secretary of State may relax any prohibition or restriction imposed by these Regulations.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and re-enact with amendments the provisions of The Motorways Traffic Regulations 1959 and the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1971.

The principal amendments are as follows—

(1) The definitions of the constituent parts of a motorway in Regulation 3(1) are amended, introducing a specific definition of hard shoulder in Regulation 3(1)(e). The provisions in Regulations 7 and 9 as to stopping on a motorway are, in consequence, framed by reference to the hard shoulder.

(2) The restrictions on the use of the right hand or off side lane are amended so that they apply to a motor car with a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes, and a heavy motor car constructed for the carriage of passengers and their effects and which has an overall length greater than 12 metres (Regulation 12(1)). These restrictions will apply on any motorway which has three or more traffic lanes where all the lanes are open for use by traffic proceeding in the same direction (Regulation 12(2)).