Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

87 Exemption of fire brigade, ambulance and police vehicles from speed limits.E+W

[F1(1)]No statutory provision imposing a speed limit on motor vehicles shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for [F2fire and rescue authority], for ambulance purposes or police purposes, if the observance of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.

[F3(1A)Subsection (1) above applies in relation to a vehicle that, although not being used for ambulance purposes, is being used for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service.

(1B)In subsection (1A), “an NHS ambulance service” means—

(a)an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust established under the National Health Service Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;

(b)an NHS trust established under the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;

(c)the Scottish Ambulance Service Board.]

[F4(2)Subsection (1) above applies in relation to a vehicle being used—

(a)for [F5National Crime Agency] purposes, or

(b)for training persons to drive vehicles for use for [F5National Crime Agency] purposes,

as it applies in relation to a vehicle being used for police purposes.

(3)But (except where it is being used for training the person by whom it is being driven) subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to a vehicle by virtue of subsection (2) above unless it is being driven by a person who has been trained in driving vehicles at high speeds.]

Extent Information

E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F1S. 87 renumbered (E.W.) (1.1.2006) as s. 87(1) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 59, 178, Sch. 4 para. 42(2); S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(l)

F2Words in s. 87 substituted (E.W.) (1.10.2004 for E., 10.11.2004 for W.) by Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21), ss. 53, 61, Sch. 1 para. 55; S.I. 2004/2304, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2004/2917, art. 2

F3S. 87(1A)(1B) inserted (26.5.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), ss. 50(4)(5), 115(3)(d)

F4S. 87(2)(3) added (E.W.) (1.1.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 59, 178, Sch. 4 para. 42(3); S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(l)

F5Words in s. 87(2)(a)(b) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 29(2); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 87 modified (temp.) by 2012 asp 8 sch. 7 para. 54 (as modified) (S.) (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Commencement No. 4, Transitory and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.S.I. 2013/51), arts. 1(1), 4 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

87 Exemption of fire brigade, ambulance and police vehicles from speed limits.S

No statutory provision imposing a speed limit on motor vehicles shall apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes [F6or for or in connection with the exercise of any function of [F7the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service]], if the observance of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.