Road traffic devices: guidance for police and manufacturers
Information on road traffic devices, such as breath-testing, speed cameras and immobilisation devices.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Breath-testing devices
In June 2004, we published a guide to type-approval procedures for breath-alcohol screening devices used for law enforcement in Great Britain. The guide is a reference for manufacturers wishing to develop new devices.
In June 2013, we published a guide to type-approval procedures for evidential breath-alcohol analysis instruments used for law enforcement in Great Britain.
This guide provides, for the first time, for the type-approval of mobile devices. These are devices that can be used to carry out evidential breath-alcohol tests elsewhere than in a police station, for instance at the roadside.
The guide does not affect the type-approved status of any devices that have already been type-approved, nor does it require the further testing of those devices. If any already approved device requires further testing, for example, in the event of a modification, such testing will be carried out in accordance with the existing version (version 1, 2004) of the guide.
The guide gives a description of the technical requirements that need to be met in order to be considered for type-approval for use by police in Great Britain.
The is designed for the use of police officers trained and authorised to carry out preliminary impairment tests to determine whether a person is unfit to drive and whether or not the unfitness is likely to be due to drink or drugs.
Drug-testing devices
In May 2012, we published a guide to type-approval procedures for preliminary drug testing devices used for transport law enforcement in Great Britain. The document is a reference for manufacturers wishing to develop new devices.
In September 2013, we published a copy of the guide to type-approval procedures for mobile preliminary drug testing devices used for transport law enforcement in Great Britain. This guide provides for the first time for the type approval of mobile devices, that is devices that can be used to carry out preliminary drug testing elsewhere than in a police station, for instance at the roadside.
Manufacturers can submit devices to the Home Office for testing and if the specifications are met, the device could then be approved by the Home Secretary for use by police.
Once a screening device is approved, officers will be able to use it to test if a person has a specific level of a drug in their system and then take a blood sample if the device gives a positive reading. This will enable suspects to be dealt with quicker, cutting bureaucracy and allowing officers to get back to frontline duties.
Currently, a medical examiner must be called out to assess if suspects are impaired because of drugs and authorise a blood sample.
The potential devices will test for a range of drugs including cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamines, methylamphetamine, methadone and opiates.
View the complete list of drug-testing devices.
Road traffic law enforcement devices
In December 2022, we published a consolidated interim edition of the guide to type approval procedures for devices used for road traffic law enforcement in Great Britain.
The document is a reference for manufacturers wishing to develop or sell existing products to the police service in Great Britain.
The handbook contains:
- a list of technical requirements
- guidance on methods of measurement
- procedures to be followed in seeking type approval
This handbook does not cover type approvals for:
- bus lane enforcement cameras
- unlicensed vehicle detectors
Immobilisation devices
There are currently 2 approved immobilisation devices:
- LCC ‘yellow triangle’ wheel clamp - 2005 (no 2)
- TMP ‘triangle’ wheel clamp - 2005
Updates to this page
Last updated 20 December 2023 + show all updates
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Added a section on road traffic law enforcement devices.
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Code of practice for preliminary impairment tests updated.
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Guide to type-approval procedures for evidential breath-alcohol analysis instruments published.
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First published.