The Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

These Regulations make amendments to the Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 (“ 1998 Regulations ”) as a consequence of the introduction on 1st October 2026 of Graduated Driver Licensing in Northern Ireland.

The Regulations update references in regulations 2 and 3 of the 1998 Regulations to reflect the introduction of revised restrictions for newly qualified drivers of categories A and B vehicles.

The Regulations also make consequential amendments to regulation 4 of the 1998 Regulations so that the non-application of both GDL Specified Restrictions, ie GDL “R” plates and passenger restrictions, apply to the same group of drivers and in the same circumstances as the non- application of the superseded Specified Restrictions applied, ie the amber “R” plates and 45mph speed limit. While regulation 4(2) does not cover the non-application of passenger restrictions to the drivers provided for, that non-application is covered by Article 19AB(7) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. References to “Her Majesty” and to “Royal Ulster Constabulary” in regulation 4 have been updated to read “His Majesty” and “Police Service of Northern Ireland”.

In addition, the Schedule to these Regulations substitutes new two stage post-test “R” plates for the amber “R” plate outlined in the Schedule to the 1998 Regulations.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been produced and is available from Driving, Vehicle and Road Safety Policy Division, Department for Infrastructure, James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, Belfast BT7 2JA or online alongside this Statutory Rule at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr