Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
1996 No. 446

ROAD TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES
Motor Vehicles (Prescribed Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Made
23rd September 1996

To be laid before Parliament under paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974

Coming into operation
4th November 1996

The Department of the Environment, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 19A(3) and (9), 214(1) and 218(1) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(1) and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Prescribed Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and shall come into operation on 4th November 1996.

(2) In these Regulations “the 1981 Order” means the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

Restrictions on drivers

2.—(1) The following are prescribed restrictions for the purposes of Article 19A of the 1981 Order—

(a)a distinguishing mark in the form set out in the Schedule shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner on the front and rear of any motor vehicle while it is being driven on a road by a person who is subject to the prescribed restrictions when driving that vehicle; and

(b)a person who is subject to the prescribed restrictions shall not drive a motor vehicle on a road at a speed exceeding 45 miles per hour.

(2) The restrictions prescribed in paragraph (1) shall not apply to—

(a)any member of the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Her Majesty, while in uniform and driving a motor vehicle which is the property of the Crown;

(b)any member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary while driving a motor vehicle which is being used for police purposes;

(c)the holder of a driving licence granted under the 1981 Order by reason of a test of competence passed by him at a time when he held a licence or permit which, by virtue of an order made under the Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Act 1952(2), entitled him to drive motor vehicles in Northern Ireland; or

(d)any person while driving a motor vehicle the maximum speed of which is restricted by the Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989(3) to 45 miles per hour or less.

Revocation

3.  The Motor Vehicles (Restrictions on Drivers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1968(4) are hereby revoked.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on 23rd September 1996.

L.S.
Trevor Pearson
Assistant Secretary

Regulation 2(1)(a)

SCHEDULEDiagram of distinguishing mark to be displayed

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations prescribe restrictions for the purposes of Article 19A of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 with respect to newly qualified drivers and drivers disqualified until tested. The restrictions are that an “R” plate shall be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle and that the vehicle shall not be driven at a speed exceeding 45 mph.
The Motor Vehicles (Restrictions on Drivers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1968, which these Regulations supersede, are revoked.


(1)
S.I. 1981/154 (N.I. 1); see Article 2(2) for the definition of “Department” and Article 19A(10) for the definition of “prescribed”; Article 19A is in Part II of the 1981 Order as substituted by Sch. 1 to S.I. 1991/197 (N.I. 3) and amended by para. 3(1) of Sch. 3 to S.I. 1995/2994 (N.I. 18) and amended (prosp.) by para. 7 of Sch. 1 to S.I. 1996/1320 (N.I. 10)

(2)
1952 c. 39

(3)
S.R. 1989 No. 203

(4)
S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1968 No. 42