Search Legislation

Road Traffic Act 1988

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about opening options

Opening OptionsExpand opening options

Changes over time for: Section 121

 Help about opening options

Changes to legislation:

Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 121 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 05 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. Help about Changes to Legislation

[F1121 Interpretation.E+W+S

(1)In this Part of this Act—

  • [F2conduct” means—

    (a)

    in relation to an applicant for or the holder of a large goods vehicle driver’s licence or the holder of a LGV Community licence, his conduct as a driver of a motor vehicle, and

    (b)

    in relation to an applicant for or the holder of a passenger-carrying vehicle driver’s licence or the holder of a PCV Community licence, his conduct both as a driver of a motor vehicle and in any other respect relevant to his holding a passenger-carrying vehicle driver’s licence or (as the case may be) his authorisation by virtue of section 99A(1) of this Act to drive in Great Britain a passenger-carrying vehicle of any class,

    including, in either case, such conduct in Northern Ireland;]

  • F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • full licence” means a large goods vehicle or passenger-carrying vehicle driver’s licence other than a provisional licence;

  • [F4“large goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle (not being a medium-sized goods vehicle within the meaning of Part III of this Act) which is constructed or adapted to carry or to haul goods and the permissible maximum weight of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes;]

  • passenger-carrying vehicle” means—

    (a)

    a large passenger-carrying vehicle, that is to say, a vehicle used for carrying passengers which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 passengers, or

    (b)

    a small passenger-carrying vehicle, that is to say, a vehicle used for carrying passengers for hire or reward which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 but not more than 16 passengers [F5and includes a combination of such a motor vehicle and trailer];

  • notice” means notice in writing and “notify” shall be construed accordingly;

  • prescribed” means, unless the context requires otherwise, prescribed by regulations under section 120 of this Act;

  • provisional licence” means a licence granted by virtue of section 97(2) of this Act;

[F6and “permissible maximum weight” has the same meaning as in Part III of this Act.]]

Textual Amendments

F1Pt. IV (ss. 110–122): by Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22, SIF 107:1), s. 1(1)(2)(7), 16, Sch. 6 it is provided that Pt. IV (entitled "Licensing of drivers of heavy goods vehicles") shall cease to have effect and is repealed (1.4.1991) and by s. 2(1) of that 1989 Act (coming into force 1.4.1991) it is provided that there shall be inserted as Part IV (entitled "Licensing of drivers of large goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles") of this 1988 Act the provisions set out in Schedule 2 to that 1989 Act which: (a) apply both to the licensing of the drivers of large goods vehicles and to the licensing of the drivers of passenger-carrying vehicles (as there defined); and (b) re-enact and assimilate certain of the provisions of Part IV of the 1988 Act (as originally enacted) and of section 22 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (c. 14) to take account of the abolition by section 1 above of special licences to drive heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles and the granting after the appointed day of licences to drive such vehicles under Part III of the 1988 Act

F2Definition of “conduct" in s. 121(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 28(2)(a)

F3S. 121: definition of “counterpart” repealed (8.6.2015) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), s. 61(1)(10), Sch. 3 para. 21, Sch. 7(4); S.I. 2015/560, art. 3 (with arts. 4-9)

F4Definition of “large goods Vehicle" in s. 121(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 28(2)(c)

F5Words in s. 121(1) definition of “passenger carrying vehicle" inserted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 28(2)(d)

F6Words in s. 121(1) substituted (23.7.1996 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/1974, reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 28(2)(e)

Back to top

Options/Help

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?