Energy Act 1976

Section 4(2).

SCHEDULE 1U.K. Relaxations of Road Traffic and Transport Law Permissible under Section 4(2)

[1(1)A person acting under and in accordance with a general or special authority granted by the Secretary of State under section 4(2) of this Act may use, or cause or permit the use of, any vehicle on a road as a stage carriage, an express carriage or a contract carriage—N.I.

(a)without a licence, permit, agreement or consent otherwise required; and

(b)notwithstanding that the vehicle does not comply with regulations.

(2)The regulations here referred to are those made under section 160 of the M1Road Traffic Act 1960 (general regulations relating to public service vehicles), or such of the regulations made under section 40 of the M2Road Traffic Act 1972 (construction and use of motor vehicles and their equipment) as apply to a vehicle used as mentioned in this paragraph and do not apply to a vehicle not so used.]

[1(1)A person acting under and in accordance with a general or special authority granted by the Secretary of State under section 4(2) of this Act may [F1provide]][F2a local service within the meaning of the Transport Act M31985 or use any public service vehicle on a road for carrying passengers for hire or reward]—E+W+S

(a)without a licence, [F1certificate,]

agreement or consent otherwise required; and

[F3(aa)without complying with the requirements of sections 6 (registration of local services outside London) and 35 (provision of local services within London under London local service licences) of the 1985 Act;]

(b)notwithstanding that the vehicle does not comply with regulations. [F4; and

(c)notwithstanding that any conditions attached to any licence under [F5; Part II . . . F6of the M4Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981][F7; or Part I or II of the Transport Act 1985] are not complied with; . . . F8

(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9]

(2)The regulations here referred to are those made under [F5 . . . F6the M5Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981][F7or Part I of the M6 Transport Act 1985] . . . F6, or such of the regulations [F10made or having effect as if made under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1988] (construction and use of motor vehicles and their equipment) as apply to a vehicle used as mentioned in this paragraph and do not apply to a vehicle not so used.

[F112(1)A person acting under and in accordance with such an authority may—U.K.

(a)drive a passenger-carrying vehicle notwithstanding that his licence does not authorise him to do so; or

(b)cause or permit to drive any such vehicle a person whose licence does not so authorise him.

(2)In this paragraph—

• “Community licence” has the same meaning as in Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988;

• “licence” means a licence under that Part or a Community licence; and

• “passenger-carrying vehicle” has the same meaning as in Part IV of that Act.]

3U.K.A person acting under and in accordance with such an authority may, to such extent and in accordance with such conditions as may be specified in the authority, act, or cause or permit another person to act, as the driver of a vehicle without complying with the requirements of section 96(1) to (6) of the M7Transport Act 1968 (as for the time being in force).

4(1)A person charged under [F12section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988] with the offence of using, or causing or permitting the use, of a motor vehicle so as to contravene that section (driving uninsured) may prove as a defence that the vehicle was being used by authority of the Secretary of State under section 4(2) of this Act and that—U.K.

(a)it was at the material time the subject of insurance or security complying with [F12Part VI of the 1988 Act]; and

(b)pursuant to arrangements made by or with the Secretary of State for the purposes of section 4(2), the insurance or security is treated as extending to its use on that occasion.

(2)A person charged under [F13section 165 or 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988] with an offence of failing to produce the relevant certificate of insurance or certificate of security within the meaning of Part VI of that Act may prove as a defence that the vehicle was being used by authority of the Secretary of State under section 4(2) of this Act and that—

(a)he produced a certificate of insurance or certificate of security complying with Part VI of that Act; and

(b)pursuant to arrangements made by or with the Secretary of State for the purposes of section 4(2), the insurance or security to which the certificate relates is treated as extending to the use in question.