Under S.163 RTA 1988, what must a person driving a mechanically propelled vehicle do when requested by a police constable or a traffic officer?

• A. Stop the vehicle
• B. Continue driving
• C. Drive to the nearest safe place and stop
• D. Increase speed to clear the area

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that police have the power to require a driver to stop, and a driver must comply. Under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, when a constable or traffic officer directs you to stop, you must stop the vehicle as soon as reasonably practicable. This obligation is in place to enable enforcement checks, investigations, and to maintain public safety. So stopping the vehicle immediately is the correct action. Continuing to drive, or speeding away, would ignore a lawful instruction and could put people at risk, and the suggestion to drive to a nearest safe place first would unnecessarily delay compliance.