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Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

Road Traffic Act 1933
No. 11 of 1933

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Ss. 1-9 1 September 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 1 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 94 of 1933) art. 3, sch. 1
S. 10(1)-(5) 1 September 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 1 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 94 of 1933) art. 3, sch. 1
S. 10(6) 1 November 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 2 Order 1933 (S.I. No.127 of 1933), art. 3
Ss. 11, 12 1 September 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 1 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 94 of 1933) art. 3, sch. 1
S.13(1) for the purpose only of effecting the repeal of the enactments mentioned in the Second Schedule of S.I. No. 94 of 1933   1 September 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 1 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 94 of 1933) art. 4, sch. 2
S.13(1) for the purpose only of effecting the repeal of the enactments mentioned in the Second Schedule of S.I. No. 87 of 1937 3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 4, sch. 2
S. 13(1)  for the purpose only of effecting the repeal of the enactments mentioned in the Schedule of S.I. No. 108 of 1934  2 July 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 5 Order 1934 (S.I. No. 108 of 1934) art. 5, sch.
S. 13(2), (3) 1 September 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 1 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 94 of 1933) art. 3, sch. 1
Ss. 14-55  2 July 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 5 Order 1934 (S.I. No. 108 of 1934), art. 4
S. 56 1 February 1934  The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933), art. 4
S. 57 1 February 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933), art. 4
S. 58 1 February 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933), art. 4
S. 59 1 February 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933), art. 4
S. 60 1 February 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933), art. 4
S. 61 1 December 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933), art. 3
Ss. 62-75 1 February 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933) art. 4
S. 76 1 December 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933), art. 3
Ss. 77-80 1 February 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 3 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 132 of 1933) art. 4
Ss. 81-83 2 July 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 5 Order 1934 (S.I. No. 108 of 1934), art. 4
Ss. 84-92  3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 3, sch. 1
S. 93(1)  3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 3, sch. 1
S. 93(2), (3)  9 May 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 5 Order 1934 (S.I. No. 108 of 1934), art. 3
S.  93(4)-(6)  3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 3, sch. 1
Ss. 94-118  3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 3, sch. 1
S. 119 1 January 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 4 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 179 of 1933), art. 3
S. 120 1 January 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 4 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 179 of 1933), art. 3
S. 121 3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 3, First Sch.
S. 122 1 January 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 4 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 179 of 1933), art. 3
Ss. 123-146  3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 3, sch. 1
Ss. 147, 148  9 March 1935 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 6 Order 1935 (S.I. No. 49 of 1935), art. 3
S. 149 3 May 1937 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 7 Order 1937 (S.I. No. 87 of 1937) art. 3, sch. 1
Ss. 150-153  9 March 1935 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 6 Order 1935 (S.I. No. 49 of 1935), art. 3
Ss. 154-160 1 September 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 1 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 94 of 1933) art. 3, sch. 1
Ss. 161-164  2 July 1934 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 5 Order 1934 (S.I. No. 108 of 1934), art. 4
Ss. 165-179 1 September 1933 The Road Traffic Act, 1933 (Date of Commencement) No. 1 Order 1933 (S.I. No. 94 of 1933) art. 3, sch. 1

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision
Repealed 20/2016, ss. 1, 2, schedule
Rep. prosp. 24/1961, ss. 2, 10 (1), sch. 1
Oo., regs, bye-laws, rules ctd. 24/1961, s.10 (2)
Pt. 3 (ss. 21-45), licences ctd. 24/1961, s.43 (1)
S.29 ctd. in cert. circumstances. 24/1961, s.43 (6)
Ss. 30-32, oo. ctd. 24/1961, s.43 (2)-(5)
S.61, deposits ctd. 24/1961, s.81 (1)
Ss. 68 (1) (2), 70, certs. ctd. 24/1961, s.81 (2)-(4)
S.158 (1), (in pt.) rep. 3/1986, ss. 18, 20, sch. 3. See also S.I. No. 207 of 1986.
S.158 (1) am. 15/1986, ss. 3, 39 (1) (a)
S.158 (3), saving for cert. powers conferred by. 15/1986, ss. 3, 39 (2) (ii)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
Whole Act  The Road Traffic (Third Party Risks) Regulations 1934 (S.I. No. 81 of 1934)
  The Road Traffic (Third Party Risks) Regulations 1933 (S.I. No. 130 of 1933)
S. 3 Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Vehicle Plates) Order 1937 (S.I. No. 88 of 1937)
S. 4 The Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1934 (S.I. No. 150 of 1934)
S. 6 Small Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1956 (S.I. No. 189 of 1956)
S. 8(1), (3)  Road Traffic Bye-Laws Order 1934 (S.I. No. 326 of 1934)
S. 15 Small Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1960 (S.I. No. 117 of 1960)
  Small Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1956 (S.I. No. 189 of 1956)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) (Amendment) Order 1948 (S.I. No. 240 of 1948)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) (Amendment) Order 1946 (S.I. No. 218 of 1946)
  Large Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1944 (S.I. No. 206 of 1944)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1941 (S.I. No. 581 of 1941)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1940 (S.I. No. 392 of 1940)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 404 of 1939)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1938 (S.I. No. 330 of 1938)
  Small Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1936 (S.I. No. 269 of 1936)
  Large Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1935 (S.I. No. 259 of 1935)
  The Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1934 (S.I. No. 150 of 1934)
S. 16 Large Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1935 (S.I. No. 259 of 1935)
S. 17 Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1941 (S.I. No. 581 of 1941)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1940 (S.I. No. 392 of 1940)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 404 of 1939)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1938 (S.I. No. 330 of 1938)
  The Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order 1934 (S.I. No. 150 of 1934)
S. 19 The Road Traffic (Weigh-Bridges) Order 1936 (S.I. No. 200 of 1936)
S. 20 Small Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1936 (S.I. No. 269 of 1936)
  Large Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1935 (S.I. No. 259 of 1935)
S. 42 Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 269 of 1961)
  Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (International Circulation) (Amendment) Order 1962 (S.I. No. 12 of 1962)
  The Road Traffic (Driving Licence) (Non-Residents) Regulations 1934 (S.I. No. 216 of 1934)
S. 48 Bray Special Speed Limit Regulations 1950 (S.I. No. 69 of 1950)
S. 53 The Road Traffic (Exemption From Speed Limits) Regulations 1934 (S.I. No. 154 of 1934)
S. 61(4) The Road Traffic Act (Deposits by Vehicle Guarantors and Exempted Persons) Order 1933 (S.I. No. 178 of 1933)
S. 67 Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 269 of 1961)
  Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1958 (S.I. No. 13 of 1958)
S. 80 Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 269 of 1961)
  Road Traffic (Third Party Risks) (Visiting Motorists) Regulations 1958 (S.I. No. 82 of 1958)
  Road Traffic (Third Party Risks) (Visiting Motorists) Regulations 1952 (S.I. No. 383 of 1952)
Ss. 81, 82 The Road Traffic Act (Parts VI and VII) (Fees) Regulations 1937 (S.I. No. 92 of 1937)
S. 88 The Road Traffic Act (Parts VI and VII) (Fees) Regulations 1937 (S.I. No. 92 of 1937)
S. 84 Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Vehicle Plates) Order 1937 (S.I. No. 88 of 1937)
S. 95 Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Vehicle Plates) Order 1937 (S.I. No. 88 of 1937)
  The Road Traffic Act (Parts VI and VII) (Fees) Regulations 1937 (S.I. No. 92 of 1937)
S. 96 Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Vehicle Plates) Order 1937 (S.I. No. 88 of 1937)
S. 109 The Road Traffic Act (Parts VI and VII) (Fees) Regulations 1937 (S.I. No. 92 of 1937)
S. 113 The Road Traffic Act (Parts VI and VII) (Fees) Regulations 1937 (S.I. No. 92 of 1937)
S. 118(1) Kilkenny Large Public Service Vehicles Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 323 of 1941)
  Waterford Large Public Service Vehicles Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 320 of 1941)
  Limerick Large Public Service Vehicles Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 166 of 1939)
  Cork Large Public Service Vehicles Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 108 of 1939)
  Dublin Large Public Service Vehicles Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 10 of 1939)
S. 121 Large Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1935 (S.I. No. 259 of 1935)
S. 121(2) Large Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1957 (S.I. No. 5 of 1957)
  Large Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1945 (S.I. No. 351 of 1945)
  Large Public Services Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 98 of 1942)
S. 123 Large Public Service Vehicles (Conduct) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 66 of 1942)
  Large Public Service Vehicles (Conduct) Regulations 1937 (S.I. No. 187 of 1937)
S. 127 Dublin Street Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Bye-Laws 1959 (S.I. No. 169 of 1959)
  Dublin Street Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Bye-Laws 1948 (S.I. No. 259 of 1948)
S. 132 City of Cork Taximeter Area Order 1939 (S.I. No. 89 of 1939)
  Dublin Metropolitan Taximeter Area Order 1937 (S.I. No. 162 of 1937)
S. 134 Small Public Service Vehicles Regulations 1936 (S.I. No. 269 of 1936)
S. 136(3)(b) Special Inspector (Taximeter) (Grant of Certificate) Regulations 1937 (S.I. No. 285 of 1938)
S. 136(3)(g) Taximeter (Fees on Verification and Stamping by Special Inspectors) Regulations 1938 (S.I. No. 284 of 1938)
S. 136(5) Weights and Measures (Taximeter: Section 136 of the Road Traffic Act, 1933) (Amendment) Regulations 1958 (S.I. No. 139 of 1958)
  Weights and Measures (Taximeter: Section 136 of the Road Traffic Act, 1933) Regulations 1938 (S.I. No. 286 of 1938)
S. 137(1) Dublin Appointed Standings (Street Service Vehicles) Bye-Laws 1938 (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1954 (S.I. No. 185 of 1954)
  Drogheda Appointed Standings (Street Service Vehicles) Bye-Laws 1951 (S.I. No. 19 of 1951)
  Tralee Appointed Standings (Street Service Vehicles) Bye-Laws 1947 (S.I. No. 235 of 1947)
  Cork Appointed Standings (Street Service Vehicles) Bye-Laws 1947 (S.I. No. 140 of 1947)
  Ennis Appointed Standings (Street Service Vehicles) Bye-Laws 1940 (S.I No. 144 of 1940)
  Limerick Appointed Standings (Street Service Vehicles) Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 165 of 1939)
  Dublin Appointed Standings (Street Service Vehicles) Bye-Laws 1938 (S.I. No. 105 of 1938)
Ss. 139, 140 Cork Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1957 (S.I. No. 259 of 1957)
  Dublin Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1957 (S.I. No. 258 of 1957)
  Cork Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1955 (S.I. No. 133 of 1955)
  Dublin Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1955 (S.I. No. 132 of 1955)
  Dublin Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1952 (S.I. No. 316 of 1952)
  Cork Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1947 (S.I. No. 437 of 1947)
  Dublin Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1947 (S.I. No. 436 of 1947)
  Dublin Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1946 (S.I. No. 228 of 1946)
  Cork Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1946 (S.I. No. 229 of 1946)
  Cork Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 107 of 1939)
  Dublin Taximeter Area Fare Bye-Laws 1937 (S.I. No. 192 of 1937)
S. 147(1) General Bye-Laws For The Control of Traffic 1937 (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1959 (S.I. No. 58 of 1959)
  General Bye-Laws For The Control of Traffic 1937 (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1956 (S.I. No. 316 of 1956)
  General Bye-Laws For The Control of Traffic 1937 (S.I. No. 222 of 1937)
S. 149(1) Cork Traffic (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1958 (S.I. No. 28 of 1958)
  Cork Traffic (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1956 (S.I. No. 317 of 1956)
  Dublin Traffic (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1953 (S.I. No. 201 of 1953)
  Cork Traffic (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1949 (S.I. No. 173 of 1949)
  Clonmel Traffic Bye-Laws 1948 (S.I. No. 159 of 1948)
  Bray Traffic Bye-Laws 1947 (S.I. No. 148 of 1947)
  Dublin Traffic (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 127 of 1941)
  Kilkenny Traffic Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 321 of 1941)
  Waterford Traffic Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 318 of 1941)
  Cork Traffic Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 134 of 1939)
  Limerick Traffic Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 167 of 1939)
  Dublin Traffic Bye-Laws 1937 (S.I. No. 241 of 1937)
S. 150(1) Cork Traffic (Parking and Waiting) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1956 (S.I. No. 318 of 1956)
  Sligo Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1948 (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1956 (S.I. No. 54 of 1956)
  Athy Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1955 (S.I. No. 266 of 1955)
  Wexford Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1955 (S.I. No. 243 of 1955)
  Athlone Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1954 (S.I. No. 301 of 1954)
  Dublin Traffic (Parking and Waiting) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1953 (S.I. No. 202 of 1953)
  Galway Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1946 (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1952 (S.I. No. 78 of 1952)
  Sligo Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1948 (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1951 (S.I. No. 361 of 1951)
  Cork Traffic (Parking and Waiting) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1951 (S.I. No. 331 of 1951)
  Carlow Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1950 (S.I. No. 228 of 1950)
  Dundalk Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1950 (S.I. No. 218 of 1950)
  Athlone Traffic (Parking and Waiting) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1950 (S.I. No. 181 of 1950)
  Portarlington Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1950 (S.I. No. 169 of 1950)
  Mallow Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1950 (S.I. No. 168 of 1950)
  Dublin Traffic (Parking and Waiting) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1950 (S.I. No. 98 of 1950)
  Cork Traffic (Parking and Waiting) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1949 (S.I. No. 174 of 1949)
  Monaghan Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1949 (S.I. No. 71 of 1949)
  Dublin Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1949 (S.I. No. 70 of 1949)
  Athlone Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1948 (S.I. No. 439 of 1948)
  Drogheda Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1948 (S.I. No. 438 of 1948)
  Sligo Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1948 (S.I. No. 437 of 1948)
  Tralee Traffic (Parking) Bye-Laws 1947 (S.I. No. 234 of 1947)
  Bray Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1947 (S.I. No. 149 of 1947)
  Galway Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1946 (S.I. No. 256 of 1946)
  Kilkenny Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 322 of 1941)
  Waterford Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 319 of 1941)
  Dublin Traffic (Parking and Waiting) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 1941 (S.I. No. 128 of 1941)
  Ennis Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1940 (S.I. No. 145 of 1940)
  Limerick Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1939 (S.I. No. 168 of 1939)
  Dublin Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Bye-Laws 1937 (S.I. No. 242 of 1937)
S. 158 The Road Traffic (Bridge Notice) Order 1933 (S.I. No. 108 of 1933)
S. 163 The Lighting of Vehicles Regulations 1934 (S.I. No. 166 of 1934)
S. 163(1)(e) Lighting of Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 1956 (S.I. No. 334 of 1956)
S. 169(5), (6) The Road Traffic Act (Advisory Body Regulations) Order 1933 (S.I. No. 129 of 1933)
S. 169(7) The Road Traffic Act (Variation of Excessive Periods of Driving) Order 1936 (S.I. No. 72 of 1936)
  The Road Traffic Act (Variation of Excessive Periods of Driving) (No. 1) Order 1934 (S.I. No. 128 of 1934)
S. 179 The Road Traffic (Petroleum Spirit) Regulations 1933 (S.I. No. 93 of 1933)