Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, section 34A

Reduced disqualification period for attendance on courses

Part II Sentence

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a person is convicted of a relevant drink offence or a specified offence by or before a court, and

(b)the court makes an order under section 34 of this Act disqualifying him for a period of not less than twelve months.

(2) In this section “relevant drink offence” means—

(a)an offence under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (causing death by careless driving when unfit to drive through drink) committed when unfit to drive through drink,

(b)an offence under paragraph (b) of that subsection (causing death by careless driving with excess alcohol),

(c)an offence under paragraph (c) of that subsection (failing to provide a specimen) where the specimen is required in connection with drink or consumption of alcohol,

(d)an offence under section 4 of that Act (driving or being in charge when under influence of drink) committed by reason of unfitness through drink,

(e)an offence under section 5(1) of that Act (driving or being in charge with excess alcohol),

(f)an offence under section 7(6) of that Act (failing to provide a specimen) committed in the course of an investigation into an offence within any of the preceding paragraphs, or

(g)an offence under section 7A(6) of that Act (failing to allow a specimen to be subjected to a laboratory test) in the course of an investigation into an offence within any of the preceding paragraphs.

(3) In this section “specified offence” means—

(a)an offence under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (careless, and inconsiderate, driving),

(b)an offence under section 36 of that Act (failing to comply with traffic signs),

(c)an offence under section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (use of special road contrary to scheme or regulations), or

(d)an offence under section 89(1) of that Act (exceeding speed limit).

(4)But the Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsection (3) above by adding other offences or removing offences.

(5) Where this section applies, the court may make an order that the period of disqualification imposed under section 34 of this Act (“the unreduced period”) shall be reduced if, by the relevant date, the offender satisfactorily completes an approved course specified in the order.

(6)In subsection (5) above—

  • “an approved course” means a course approved by the appropriate national authority for the purposes of this section in relation to the description of offence of which the offender is convicted, and

  • “the relevant date” means such date, at least two months before the last day of the period of disqualification as reduced by the order, as is specified in the order.

(7)The reduction made in a period of disqualification by an order under this section is a period specified in the order of—

(a)not less than three months, and

(b)not more than one quarter of the unreduced period,

(and, accordingly, where the unreduced period is twelve months, the reduced period is nine months).

(8)A court shall not make an order under this section in the case of an offender convicted of a specified offence if—

(a)the offender has, during the period of three years ending with the date on which the offence was committed, committed a specified offence and successfully completed an approved course pursuant to an order made under this section or section 30A of this Act on conviction of that offence, or

(b)the specified offence was committed during his probationary period.

(9)A court shall not make an order under this section in the case of an offender unless—

(a)the court is satisfied that a place on the course specified in the order will be available for the offender,

(b)the offender appears to the court to be of or over the age of 17,

(c)the court has informed the offender (orally or in writing and in ordinary language) of the effect of the order and of the amount of the fees which he is required to pay for the course and when he must pay them, and

(d)the offender has agreed that the order should be made.F201]

Definitions used in section 34A 3

disqualified

“disqualified” means disqualified for holding or obtaining a licence and “disqualification” is to be construed accordingly,

Defined in s.98(1) · see it in the full Act
drive

“drive” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1988 ,

Defined in s.98(1) · see it in the full Act
disqualification

“disqualified” means disqualified for holding or obtaining a licence and “disqualification” is to be construed accordingly,

Defined in s.98(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 34A 3

Fiona Hodge & Ors v R

[2026] EWCA Crim 1181 · 16 September 2026

Applies the consequence that Hodge’s six-month disqualification uplift was removed when the immediate sentence was replaced by a suspended sentence. The two-year disqualification remained, subject to an extended driving test. (see paras [4], [40], [44])

R v Jean Dias

[2024] EWCA Crim 1350 · 22 October 2024

Applies section 34A in recording the additional driving disqualification imposed alongside the custodial sentence. The provision is mentioned as the statutory basis for the extended term of disqualification; the court makes no further construction of it (see para [1]).

Needham & Ors, R. v

[2016] EWCA Crim 455 · 28 April 2016

As presently in force, a reduction for completion of a special course is deducted from the whole disqualification, including a section 35A extension. The court noted the different effect if uncommenced provisions take effect (see para [44]).

What each judgment says about section 34A is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

2 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F201Ss. 34A-34C substituted for ss. 34A-34C (21.12.2012 for specified purposes, 24.6.2013 for specified purposes) by Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49), ss. 35, 61(1)(10); S.I. 2012/2938, art. 2(1)(a)(b) (with art. 3) text substituted for certain specified purposes only, see the commentary. Note: in some cases two versions of the measure may be present: the original version and substituted version.

Modifications

  1. C47S. 34A modified (temp.) (13.4.2015) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(5), Sch. 22 paras. 30, 31 (with s. 180); S.I. 2015/819, art. 2(c)