This is not intended as a comprehensive guide to all legislation relevant to the activities of LARA member organisations. It is a brief summary of some Acts of Parliament, listed chronologically, and the key sections contained therein. It should be read with the Glossary and Terminology pages. Please note that the links, below, to the legislation.gov.uk website are to the PDFs of the ‘original text’. You must access the legislation.gov.uk website directly to see any corrections and amendments.

Deregulation Act 2015 (DA 2015)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Not yet commenced, by included here for information.

The Quiet Lanes and Home Zones (England) Regulations 2006

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• For more background information, see this CPRE publication.

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERCA 2006)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Section 67. Effectively prevents future claims for any currently unrecorded BOATs. Extinguished motorised vehicle rights on highways which were previously “dual status”.

Police Reform Act 2002 (PRA 2002)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Section 59. Introduced the power for police officers to caution drivers for anti-social driving in specified circumstances, with the possibility of vehicle seizure in addition.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoWA 2000)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Section 47. Reclassified all remaining RUPPs as Restricted Byways, replacing WCA 81 s54.
• Section 48. Created and defined a Restricted Byway.
• Section 56 (and others). Introduced the 2025 cut-off date for adding historical ‘lost ways’ to the Definitive Map, although this provision has not yet been commenced.

Road Traffic Regulations (Special Events) Act 1994 (RTRSEA 94)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• The entire Act is additions to RTRA 84 s16, dealing with the “restriction or regulation” of traffic in connection with “sporting or social events held on roads”.

Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA 88)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Section 33. Allows local authorities to authorise a “trial of any description between motor vehicles” on footpaths, bridleways, (and now) restricted byways.
• Section 34. Makes it an offence to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways, or ‘land’, without lawful authority.

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA 84)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Part 1, Sections 1 to 13. Deal with the making of Traffic Regulation Orders.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 81)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Section 54. An order-based process to add BOATs to the definitive map, which repeats and reinforces the duties of CA68 regarding reclassification of RUPPs. Both are now superseded by provisions in CRoWA 2000 and NERCA 2006.

Highways Act 1980 (HA 80)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Section 56. Allows application to a magistrates’ court for an order to oblige an authority to make good a highway which is “out of repair”.
• Section 116. Allow a magistrates’ court to close or divert a highway.
• Section 130. Maintains that “It is the duty of the highway authority to assert and protect the rights of the public to the use and enjoyment of any highway …”. Effectively the legislation which authorises the highway authority to remove obstructions.

Road Traffic. The Motor Vehicles (Competitions and Trials) Regulations 1969 (MVCTR 69)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Controls the authorisation of events for motorised vehicles using public highways. Still the current legislation in 2017.

Countryside Act 1968 (CA 68)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website.
• Section 30. Grants pedal bicyclists the right to ride on bridleways.
• Schedule 3, Part 3. The legislation which required the reclassification of RUPPs to BOATs, bridleways or footpaths. It was replaced by a new process in WCA 81.

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (NPACA 49)

• Download as PDF from the legislation.gov.uk website
• The basis for every Act that followed. Set up both National Parks, and the Definitive Map, but subsequently modified by CA 68, WCA 81, CRoWA 2000, NERCA 2006, and DA 2015.

Page updated : 19 July 2021