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Do road rules still apply when a public highway is closed?

Deastons
Deastons Posts: 464 Forumite
I have a vehicle which is not road-legal, but could I use it on a road once a road closure is in place?
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Comments

  • bengalknights
    bengalknights Posts: 5,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    No you cant as its still a public highway
  • Alter_ego
    Alter_ego Posts: 3,842 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    My vehicle is road legal, even I can't use it where there is a road closure.
    I am not a cat (But my friend is)
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just because there's a road closure doesn't stop it from being a public highway. However there are exemptions made if the road is closed for an organised event such as racing.

    Why are you asking?
  • AndyMc.....
    AndyMc..... Posts: 3,248 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Deastons wrote: »
    I have a vehicle which is not road-legal, but could I use it on a road once a road closure is in place?

    If the road is closed why would you be allowed on it?
  • Deastons
    Deastons Posts: 464 Forumite
    edited 10 June 2018 at 8:02PM
    neilmcl wrote: »
    Just because there's a road closure doesn't stop it from being a public highway. However there are exemptions made if the road is closed for an organised event such as racing.

    Why are you asking?

    I was part of an event last week where there were road closures, and I was wondering if I could have used my non-road legal ATV on the road once they were closed (to get around the various sites along the route a bit quicker).

    I know I don't need tax/licence/indicators etc. to use it on my land.

    Could you point to info on the exemptions? I can't find anything.
  • AndyMc.....
    AndyMc..... Posts: 3,248 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Deastons wrote: »
    I was part of an event last week where there were road closures, and I was wondering if I could have used my non-road legal ATV on the road once they were closed (to get around the various sites along the route a bit quicker).

    I know I don't need tax/licence/indicators etc. to use it on my land.

    Could you point to info on the exemptions? I can't find anything.

    You’d still need insurance at the event.
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 8,939 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Most of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act apply to "a road, or other public place". A road that is temporarily closed is still a road. It does not miraculously change into a launderette or massage parlour.
  • Deastons
    Deastons Posts: 464 Forumite
    You!!!8217;d still need insurance at the event.

    Why would I need insurance? Are you saying I could drive it on the closed road if I had insurance?
  • onomatopoeia99
    onomatopoeia99 Posts: 7,190 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Short answer is "No". Long answer is "Very unlikely and you'd know if it was possible."

    If the road traffic act is suspended by the road closure then you may be able to use it, otherwise not. Almost all road closures do not suspend the road traffic act, until this year is required an act of parliament for each closure to suspend the RTA so unless there was a specific need (the "Tour of Mull" rally was one example) the RTA was not suspended. The law was recently changed to make it easier for the RTA to be suspended for motorsport events. I think so far exactly one event has been run under the new closure regime.
    Proud member of the wokerati, though I don't eat tofu.Home is where my books are.Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.Mortgage free July 2023
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Insurance isn't linked to it being a public highway. If the public have access it's required e.g. a supermarket car park you still need to be insured. But not taxed.


    I guess it depends on the setup of the event
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