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Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981
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Changes to legislation:
Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, Section 19A is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 03 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Article 19A:
- Sch. 1 Pt. 1 words inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 18(2)
- Instrument amended by 1994 c. 22 s. 63 Sch.3 para 17
- Instrument rev. in Pt. by 1994 c. 22 s. 65 Sch.5 Pt II
- art. 5(2ZA)-(2ZD) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 16(2)(a)
- art. 5(4A) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 16(2)(b)
- art. 5A inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(2)
- art. 13(1)(c)(ia) words repealed by S.I. 2007/916 (N.I.) Sch. 5 para. 4(a)(ii) Sch. 8 Pt. 5
- art. 13B-13C inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(3)
- art. 15ZA inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 18(1)(c)
- art. 19A(7) words substituted by S.I. 2007/916 (N.I.) Sch. 5 para. 11
- art. 19D(1ZA) (1ZB) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(4)(b)
- art. 19AB 19AC substituted for art. 19A 19B by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(3)
- art. 174(2A)(da) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(5)(a)(i)
- art. 174(2AB) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(5)(b)
- art. 177(1)(ba) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(4)(b)
- art. 177(1A) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(4)(c)
- art. 177(3)(4) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(4)(b)
- art.198 am. (prosp.) by 1997 c. 16 s.18 Sch.3 paras.8(2) 9
- art.198 am. (prosp.) by 1997 c. 16 s.18 Sch.3 paras.8(2) 9
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Order associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):
- Sch. 1 Pt. 1 words inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 18(2)
- art. 5(2ZA)-(2ZD) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 16(2)(a)
- art. 5(4A) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 16(2)(b)
- art. 5A inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(2)
- art. 13(1)(c)(ia) words repealed by S.I. 2007/916 (N.I.) Sch. 5 para. 4(a)(ii) Sch. 8 Pt. 5
- art. 13B-13C inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(3)
- art. 15ZA inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 18(1)(c)
- art. 19D(1ZA) (1ZB) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(4)(b)
- art. 19AB 19AC substituted for art. 19A 19B by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(3)
- art. 174(2A)(da) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(5)(a)(i)
- art. 174(2AB) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 17(5)(b)
- art. 177(1)(ba) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(4)(b)
- art. 177(1A) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(4)(c)
- art. 177(3)(4) inserted by 2016 c. 11 (N.I.) s. 19(4)(b)
- art.198 am. (prosp.) by 1997 c. 16 s.18 Sch.3 paras.8(2) 9
- art.198 am. (prosp.) by 1997 c. 16 s.18 Sch.3 paras.8(2) 9
[F1Restrictions on newly qualified driversN.I.
19A.—(1) This Article applies to any person who becomes a qualified driver of a motor vehicle of such a class as may be prescribed by passing a test of competence prescribed by virtue of Article 5(3).
(2) After passing that test a person to whom this Article applies shall, for a period of 12 months or such lesser period as may be prescribed ( the period of restriction), be subject to the specified restrictions.
(3) The specified restrictions shall apply to such a person while he is driving on a road a motor vehicle of such a class as may be prescribed, in respect of which he was not, immediately before he passed that test, entitled to hold or obtain a full licence.
(4) In determining the expiration of the period of restriction, any time during which a person is disqualified for holding or obtaining a licence, or holds a provisional licence only, shall be disregarded.
(5) The specified restrictions are—
(a)a requirement that a distinguishing mark of such a nature as may be prescribed shall be displayed in such manner as may be prescribed on any motor vehicle while it is being driven on a road by a person who is subject to the specified restrictions when driving that vehicle;
(b)[F2subject to paragraph (5A),] a prohibition on driving on any road at a speed exceeding 45 miles per hour, or such other speed as may be prescribed, any motor vehicle on which the distinguishing mark referred to in sub-paragraph (a) is required to be displayed.
[F3(5A) The restriction specified in paragraph (5)(b) does not apply to a person who after 18th January 2013 has passed a test of competence prescribed by virtue of Article 5(3) in the driving of a category A2 motorcycle or category A motorcycle.
(5B) In paragraph (5A) “category A2 motorcycle” and “category A motorcycle” have the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.]
(6) Any person who contravenes any of the specified restrictions shall be guilty of an offence under this Order.
(7) Where the Department grants or returns a licence to any person who, while driving a motor vehicle of any class specified in the licence, will for any period during the currency of the licence be subject to the specified restrictions, the Department shall enter on or affix to the counterpart of the licence a notice or other indication to show—
(a)the period of restriction;
(b)the class of vehicles affected by the specified restrictions; and
(c)that the holder is subject for that period to the specified restrictions while driving vehicles of that class.
(8) This Article does not apply—
(a)to a person who is required to pass a test of competence by virtue of—
(i)an order under Article 41 of the Offenders Order, or
(ii)Article 6 of, or paragraph 6 or 9 of Schedule 1 to, the Road Traffic (New Drivers) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;
(b)to such extent and in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to a person holding a licence by reason of a test passed by him at a time when he held a licence or permit which, by virtue of an order made under the Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Act 1952, entitled him to drive motor vehicles in Northern Ireland; or
(c)to the holder of a licence authorising him to drive, or to a person driving, motor vehicles of such classes or in such circumstances as may be prescribed.
(9) In this Article—
(a)“period of restriction” has the meaning given in paragraph (2);
(b)“the specified restrictions” means the restrictions specified in paragraph (5).]
F2Words in art. 19A(5)(b) inserted (19.1.2013 immediately after the coming into operation of S.R. 2012/170) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/451), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(a)
F3Art. 19A(5A)(5B) inserted (19.1.2013 immediately after the coming into operation of S.R. 2012/170) by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/451), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(b)
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