Road Traffic Act 1988, section 41

Regulation of construction, weight, equipment and use of vehicles

Part II Construction and Use of Vehicles and Equipment

(1)The [F190national authorityF190] may make regulations generally as to the use of motor vehicles and trailers on roads, their construction and equipment and the conditions under which they may be so used.

Subsections (2) to (4) below do not affect the generality of this subsection.

(2)In particular, the regulations may make provision with respect to any of the following matters—

(a)the width, height and length of motor vehicles and trailers and the load carried by them, the diameter of wheels, and the width, nature and condition of tyres, of motor vehicles and trailers,

(b)the emission or consumption of smoke, fumes or vapour and the emission of sparks, ashes and grit,

(c)noise,

(d)the maximum weight unladen of heavy locomotives and heavy motor cars, and the maximum weight laden of motor vehicles and trailers, and the maximum weight to be transmitted to the road or any specified area of the road by a motor vehicle or trailer of any class or by any part or parts of such a vehicle or trailer in contact with the road, and the conditions under which the weights may be required to be tested,

(e)the particulars to be marked on motor vehicles and trailers[F191 (by means of the fixing of plates or otherwise) and the circumstances in which they are to be marked,F191] ,

(f)the towing of or drawing of vehicles by motor vehicles,

(g)the number and nature of brakes, and for securing that brakes, silencers and steering gear are efficient and kept in proper working order,

(h)lighting equipment and reflectors,

(j)the testing and inspection, by persons authorised by or under the regulations, of the brakes, silencers, steering gear, tyres, lighting equipment and reflectors of motor vehicles and trailers on any premises where they are (if the owner of the premises consents),

F192 (jj)speed limiters,

(k)the appliances to be fitted for—

(i)signalling the approach of a motor vehicle, or

(ii)enabling the driver of a motor vehicle to become aware of the approach of another vehicle from the rear, or

(iii)intimating any intended change of speed or direction of a motor vehicle,

and the use of any such appliance, and for securing that any such appliance is efficient and kept in proper working order,

(l)for prohibiting the use of appliances fitted to motor vehicles for signalling their approach, being appliances for signalling by sound, at any times, or on or in any roads or localities, specified in the regulations.

[F193 (2A) In subsection (1) “national authority”—

(a)in relation to a function so far as exercisable within devolved competence, within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998, means the Scottish Ministers;

(b)otherwise, means the Secretary of State.

(2B)Before making any regulations under this section in relation to the parking of vehicles on roads in Scotland, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers.F193]

(3)The Secretary of State may, as respects goods vehicles, make regulations under this section—

(a)prescribing other descriptions of weight which are not to be exceeded in the case of such vehicles,

F194(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F194(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)providing that weights of any description or other particulars which are to be marked on particular goods vehicles may be determined in accordance with regulations under section 49 of this Act.

(4)Regulations under this section with respect to lighting equipment and reflectors—

(a)may require that lamps be kept lit at such times and in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations, and

(b)may extend, in like manner as to motor vehicles and trailers, to vehicles of any description used on roads, whether or not they are mechanically propelled.

F195 (4A)Regulations under this section with respect to speed limiters may include provision—

(a)as to the checking and sealing of speed limiters by persons authorised in accordance with the regulations and the making of charges by them,

(b)imposing or providing for the imposition of conditions to be complied with by authorised persons,

(c)as to the withdrawal of authorisations.

(5)Different regulations may be made under this section as respects different classes of vehicles or as respects the same class of vehicles in different circumstances and as respects different times of the day or night and as respects roads in different localities.

(6)In framing regulations under this section prescribing a weight of any description which is not to be exceeded in the case of goods vehicles of a class for which a certificate of conformity or Minister’s approval certificate may be issued under section 57 or 58 of this Act the Secretary of State must have regard to the design weight of the like description determined by virtue of section 54 of this Act for vehicles of that class and must secure that the first-mentioned weight does not exceed the design weight.

(7)In this Part of this Act—

  • “construction and use requirements” means requirements, whether applicable generally or at specified times or in specified circumstances, imposed under this section,

  • “plated particulars” means such particulars as are required to be marked on a goods vehicle in pursuance of regulations under this section by means of a plate,

  • “plated weights” means such weights as are required to be so marked.

Definitions used in section 41 13

motor vehicle

“motor vehicle” means, subject to section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (which makes special provision about invalid carriages, within the meaning of that Act), a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads, and

Defined in s.185(1) · see it in the full Act
trailer

“trailer” means a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle.

Defined in s.185(1) · see it in the full Act
road

“road”

Defined in s.192(1) · see it in the full Act
heavy locomotive

“heavy locomotive” means a mechanically propelled vehicle which is not constructed itself to carry a load other than any of the excepted articles and the weight of which unladen exceeds 11690 kilograms,

Defined in s.185(1) · see it in the full Act
heavy motor car

“heavy motor car” means a mechanically propelled vehicle, not being a motor car, which is constructed itself to carry a load or passengers and the weight of which unladen exceeds 2540 kilograms,

Defined in s.185(1) · see it in the full Act
test

(a) “test” includes “inspect” or “inspection”, as the case may require, and

Defined in s.67(10) · see it in the full Act
inspection

(a) “test” includes “inspect” or “inspection”, as the case may require, and

Defined in s.67(10) · see it in the full Act
owner

may recover from the vehicle's owner (whether or not a claim is made under provision made under sub-paragraph (4) or (5) above) such charges as may be prescribed in respect of all or any of the following, namely its release, removal, custody and disposal; and “owner” means the person who was the owner when the vehicle was removed.

Defined in Sch.2A para.3(6) · see it in the full Act

“owner”, in relation to a vehicle which is the subject of a hiring agreement or hire-purchase agreement, means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement,

Defined in s.192(1) · see it in the full Act
driver

“driver”, where a separate person acts as a steersman of a motor vehicle, includes (except for the purposes of section 1 of this Act ) that person as well as any other person engaged in the driving of the vehicle, and “drive” is to be interpreted accordingly,

Defined in s.192(1) · see it in the full Act
goods vehicle

“goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods, or a trailer so constructed or adapted,

Defined in s.192(1) · see it in the full Act
prescribed

“prescribed” (except in section 5A) means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

Defined in s.192(1) · see it in the full Act

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

Defined in s.85 · see it in the full Act
certificate of conformity

(1A) In this Part of this Act, “certificate of conformity” means a certificate issued under subsection (1) above, except—

(a) in the expression “EU certificate of conformity”;

(b)in the definition of that expression in section 85 of this Act;

(c) in the expression “relevant European certificate of conformity”; and

(d)in the definition of that expression in subsection (1ZD).

Defined in s.57(1A) · see it in the full Act
Minister’s approval certificate

he may issue a certificate (in this Part of this Act referred to as a “Minister’s approval certificate”).

Defined in s.58(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 41 5

Majid Ali v HSF Logistics Polska SP Zoo

[2024] EWCA Civ 1479 · 4 December 2024

Applies: section 41(2) (h) is cited as a comparison for minor, non-endorsable road-traffic offences involving defective vehicle equipment. It supports the assessment of the MOT offence’s limited seriousness (see paras [31], [49]).

Driver & Vehicle Standard Agency v Titan Containers Ltd

[2022] EWHC 2780 (Admin) · 3 November 2022

Confirms the statutory power under which regulations specifying construction and use requirements, including vehicle length requirements, were made. (see para [7])

Director of Public Prosecutions v Barreto

[2019] EWHC 2044 (Admin) · 31 July 2019

Identified as the statutory source of the power to make construction and use regulations. The provision formed part of the legislative history rather than the operative interpretation ultimately determining the appeal. (see para [8])

1 more judgment, and what each says about section 41, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

9 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F190Words in s. 41(1) substituted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 43(6), 72(7)
  2. F191Words in s. 41(2)(e) added (1.4.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 50(2); S.I. 1992/421, art. 2,Sch.
  3. F192S. 41(2)(jj) inserted (1.4.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 50(3); S.I. 1992/421, art. 2,Sch.
  4. F193S. 41(2A)(2B) inserted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 43(7), 72(7)
  5. F194S. 41(3)(b)(c) repealed (1.4.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 83, Sch. 8; S.I. 1992/421, art. 2,Sch.
  6. F195S. 41(4A) inserted (1.4.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 50(4); S.I. 1992/421, art. 2,Sch.

Subordinate legislation made

  1. P2S. 41 power exercised (20.9.1991) by S.I. 1991/2125 and (3.12.1991) by S.I. 1991/2710
  2. P3S. 41(1)(2)(5): s. 41(1) (with s. 41(2) and (5)) power exercised (4.7.1991) by S.I. 1991/1526
  3. P4S. 41(1)(5): s. 41(1) (with s. 41(5)) power exercised (4.7.1991) by S.I. 1991/1527 and (5.9.1991) by S.I. 1991/2003