What this covers
Why you need it
Parliament created it. The power to require it comes from Road Traffic Act 1988.
What the Act carries
What our graph holds for Road Traffic Act 1988 as a whole — the Act behind this licence, not the licence conditions themselves.
- Duties on businesses
- 102
- Penalties
- 98
- Exemptions
- 33
Duties on businesses under the Act
- Cause death by dangerous driving s.1
- Cause serious injury by dangerous driving s.1A
- Cause death by careless or inconsiderate driving s.2B
- Cause serious injury through careless or inconsiderate driving s.2C
- Dangerous driving s.2
- Cause death by careless driving while under the influence s.3A
… and 96 more business duties in the same Act.
What happens if you get it wrong
- Cause danger to road users by interfering with vehicles or equipment 7 years imprisonment
- Cause death by careless driving while under the influence Life imprisonment
- Cause death by careless or inconsiderate driving 5 years imprisonment
- Cause death by dangerous driving life imprisonment
- Cause death while driving without a valid licence or insurance 2 years imprisonment
… and 93 more penalties in the same Act.
Exemptions that may take you outside it
- 5-year grace period for vehicle construction and weight changes — Vehicle registered before the expiration of one year from the making of new construction/weight regulations
- Authorised motor racing events exempt from standard road traffic laws — Promoting, participating in, or acting as an official for an event covered by a motor race order issued under section …
- Drivers or passengers exempt from seat‑belt rule in specific situations — Driver or passenger in a goods‑carrying vehicle on a short delivery/collection trip; driver while reversing; or holder of a medical …
- Drive while waiting for a licence application to be processed — A valid licence application has been received by the DVLA and the driver has previously held a relevant licence
- Exemption for moving overloaded vehicles according to official direction — Moving a vehicle to a specific place or under conditions specified in a written direction from an authorised officer
… and 28 more exemptions in the same Act.
Read our full dossier on Road Traffic Act 1988
Who issues it
This one does not go to your council. It is issued by Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Where to apply
Duty, penalty and exemption labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the enabling instrument, not the instrument itself. Fees, forms and conditions are set by the issuing authority — always check the linked source.