Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Traffic on Roads
81. Recovery of damage to roads and bridges
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
If by reason of any offence under this Part any damage is caused to any road or bridge by any motor vehicle or trailer, the owner of the vehicle or trailer and the person driving the same shall be jointly and severally liable to the Government or the local authority responsible for the maintenance thereof for damage done thereby and the Director General of Public Works or the local authority or any person authorised by the Director General of Public
road
“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
Works or the local authority may cause such damage to be made good and may recover the cost thereof from such person or persons.
local authority
“local authority” includes any Municipal Board set up under section 3 of the Municipal Boards Act;
Road Traffic
traffic
“traffic” includes vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, and bodies of troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
Terms defined in s 2
Director
Defined · s 2“Director” means the Director of Land Transport and includes any Deputy Director appointed under section 3(2);
local authority
Defined · s 2“local authority” includes any Municipal Board set up under section 3 of the Municipal Boards Act;
motor vehicle
Defined · s 2“motor vehicle” means any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads;
owner
Defined · s 2“owner” means the person in whose name a motor vehicle is registered by a licensing officer: Provided that in the case of a vehicle which is the subject of a hire-purchase agreement, the term means the person in possession of the vehicle under that agreement;
person
Defined · s 2“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
road
Defined · s 2“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
traffic
Defined · s 2“traffic” includes vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, and bodies of troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
trailer
Defined · s 2“trailer” means any vehicle, which has no independent motive power of its own, and which is attached to or driven by a motor vehicle or is designed or intended to be so attached or drawn, but does not include a side-car in the case of a motorcycle;
vehicle
Defined · s 2“vehicle” means any vehicle, including a trailer, constructed, adapted or capable of being used on roads, whether mechanically propelled or not.