Road Traffic Act 1988

The principal statute governing road traffic offences in Great Britain. It creates the principal driving offences including dangerous driving, careless driving, drink-driving, drug-driving, and driving without insurance or a licence. It also gives police powers to require specimens of breath, blood, or urine, and to stop vehicles. The Act is supplemented by the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 and the Road Safety Act 2006.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: causing death by dangerous driving
• Section 2: dangerous driving
• Section 3: careless driving
• Section 3A: causing death by careless driving when under the influence
• Section 4: driving when unfit through drink or drugs
• Section 5: driving with excess alcohol
• Section 5A: driving with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit
• Section 6: preliminary tests (breath tests)
• Section 163: power of constable in uniform to stop a vehicle
• Section 165: powers to seize documents
• Section 170: duty to stop and give information after accident

Relevance to Policing

Essential for anyone involved in road traffic policing, road traffic prosecution or defence, or seeking to understand the powers to stop vehicles.