Road Traffic Act 1988

81 Regulation of brakes, bells etc., on pedal cycles. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations as to the use on roads of cycles, their construction and equipment and the conditions under which they may be so used.

(2) In particular, but without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, the regulations may make provision as to—

(a) the number, nature and efficiency of brakes and their maintenance in proper working order,

(b) the appliances to be fitted for signalling approach and their maintenance in proper working order, and

(c) the testing and inspection, by persons authorised under the regulations, of any equipment prescribed under this section and of lighting equipment and reflectors.

(3) Regulations under this section may provide for repealing byelaws dealing with the same subject-matter as the regulations, and for suspending while the regulations remain in force any power of making such byelaws.

(4) Regulations under this section may be made so as to apply either generally or in such circumstances only as may be specified in the regulations.

(5) Regulations under this section as to the use on roads of cycles may prohibit the sale or supply, or the offer of a sale or supply, of a cycle for delivery in such a condition that the use of it on a road in that condition would be a contravention of the regulations, but no provision made by virtue of this subsection shall affect the validity of any contract or any rights arising under a contract.

(6) If a person sells or supplies or offers to sell or supply a cycle in contravention of any prohibition imposed by regulations made by virtue of subsection (5) above, he is guilty of an offence, unless he proves—

(a) that it was sold, supplied or offered for export from Great Britain, or

(b) that he had reasonable cause to believe that it would not be used on a road in Great Britain, or would not be so used until it had been put into a condition in which it might lawfully be so used.