Road Traffic Act 1972

Offences under this Act

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Provision creating offence	General nature of offence	Mode of prosecution	Punishment	Disqualification	Endorsement	Additional provisions
1	Causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.	On indictment.	5 years or, in the case of a conviction by a court in Scotland other than the High Court of Justiciary, 2 years.	Obligatory.	Obligatory.	Section 181 and paragraph 3 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
2	Reckless, and dangerous, driving generally.	(a) Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 6 months or £100 or both.	(a) Obligatory, if committed within 3 years after a previous conviction of an offence under section 1 or 2.	Obligatory.	Sections 179, 181 and 183 and paragraphs 1,2, 3, 5 and 6 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
		(b) On indictment.	2 years or a fine or both.	(b) Discretionary if committed otherwise than as mentioned in paragraph (a) above.
3	Careless, and inconsiderate, driving.	Summarily.	£100; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £100 or both.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 179, 181 and 183 and paragraphs 4 and 7 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
4(4)	Driving under age.	Summarily.	£50.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
5(1)	Driving or attempting to drive when unfit to drive through drink or drugs.	(a) Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction or of a conviction subsequent to a conviction of an offence under section 6(1) or 9(3) (where it was shown as mentioned in paragraph (i) of the entry in this column relating to that offence), 6 months or £100 or both.	Obligatory.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 and paragraph 3 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
		(b) On indictment.	2 years or a fine or both.
5(2)	Being in charge of a motor vehicle when unfit to drive through drink or drugs.	(a) Summarily.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 and paragraph 3 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
		(b) On indictment.				4 months or £100 or both. 12 months or a fine or both.
6(1)	Driving or attempting to drive with blood-alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit.	(a) Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction or of a conviction subsequent to a conviction of an offence under section 5(1) or 9(3) (where it was shown as mentioned in paragraph (i) of the entry in this column relating to that offence), 6 months or £100 or both.	Obligatory.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 and paragraph 3 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
		(b) On indictment.	2 years or a fine or both.
6(2)	Being in charge of a motor vehicle with blood-alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit.	(a) Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 and paragraph 3 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
		(b) On indictment.	12 months or a fine or both.
8(3)	Failing to provide a specimen of breath for a breath test.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
9(3)	Failing to provide a specimen of blood or urine for a laboratory test.	(a) Summarily.	(i) Where it is shown that at the relevant time (as defined in Part V of this Schedule) the offender was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, 4 months or £100 or both; or in the case of a conviction subsequent to a conviction under section 5(1) or 6(1) or to a conviction under section 9(3) where it was so shown, 6 months or £100 or both.	(a) Obligatory if it is shown as mentioned in paragraph (i) of column 4.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 and paragraph 3 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
			(ii) Where in any other case it is shown that at that time the offender was in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, 4 months or £100 or both.
		(b) On indictment.	(iii) 2 years or a fine or both in the case of a conviction where it is shown as mentioned in paragraph (i) above.	(b) Discretionary if it is not so shown.
			(iv) 12 months or a fine or both in the case of a conviction where it is shown as mentioned in paragraph (ii) above.
14	Motor racing and speed trials on highways.	Summarily.	3 months or £100 or both.	Obligatory.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
15	Other unauthorised or irregular competitions or trials on highways.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
16	Carrying passenger on motor-cycle contrary to section 16.	Summarily.	£20.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
17	Reckless, and dangerous, cycling.	Summarily.	£30; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £30.	—	—	Sections 179, 181 and 183 apply.
18	Careless, and inconsiderate, cycling.	Summarily.	£10; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction £20.	—	—	Sections 179, 181 and 183 and paragraphs 4 and 7 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
19	Cycling when unfit through drink or drugs.	Summarily.	£30; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £30.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
20	Unauthorised or irregular cycle racing or trials of speed on highways.	Summarily.	£10.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
21	Carrying passenger on bicycle contrary to section 21.	Summarily.	£5; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction £10.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
22	Failing to comply with traffic directions.	Summarily.	£50.	Discretionary, if committed in respect of a motor vehicle by a failure to comply with a direction of a constable or an indication given by a sign specified for the purposes of this paragraph in regulations made by the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Scotland acting jointly.	Obligatory, if committed as described in the entry in column 5 relating to this offence.	Sections 179, 181 and 183 apply.
23	Pedestrian failing to stop when directed by constable regulating traffic-	Summarily.	£10; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction £25.	—	—	—
24	Leaving vehicles in dangerous positions.	Summarily.	£50; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50.	Discretionary, if committed in respect of a motor vehicle.	Obligatory, if committed in respect of a motor vehicle.	Sections 179, 181 and 183 apply.
25(4)	Failing to stop after accident and give particulars or report accident.	Summarily.	3 months or £50.	Discretionary,	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
26(2)	Obstructing inspection of vehicles after accident.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
29	Tampering with motor vehicles.	Summarily.	3 months or £50.	—	—	Section 181 applies.
30(1)	Holding or getting on to vehicle in order to be carried.	Summarily.	£10.	—	—	Section 181 applies.
30(2)	Holding on to vehicle in order to be towed.	Summarily.	£10.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
31(1)	Dogs on designated roads without being held on lead.	Summarily.	£5.	—	—	—
32(3)	Driving or riding motor cycles in contravention of regulations requiring wearing of protective headgear.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
33	Selling, etc., helmet not of prescribed type as helmet for affording protection for motor cyclists.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50 or both.	—	—	—
34(4)	Causing, etc. heavy motor vehicles to be driven or to haul without proper crew.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50.	—	—	Section 181 applies.
35(3)	Unauthorised motor vehicle trial on footpaths or bridleways.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
36	Driving motor vehicles elsewhere than on roads.	Summarily.	£10.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
40(5)	Contravention of construction and use regulations.	Summarily.	£200 in the case of an offence of using, or causing or permitting the use of, a goods vehicle— (a) so as to cause, or to be likely to cause, danger by the condition of the vehicle or its parts or accessories, the number of passengers carried by it, or the weight, distribution, packing or adjustment of its load; or (b) in breach of a construction and use requirement as to brakes, steering-gear, tyres or any description of weight; £50 in any other case.	Discretionary if committed by using, or causing or permitting the use of, any motor vehicle or trailer— (a) as described in paragraph (a) in the entry in column 4 relating to this offence; or (b) in breach of a construction and use requirement as to brakes, steering-gear, or tyres; except where the offender proves that he did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the facts of the case were such that the offence would be committed.	Obligatory if committed as described in the entry in column 5 relating to this offence, but subject to the exception there mentioned.	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
44(1)	Using, etc., vehicle without required test certificate being in force.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
Regulations under 45(7)	Contravention of requirement of regulations that driver of goods vehicle being tested be present throughout test or drive vehicle, etc., which is declared by regulations to be an offence.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
46(1)	Using, etc., goods vehicle without required plating certificate being in force.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
46(2)	Using, etc., goods vehicle without required goods vehicle testcertific te being in force.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
46(3)	Using, etc., goods vehicle with alteration thereto required to be but not notified to Secretary of State under regulations under section 45.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
Regulations under 50(5)	Contravention of requirement of regulations that driver of goods vehicle being tested after notifiable alteration be present throughout test and drive vehicle, etc., which is declared by regulations to be an offence.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
51(1)	Using, etc., goods vehicle without required certificate being in force showing that it complies with type approval requirements applicable to it.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
51(2)	Using, etc., certain goods vehicles for drawing trailer when plating certificate does not specify maximum laden weight for vehicle and trailer.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
51(3)	Using, etc., goods vehicle with alteration theretorequired to be but not notified to Secretary of State under regulations under section 48.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
53(4)	Obstructing testing of vehicle by examiner on road or failing to comply with requirements of section 53 or Schedule 3.	Summarily.	£20.	—	—	—
54(5) (including application by 55(3))	Failure of owner of vehicle discovered to be defective on roadside test or further test to give required certificate or declaration.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
54(6) (including application by 55(3))	Failure of person in charge of vehicle on roadside test or further test to give particulars of owner.	Summarily.	£20.	—	—	—
55(5)	Obstructing further testing of vehicle by Secretary of State's officer or failing to comply with requirements of section 55 or paragraph 3 or 4 of Schedule 3.	Summarily.	£20.	—	—	—
56(3)	Obstructing goods vehicle examiner inspecting goods vehicle or entering premises where such vehicle believed to be.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction £50.	—	—	—
56(5)	Person in charge of stationary goods Vehicle refusing etc., to proceed to nearby place of inspection.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
57(9)	Driving, etc., goods vehicle in contravention of prohibition on driving it as being unfit for service.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
59(3)	Contravention of regulations requiring goods vehicle operator to inspect, and keep records of inspections of, goods vehicles.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
60(3)	Selling, etc., unroadworthy vehicle or trailer or altering vehicle or trailer so as to make it unroadworthy.	Summarily.	£100.	—	—	—
61(2)	Obstructing examiner testing condition of used vehicles at sale rooms, etc.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
62	Selling, etc., goods vehicle without required certificate being in force showing that it complies with type approval requirements applicable to it.	Summarily.	£100.	—	—	—
65(5)	Drawing more than prescribed number of trailers.	Summarily.	£50	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
66(5)	Selling, etc., pedal cycle in contravention of regulations as to brakes, bells, etc.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
810)	Causing, etc., vehicle to be on road in contravention of provisions as to lighting, etc., of vehicles.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
81(2)	Selling, etc., wrongly made tail lamps or reflectors.	Summarily.	£20.	—	—	—
84(1)	Driving without a licence.	Summarily.	£50	Discretionary, if the offence is committed by driving a motor vehicle in a case where either no licence authorising the driving of that vehicle could have been granted to the offender or, if a provisional (but no other) licence to drive it could have been granted to him, the driving would not have complied with the conditions thereof.	Obligatory, if committed as described in the entry in column 5 relating to this offence.	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
84(2)	Employing a person to drive without a licence.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Section 181 applies.
88(6)	Failing to comply with any conditions prescribed for driving under provisional licence or full licence treated as provisional licence.	Summarily.	£50.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
89(3)	Driving licence holder failing, when his particulars become incorrect, to surrender licence and give particulars.	Summarily.	£20.	—	—	—
91(1)	Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight.	Summarily.	3 months or £50.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	—
91(2)	Refusing to submit to test of eyesight.	Summarily.	£50.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	—
99(a)	Obtaining driving licence while disqualified.	Summarily.	6 months or £50 or both.	—	—	Section 180 applies.
99(b)	Driving while disqualified.	(a) Summarily.	6 months or £50 or both.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 180, 181 and 183 apply.
		(b) On indictment.	12 months or £100 or both.
101(4) (including application by 103(4))	Failing to produce licence to court for endorsement on conviction of offence involving obligatory endorsement or on committal for sentence, etc., for offence involving obligatory or discretionary disqualification when no interim disqualification ordered.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
101(6)	Applying for or obtaining licence without giving particulars of current endorsement.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
103(2)	Failing to produce driving licence to court making order for interim disqualification On committal for sentence, etc.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
104(4)	Failing to state to court or give information as to date of birth or sex.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
104(5)	Failing to furnish Secretary of State with evidence of date of birth etc.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
111(2)	Failing to produce to court Northern Ireland driving licence.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
112(1)	Driving heavy goods vehicle without heavy goods vehicle driver's licence.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
112(2)	Employing a person to drive heavy goods vehicle without heavy goods vehicle driver's licence.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50.	—	—	Section 181 applies.
114(3)	Failing to comply with conditions of heavy goods vehicle driver's licence.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
Regulations under 119(2)	Contravention of regulations about heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences which is declared by regulation to be an offence.	Summarily.	£20.	—	—	—
126(3)	Giving of paid driving instruction by unregistered and unlicensed persons or their employers.	Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	—
135(2)	Unregistered instructor using title or displaying badge, etc., prescribed for registered instructor, and employers using such title, etc., in relation to his unregistered instructor or issuing misleading advertisement, etc.	Summarily.	£100.	—	—	—
136	Failure of instructor to surrender to Registrar certificate or licence.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
137(3)	Failing to produce certificate of registration or licence as driving instructor.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
143	Using motor vehicle while uninsured or unsecured against third-party risks.	Summarily.	3 months or £50 or both.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 180, 181 and 183 apply.
147(4)	Failing to surrender certificate of insurance or security to insurer on cancellation or make statutory declaration of loss or destruction.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
151(2)	Failing to give information, or wilfully making false statement, as to insurance or security when claim made.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
159	Failing to stop vehicle when required by constable.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
160(1)	Refusing or neglecting to allow motor vehicle or trailer to be weighed, etc.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
161(4)	Failing to produce driving licence to constable or to state date of birth.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
161(5)	Failing to furnish Secretary of State with evidence of date of birth, etc.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
162(1)	Failing to give constable certain names and addresses or to produce certificate of insurance or certain test and other like certificates.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
162(3)	Supervisor of learner-driver failing to give constable certain names and addresses.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Section 181 applies.
164(1)	Refusing to give, or giving false, name and address in case of reckless, dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving or cycling.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, 3 months or £50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
165	Pedestrian failing to give constable his name and address after failing to stop when directed by constable controlling traffic.	Summarily.	£5.	—	—	—
166(1)	Failure by driver, in case of accident involving injury to another, to produce evidence of insurance or security or to report accident.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
167	Failure by owner of motor vehicle to give police information for verifying compliance with requirement of compulsory insurance or security.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, 3 months or £50.	—	—	Sections 181 and 183 apply.
168(3)	Failure of person keeping vehicle and others to give police information as to identity of driver, etc., in the case of certain offences.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
169(1)	Forgery, etc., of licences, test certificates, certificates of insurance and other documents and things.	(a) Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	Section 180 applies.
		(b) On indictment	2 years.
170(1)	Making false statements in connection with licences under this Act and with registration as an approved driving instructor.	Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	Section 180 applies.
170(2)	Making, or making use of, false statements relating to goods vehicles.	Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	—
170(3)	Producing false evidence or making false declaration in connection with applications for vehicle excise licences for vehicles required to have test certificates.	Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	—
170(4)	Making false statements as to the remedying of defects discovered in vehicles on roadside tests.	Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	—
170(5)	Making, or making use of, false entry in records required to be kept of condition of goods vehicles.	Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	—
170(6)	Making false statement or withholding material information in order to obtain the issue of insurance certificates, etc.	Summarily.	4 months or £100 or both.	—	—	Section 180 applies.
171	Issuing false insurance certificates, etc., or false test certificates.	Summarily.	6 months or £100 or both.	—	—	Section 180 applies.
172	Using goods vehicle with unauthorised weights as well as authorised weights marked thereon.	Summarily.	£50.	—	—	—
174	Personation of, or of person employed by, authorised examiner.	Summarily.	£100.	—	—	—
175	Taking, etc., in Scotland a motor vehicle without authority or, knowing that it has been so taken, driving it or allowing oneself to be carried in it without authority.	(a) Summarily.	3 months or £50.	Discretionary.	Obligatory.	Sections 181 and 183 and paragraph 8 of Part IV of this Schedule apply.
		(b) On indictment.	12 months or a fine or both.
187(2)	Failing to attend, give evidence or produce documents to, inquiry held by Secretary of State, etc.	Summarily.	£5.	—	—	—
Schedule 1 para. 5(1)	Applying warranty to protective helmet in defending proceedings under section 33 where no warranty given.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50 or both.	—	—	—
para. 5(2)	Giving to purchaser of protective helmet a false warranty in case where warranty might be defence in proceedings under section 33.	Summarily.	£20; or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction 3 months or £50 or both.	—	—	—