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Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
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- UK Public General Acts
- 1984 c. 27
- Part VI
- Section 81
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Changes over time for: Section 81
Changes to legislation:
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Section 81 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 20 November 2024. 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.
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Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act modified by S.S.I. 2024/270 art. 5 sch. 3
- Act power to amend secondary legislation conferred by S.I. 2020/1297 art. 48(6)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.I. 2020/1297 was withdrawn following a request from the Department of Transport dated 9th August 2021 which followed the decision of the High Court of Justice to quash this Order in the judgement dated 2nd August 2021 (High Court of Justice — Planning Court — The Queen (on the application of Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site) v. Secretary of State for Transport — Case No. CO/4844/2020))
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 87(1)(a) words omitted by 2015 c. 20 s. 50(2)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. This amendment is to be applied to the version of s. 87 that is prospectively substituted by 2006 c. 49, s. 19)
- s. 87(1)(a) words substituted by 2013 c. 22 Sch. 8 para. 29(3)
- s. 87(1)(b) words substituted by 2017 c. 4 s. 26(6)(a)
- s. 87(1)(c) word inserted by 2015 c. 20 s. 50(2)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. This amendment is to be applied to the version of s. 87 that is prospectively substituted by 2006 c. 49, s. 19)
- s. 87(1)(aa) inserted by 2015 c. 20 s. 50(2)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. This amendment is to be applied to the version of s. 87 that is prospectively substituted by 2006 c. 49, s. 19)
- s. 87(7) inserted by 2017 c. 4 s. 26(6)(b)
81 General speed limit for restricted roads.E+W+S
(1)It shall not be lawful for a person to drive a motor vehicle on a restricted road at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour.
(2)The [F1national authority] may by order F2... increase or reduce the rate of speed fixed by subsection (1) above, either as originally enacted or as varied under this subsection.
[F3(3)An order under subsection (2)—
(a)if made by the Secretary of State, is to be made by statutory instrument and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament;
[F4(aa)if made by the Welsh Ministers, is to be made by statutory instrument and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales;]
(b)if made by the Scottish Ministers, is subject to the affirmative procedure.
(4)Before making an order under subsection (2) the Secretary of State must consult with [F5 the Welsh Ministers and] the Scottish Ministers.
(5)Before [F6the Welsh Ministers or the Scottish Ministers make an order under subsection (2) they] must consult with the Secretary of State.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 81(2) substituted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 42(3)(a), 72(7) (with Sch. 2 paras. 34(2), 35(2))
F2Words in s. 81(2) omitted (23.5.2016) by virtue of Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 42(3)(b), 72(7) (with Sch. 2 paras. 34(2), 35(2))
F3S. 81(3)-(5) inserted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 42(4), 72(7) (with Sch. 2 paras. 34(2), 35(2))
F4S. 81(3)(aa) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 39(2) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)
F5Words in s. 81(4) inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 39(3) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)
F6Words in s. 81(5) substituted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 6 para. 39(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6, 9); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(r)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 81 modified (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 5, Sch. 2
C2S. 81(1) excluded by 1988 c. 52, s. 12E (as inserted (10.3.2017) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), ss. 73(3), 115(7); S.I. 2017/273, art. 2(a))
C3S. 81(1) excluded (S.) (17.4.2019) by The Motor Sport on Public Roads (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/138), regs. 1, 6, sch. 2
C4S. 81(1) modified (W.) (17.9.2023) by The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/800), arts. 1(3), 2
C5S. 81(2) amended (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, art. 4, Sch. 3; S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3
S. 81(2): transfer of functions (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3143, art. 2(1)
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