Road Vehicles (Rules and Regulations)

HC Deb 06 March 1980 vol 980 cc319-21W

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a detailed list of the number of rules, regulations and enactments affecting vehicles on

for major maintenance and reconstruction as well as those for new road construction. Allowing for certain late information, the contracts for new trunk road construction let in 1979 by agent authorities were as follows:

the road which necessitate the police being compelled or expected to check or enforce such rules and regulations.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Definitive information is to be found in the relevant volumes of statutes in force and the list of statutory instruments published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. However, the main statutory provisions affecting vehicles are contained in the Road Traffic Acts 1960, 1972 and 1974, the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1967, the Transport Acts 1968 and 1978 and the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971.

More detailed regulations include the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1978, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1971, the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1976, the Goods Vehicle (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1971, the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) Regulations 1972, and the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971.

Enforcement of the law in this field is primarily for the police, but the Department, together with the traffic commissioners and the licensing authorities, also plays an important part.