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Road traffic law is enforced through a combination of criminal penalties, civil liability, and regulatory licensing. Most matters have strict time limits.
Key topics
Parking and bus lane PCNs issued by local authorities follow a civil process under the Traffic Management Act 2004. You can challenge informally within 28 days, then formally, then appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal — all without paying a fee.
Police-issued FPNs (speeding, traffic lights, mobile phones) are criminal penalties. You can accept and pay within 28 days, or elect to have the matter heard in court. Some carry mandatory licence endorsements and discretionary disqualification.
After an accident you must stop, exchange details, and report to police within 24 hours if no details were exchanged. Civil liability for personal injury is governed by negligence — you have three years from the date of injury to bring a claim.
It is a criminal offence to use a vehicle on a public road without at least third-party insurance. An uninsured driver who causes damage can be pursued by the Motor Insurers' Bureau on behalf of the victim.
Guides
Stage 05 · notice
A penalty charge notice (PCN) from a local authority follows a strict civil process. You can challenge informally within…
Stage 05 · notice
A speeding fixed penalty notice (FPN) gives you a choice: accept the penalty (pay the fine and take the points), request…
Latest news
A draft bill would allow penalty charge notices to be served by email or app notification, removing the requirement to affix a physical notice to a vehicle.
2 min read →A public consultation proposes night-time curfews and passenger limits for newly qualified drivers in their first year. The scheme would apply in England, Scotland and Wales.
3 min read →An updated edition of the Highway Code reinforces the hierarchy of road users, giving cyclists explicit priority at side-road junctions and expanding rules on safe passing distances.
3 min read →A significant judgment holds that National Highways owed a duty of care to motorists where the stopped vehicle detection system was not functioning and no warning signs were displayed.
3 min read →Articles
How-to
Where to begin, which parts to skip, and how to tell a rule from its exceptions. A method you can use on any law.
Explainer
The order in which rules apply, and what happens to a clause that goes against the law.
How-to
What to include, what to leave out, and how to prove it was received.
Explainer
Cost, time and control over the result, compared side by side.
FAQ
General answers with links to official sources. Not legal advice.
Official resources
Independent appeals body for parking and bus lane PCNs outside London.
Appeals for TfL and London council PCNs.
Renew, check and manage your driving licence.
Compensation for victims of uninsured and untraced drivers.