The Road Traffic, Public Passenger Transport and Vehicles (Revocations) Regulations 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke 16 sets of Regulations relating to transport.

The Motorcycles (Sound Level Measurement Certificates) Regulations 1980 (S.I. 1980/765) and three amending instruments (S.I. 1988/1640, 1989/713 and 1989/1591) implemented certain requirements of Council Directive 78/1015/EEC on the permissible sound level and exhaust system of motorcycles. This Directive was repealed and replaced in 1998 by Directive 97/24/EC, which was implemented by the Motor Cycles Etc. (EC Type Approval) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2920). The provisions in these implementing instruments have therefore been superseded.

The Public Service Vehicles (London Local Service Licences) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/1691) and one amending instrument (S.I. 1988/408) regulated the London Local Service Licence regime, which applied to certain local bus services in Greater London. The Greater London Authority Act 1999 replaced this regime with the London Service Permit system and these Regulations are redundant.

The Cycle Racing on Highways (Tour de France 1994) Regulations1994 (S.I. 1994/1226) authorised two stages of the Tour de France in England in 1994. The regulations relate to a one-off event which took place in 1994 and are now spent.

The Vehicles (Conditions of Use on Footpaths) Regulations 1963 (S.I. 1963/2126) and one amending instrument (S.I. 1966/864) place restrictions, including maximum weight and loading gauge, and a maximum speed limit, on the driving of vehicles on footpaths by representatives of local authorities for the purposes of cleaning, maintaining and improving such footpaths. The Government has decided to remove the restrictions and allow individual authorities in England to determine local requirements.

The Public Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Regulations 1978 (S.I. 1978/1684) and two amending instruments (S.I. 1981/1623 and 1995/185) regulate the way bus companies deal with lost property. The Government has decided, following consultation with the industry and other interested parties, to remove the statutory requirements in England and Wales and allow companies to make their own arrangements.

The Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/1213) and the Road Traffic (Training of Drivers of Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods) (Amendment) Regulations 1993 (S.I. 1993/1122) amended three instruments which have been revoked. These instruments are therefore redundant.

The Parking Attendants (Wearing of Uniforms) (London) Regulations 1993 (S.I. 1993/1450) prescribe functions which can only be carried out by a parking attendant who is wearing the uniform which has been specified by the enforcement authority. These provisions which, following an amendment to the enabling power, apply to any civil enforcement area in England and Wales, have been superseded by regulations made under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

The Drivers’ Hours (Passenger and Goods Vehicles) (Exemption) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/240) granted an emergency relaxation from the drivers’ hours rules (as prescribed by virtue of section 96 of the Transport Act 1968) for drivers affected by severe weather conditions in February 1996. The regulations are now spent.

A full impact assessment of the effect that the revocation of the Public Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Regulations 1978 (and the instruments which amend it) will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available and is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. An impact assessment has not been produced for the other measures in this instrument as no negative impact on the private, public or voluntary sector is foreseen. The revocation of the Vehicles (Conditions of Use on Footpaths) Regulations 1963 and the instrument which amends it may benefit local authorities by enabling them to determine requirements based on local circumstances.