Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

17 Traffic regulation on special roads. E+W+S

F1 [( 1 ) A special road shall not be used except by traffic of a class authorised to do so—

(a) in England and Wales, by a scheme made, or having effect as if made, under section 16 of the Highways Act 1980 or by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 23 to that Act, or

(b) in Scotland, by a scheme made, or having effect as if made, under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.]

(2) [F2 Regulations may make provision] with respect to the use of special roads,[F3 Such regulations may, in particular—

(a) regulate the manner in which and the conditions subject to which special roads may be used by traffic authorised to do so;]

(b) authorise, or enable such authority as may be specified in the regulations to authorise, the use of special roads on occasion or in an emergency or for the purpose of crossing, or for the purpose of securing access to premises abutting on or adjacent to the roads, by traffic other than that described in paragraph (a) above; F4 . . .

(c) relax, or enable any authority so specified to relax, any prohibition or restriction imposed by the regulations.

F5 [( d ) include provisions having effect in such places, at such times, in such manner or in such circumstances as may for the time being be indicated by traffic signs in accordance with the regulations.]

(3) Regulations made under subsection (2) above may make provision with respect to special roads generally, or may make different provision with respect to special roads provided for the use of different classes of traffic, or may make provision with respect to any particular special road.

[F6 (3ZA) The power to make provision of the following kinds by regulations under subsection (2) is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers—

(a) provision with respect to a particular special road in Scotland;

(b) provision for regulating the speed of vehicles on special roads in Scotland.

[F7 (3ZAA) The power to make provision of the following kinds by regulations under subsection (2) is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers—

(a) provision with respect to a particular special road in Wales;

(b) provision for regulating the speed of vehicles on special roads in Wales.]

(3ZB) The power to make provision of any other kind by regulations under subsection (2) is exercisable by the Secretary of State.

(3ZC) In relation to special roads in Scotland that power of the Secretary of State is exercisable only after consultation with the Scottish Ministers.

[F8 (3ZCA) In relation to special roads in Wales, that power of the Secretary of State is exercisable only after consultation with the Welsh Ministers.]

F9 (3ZD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

(3A) Before making regulations under subsection (2) above, the Scottish Ministers shall consult the National Park authority for any National Park which would be affected by the regulations.

[F10 (a) the National Park authority for any National Park which would be affected by the regulations.]F11 ...

F11 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F12 (3B) Before making regulations under subsection (2), the Welsh Ministers must consult the National Park authority for any National Park that would be affected by the regulations.]

(4) If a person uses a special road in contravention of this section or of regulations under subsection (2) above, he shall be guilty of an offence.

[F13 ( 5 ) The provisions of this section and of any regulations under subsection (2) above do not apply in relation to a road, or part of a road, until the date declared by the traffic authority, by notice published in the prescribed manner, to be the date on which the road or part is open for use as a special road.

This does not prevent the making of regulations under subsection (2) above before that date, so as to come into force in relation to that road or part on that date.]

(6) In this section “ use ”, in relation to a road, includes crossing, F14 . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 17(1) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108) , s. 168(1) , Sch. 8 para. 28(2) ; which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286 , art. 2(2) , Sch. 2 . and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288 , art. 3 , Sch.

F2 Words in s. 17(2) substituted (3.7.2012) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11) , ss. 21(3) , 44(5) ; S.I. 2012/1710 , art. 2(k)

F3 Words in s. 17(2) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108) , s. 168(1) , Sch. 8 para. 28(3) ; which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286 , art. 2(2) , Sch. 2 . and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288 , art. 3 , Sch.

F4 Word at end of s. 17(2)(b) repealed (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1) , s. 83 , Sch. 8 ; S.I. 1992/1286 , art. 2 , Sch.

F5 S. 17(2)(d) inserted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1) , s. 48 , Sch. 4 para. 25 ; S.I. 1992/1286 , art. 2 , Sch.

F6 S. 17(3ZA)-(3ZD) inserted (3.7.2012) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11) , ss. 21(4) , 44(5) ; S.I. 2012/1710 , art. 2(k)

F7 S. 17(3ZAA) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), ss. 26(2), 71(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(f)

F8 S. 17(3ZCA) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 36(2) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)

F9 S. 17(3ZD) omitted (23.5.2016) by virtue of Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), s. 72(7), Sch. 2 para. 4(a)

F10 Words in s. 17(3A)(a) renumbered as s. 17(3A)(a) (3.7.2012) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11) , ss. 21(5)(a) , 44(5) ; S.I. 2012/1710 , art. 2(k)

F11 S. 17(3A)(b) and preceding word omitted (23.5.2016) by virtue of Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), s. 72(7), Sch. 2 para. 4(b)

F12 S. 17(3B) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 36(3) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)

F13 S. 17(5) substituted (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108) , s. 168(1) , Sch. 8 para. 28(4) ; which substitution is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286 , art. 2(2) , Sch. 2 . and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288 , art. 3 , Sch.

F14 Words in s. 17(6) repealed (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108) , s.168(1)(2) , Sch. 8 para. 28(5) , Sch. 9 ; which repeal is in force for Scotland only by S.I. 1991/2286 , art. 2(2) , Sch. 2 . and for England and Wales only by S.I. 1991/2288 , art. 3 , Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 17 modified (13.2.1992) by Severn Bridges Act 1992 (c. 3) , s. 22(3)

C2 S. 17(2) amended (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750 , art. 4 Sch. 3 ; S.I. 1998/3178 , art. 3

C3 S. 17(2)(5) : certain functions transferred (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750 , art. 2 Sch. 1 ; S.I. 1998/3178 , art. 3

C4 S. 17(5) applied (23.10.1995) by S.I. 1995/2507 , reg. 3