Act not in force at Royal Assent see s.4(3)
S. 1 wholly in force at 21.4.2000; s. 1 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 4(3); s. 1 in force at 10.3.2000 as regards to England and Wales by S.I. 2000/735, art. 2; s. 1 in force at 21.4.2000 as regards to Scotland by S.S.I. 2000/101, art. 2
S. 2 wholly in force at 21.4.2000; s. 2 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 4(3); s. 2 in force at 10.3.2000 as regards to England and Wales by S.I. 2000/735, art. 2; s. 2 in force at 21.4.2000 as regards to Scotland by S.S.I. 2000/101, art. 2
S. 3 wholly in force at 21.4.2000; s. 3 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 4(3); s. 3 in force at 10.3.2000 as regards to England and Wales by S.I. 2000/735, art. 2; s. 3 in force at 21.4.2000 as regards to Scotland by S.S.I. 2000/101, art. 2
S. 4 wholly in force at 21.4.2000; s. 4 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 4(3); s. 4 in force at 10.3.2000 as regards to England and Wales by S.I. 2000/735, art. 2; s. 4 in force at 21.4.2000 as regards to Scotland by S.S.I. 2000/101, art. 2
Words in s. 1 inserted (29.4.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3), Sch. 11 para. 10(a) (with s. 102)
Definitions in s. 1 inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 280(1) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3
Words in s. 1 inserted (29.4.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3), Sch. 11 para. 10(b) (with s. 102)
Words in s. 2(3)(b) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 280(3) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3
S. 2(4ZA) inserted (29.4.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3), Sch. 11 para. 11 (with s. 102)
S. 2(4A) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 280(4) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3
S. 2(6A)-(6C) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 280(5) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3
Words in s. 2(7)(a) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 280(6) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3
S. 2A inserted (29.4.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3), Sch. 11 para. 9 (with s. 102)
Act: transfer of functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1
S. 2: transfer of functions (1.4.2014) by The Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/865), arts. 1, 11(1) (with arts. 8(4), 11(7), 12)
S. 2 functions made exercisable (E.W.) (8.5.2017) by The West Midlands Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/510), arts. 1(2), 7
1984 c. 27.
S. 4(3) power partly exercised: 10.3.2000 appointed for Act as regards to England and Wales by S.I. 2000/735, art. 2
S. 4(3) power partly exercised: 21.4.2000 appointed for Act as regards to Scotland by S.S.I. 2000/101, art. 2
An Act to require local 1999 c. 29authorities to prepare reports relating to the levels of road traffic in their areas; and for related purposes.
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Interpretation.
In this Act the following terms shall have the following meanings, that is to say—
“constituent council” means—
in relation to a mayoral combined authority—
a county council the whole or any part of whose area is within the area of the authority, or
a district council whose area is within the area of the authority;
in relation to a mayoral CCA—
a county council for an area within the area of the authority, or
a unitary district council for an area within the area of the authority;
and here “unitary district council” means the council for a district for which there is no county council;
“key route network road” means a highway or proposed highway designated for the time being as a key route network road—
by a mayoral combined authority under section 107ZA of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, or
by a mayoral CCA under section 24 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023;
““local implementation plan”, in relation to a London council, means the plan prepared by the council under section 145 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999;”;
“local road traffic” means traffic consisting of mechanically propelled vehicles on roads for which the Secretary of State is not the traffic authority;
““London council” means a London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London;”;
“mayoral CCA” has the same meaning as in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 — see section 57 of that Act);
“mayoral combined authority” has the same meaning as in Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 — see section 120 of that Act;
““the Mayor of London’s transport strategy” means the transport strategy prepared and published under section 142 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999;”.
“principal council” means any council which is a local traffic authority;
“traffic authority” and “local traffic authority” have the meaning given by section 121A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Duty of principal councils to make reports.
It shall be the duty of every principal council to prepare, at such time or times as the Secretary of State may direct, a report containing—
an assessment of the levels of local road traffic in their area, and
a forecast of the growth in those levels.
Subject to subsection (5), the report must also specify targets for—
a reduction in the levels of local road traffic in the area, or
a reduction in the rate of growth in the levels of such traffic.
The report must also contain any other information or proposals which—
relate to levels of local road traffic in the area, and
are required by guidance under subsection (6) or (in the case of a report prepared by a London council) directions under subsection (6A).
The report—
may specify different targets for different parts of the principal council’s area or for different classes of local road traffic, and
may specify targets under subsection (2)(a) in relation to certain classes of local road traffic, or in relation to part of the area and under subsection (2)(b) in relation to other classes of local road traffic or in relation to another part of the area.
If a principal council is a constituent council of a mayoral combined authority or mayoral CCA, the duty imposed on the council by subsection (1) does not apply to the levels of local road traffic using key route network roads in the council’s area.
A report under this section prepared by a London council must take account of the Mayor of London’s transport strategy and the council’s local implementation plan; and—
any targets specified in such a report pursuant to subsection (2), and
any proposals contained in such a report pursuant to subsection (3),
must be in conformity with that strategy and that plan.
A principal council are not obliged to specify targets under subsection (2)(a) or (b) in relation to their area, or in relation to any part of their area, if they consider it inappropriate to do so, but in that case the report must state—
that they consider it inappropriate to do so, and
their reasons for so considering.
The Secretary of State may issue guidance to principal councils in relation to—
the preparation and content of reports under this section, and
consultation in connection with the preparation of such reports;
and a principal council shall have regard to any guidance when preparing a report.
The Mayor of London may give directions or issue guidance to London councils in relation to any matter in relation to which the Secretary of State may issue guidance under subsection (6).
The Mayor of London must not give any direction or issue any guidance under subsection (6A) which conflicts with guidance under subsection (6).
A London council preparing a report under this section—
shall comply with any directions given under subsection (6A), and
shall have regard to any guidance issued under that subsection.
Where a principal council have prepared a report under this section they shall—
send the report to the Secretary of State and, if the council is a London council, send a copy of the report to the Mayor of London, and
publish a copy of the report in such manner as they consider appropriate.
The Secretary of State shall lay a copy of every report received by him under subsection (7)(a) before each House of Parliament.
Duty of mayoral combined authorities and CCAs to make reports
It is the duty of every mayoral combined authority and every mayoral CCA to prepare, at such time or times as the Secretary of State may direct, a report containing—
an assessment of the levels of local road traffic using key route network roads in the area, and
a forecast of the growth in those levels.
Subject to subsection (5), the report must also specify targets for—
a reduction in the levels of local road traffic using key route network roads in the area, or
a reduction in the rate of growth in the levels of such traffic.
The report must also contain any other information or proposals which—
relate to levels of local road traffic using key route network roads in the area, and
are required by guidance under subsection (6).
The report—
may specify different targets for different parts of the area or for different classes of local road traffic using key route network roads, and
may specify targets—
under subsection (2)(a) in relation to certain classes of local road traffic using key route network roads, or in relation to part of the area, and
under subsection (2)(b) in relation to other classes of local road traffic using key route network roads or in relation to another part of the area.
A mayoral combined authority or mayoral CCA is not obliged to specify targets under subsection (2)(a) or (b) in relation to the area, or in relation to any part of the area, if they consider it inappropriate to do so, but in that case the report must state—
that the authority considers it inappropriate to do so, and
the authority’s reasons for so considering.
The Secretary of State may issue guidance to mayoral combined authorities and mayoral CCAs in relation to—
the preparation and content of reports under this section, and
consultation in connection with the preparation of such reports;
and a mayoral combined authority or mayoral CCA must have regard to any guidance when preparing a report.
Where a mayoral combined authority or mayoral CCA has prepared a report under this section the authority must—
send the report to the Secretary of State, and
publish a copy of the report in such manner as the authority considers appropriate.
The Secretary of State must lay a copy of every report received under subsection (7)(a) before each House of Parliament.
In this section “the area”, in relation to a mayoral combined authority or mayoral CCA, means that authority’s area.
Expenses.
There shall be paid out of monies provided by Parliament—
any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under or by virtue of this Act, and
any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of moneys so provided under any other Act.
Citation, extent and commencement.
This Act may be cited as the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997.
This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.
This Act shall come into force on such day as may be appointed by order made by statutory instrument by the Secretary of State; and different days may be appointed for different purposes or different areas.
Before making an order under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall consult such associations of local authorities as appear to him to be concerned.