Post on 02-Jan-2022
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Statutory Document No.0323/12
ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1985
ROAD VEHICLES (MAINTENANCE AND USE)
REGULATIONS 2012
INDEX
PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
1. Title
2. Commencement
3. Interpretation
4. Application and exemptions
5. Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions) Act 1970
PART 2 - MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
6. Brakes, steering gear, tracks, windscreen washers and wipers
7. Braking efficiencies of agricultural vehicles
8. Glass or other transparent material
9. Mirrors
10. Speedometers
11. Seat belts and anchorage points etc
12. Miscellaneous components and devices
13. Silencers
PART 3 - REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO USE ON ROADS
A - GENERAL
14. General
15. Unsafe alterations
2
B - CONTROL OF NOISE
16. Avoidance of excessive noise — general
17. Avoidance of excessive noise — motor cycles
18. Stopping engine and other machinery when stationary
19. Warning of approach or position (fitments)
20. Warning of approach or position (use requirements)
21. Warning of theft or emergency
22. Reversing alarms
23. Boarding-aid alarms
C - CONTROL OF OTHER EMISSIONS
24. Environmental pollutants
25. Closets etc
D - TYRES
26. Approval marks
27. Condition of tyres (other than tyre tread depth and pattern)
28. Tyre tread depth and pattern
29. Tyre loads
30. Mixing of tyres
31. Temporary use spare tyres
32. Recut tyres
33. Slick tyres
34. Tyre repairs
E - TRACKS
35. Condition of tracks
F - TRAILERS.
36. Number
37. Trailers drawn by motor cycles
38. Braking systems of trailers drawn by agricultural motor vehicles
39. Application of brakes on trailers
40. Electrical connection between a drawing vehicle and trailer for the purpose of
ABS
41. Distance between vehicles and trailers
42. Use of secondary coupling on light trailers
43. Unbraked trailers
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44. Use of bridging plates between motor vehicles and trailers
45. Leaving trailers at rest
46. Passengers in trailers
G - MINIBUSES AND BUSES
47. Fire extinguishing apparatus on minibuses
48. First aid equipment on minibuses
49. Carriage of dangerous substances on minibuses
50. Minibuses and coaches to be fitted with additional seat belts when used in
certain circumstances
H - TAXIS AND CERTAIN OTHER HIRE CARS
51. Supplementary provision for taxis and certain other hire cars
I - SIDECARS
52. Sidecars
J - FUEL
53. Unleaded petrol
K - USE OF GAS PROPULSION SYSTEMS, GAS-FIRED APPLIANCES
AND GAS WARNING SIGNS
54. Use of gas propulsion systems
55. Use of gas-fired appliances - general
56. Use of gas-fired appliances when a vehicle is in motion
57. Use of gas warning signs on vehicles propelled by liquefied petroleum gas
L - AVOIDANCE OF DANGER
58. Parking in darkness
59. Passengers on motor cycles
60. Obstruction
61. Driver's control
62. Opening of doors
63. Reversing
64. Leaving motor vehicles unattended
65. Securing of suspended implements
66. Mascots
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67. Television sets
68. Mobile telephones
M - REPLACEMENT BRAKE LININGS
69. Replacement brake linings
PART 4 - PLATES, WEIGHTS, MARKINGS, DIMENSIONS,
TESTING AND INSPECTION
A - PLATES
70. Manufacturers' plates
71. Ministry plates
72. Department plates and Department discs
73. VIN plates and markings
74. Plates for agricultural trailed appliances
75. Motor cycle plates
76. Goods vehicle maximum speed notices
B - WEIGHTS
77. Restrictions on weights of plated vehicles
78. Restrictions on weights of unplated vehicles and of vehicles with unplated
weights
79. Weights requiring road-friendly suspension or 30 mph speed limit
C - MARKINGS
80. Marking of unladen weight on certain motor vehicles
81. Marking of date of manufacture and maximum gross weight on certain light
trailers
D - DIMENSIONS
82. Length
83. Forward and rearward projections of load
84. Width
85. Lateral projections of load
86. Height
87. Indication of overall travelling height
88. Overhang
89. Minimum ground clearance
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90. Turning circle — articulated vehicles other than those incorporating a car
transporter, low loader, stepframe low loader or semi-trailer of exceptional
length
91. Turning circle — articulated vehicles incorporating a car transporter other
than a low loader or stepframe low loader
92. Turning circle — buses
93. Turning circle — heavy motor cars
E - TESTING AND INSPECTION
94. Testing and inspection
95. Revocations
SCHEDULES
1. Community Directives and ECE Regulations
2. Braking efficiencies of agricultural motor vehicles
3. Fire extinguishing apparatus and first aid equipment for minibuses
4. Taxis and certain other hire cars — supplementary requirements
5. Gas systems and gas-fired appliances
6. Gas warning signs on vehicles propelled by liquefied petroleum gas
7. Replacement brake linings
8. Manufacturers' plates
9. Department plates and Department discs
10. Motor cycle plates
11. Certain weights not to be exceeded in the Island by vehicles of certain classes
12. Conditions to be complied with in relation to long vehicles or long vehicle
combinations and in relation to vehicles with forward, rearward or lateral
projections of load
13. Revocations
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Statutory Document No.0323/12
ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1985
ROAD VEHICLES (MAINTENANCE AND USE) REGULATIONS
2012
Approved by Tynwald
Coming into operation 1 July 2012
The Department of Infrastructure makes these Regulations under sections 74 and 78
of, and paragraphs 1, 2, 6E and 6FA of Schedule 2 to, the Road Traffic Act 19851.
PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
1 Title
These Regulations are the Road Vehicles (Maintenance and Use) Regulations
2012.
2 Commencement
If approved by Tynwald2, these Regulations come into operation on 1 July
2012.
3 Interpretation
(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, the
expressions specified in column 1 of the following table have the
meanings, or are to be interpreted in accordance with the provisions,
specified for them in column 2 of the table.
1 1985 c. 23
2 As required by section 74(3) of the Act
Price £8.60: Price Band J
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TABLE
1
Expression
2
Meaning
The Act The Road Traffic Act 1985.
The Registration Act
The Licensing and Registration of Vehicles Act 1985 3.
The Regulation Act
The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1985 4.
The Construction,
Equipment and Weights
Regulations
The Road Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Weights) Regulations 20125.
The Construction and
Use Regulations
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 6.
The Lighting
Regulations
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 7 as they have effect with
modifications in the Island by virtue of the Road Vehicles Lighting (Application)
Regulations 19988.
ABS
An anti-lock braking system, being a part of a service braking system, which
automatically controls the degree of slip, in the direction of rotation of the wheel
or wheels, on one or more wheels of a vehicle during braking.
agricultural motor
vehicle
A motor vehicle which —
(a) is constructed or adapted for use off roads for the purpose of
agriculture, horticulture or forestry; and
(b) is primarily used for one or more of those purposes,
not being a dual-purpose vehicle.
agricultural plate
A plate affixed to an agricultural trailed appliance in accordance with regulation
74.
agricultural trailer
A trailer which —
(a) is constructed or adapted for the purpose of agriculture, horticulture
or forestry; and
3 1985 c. 21
4 1985 c. 20
5 SD 0323/12
6 SI 1986/1078
7 SI 1989/1796
8 SD 347/98
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(b) is used for only one or more of those purposes,
including an agricultural trailed appliance and an agricultural trailed appliance
conveyor.
agricultural trailed
appliance
An implement, being an agricultural trailer, which has, except in the case of a
vehicle manufactured before 1st December 1985 or a towed roller, a maximum
gross weight not exceeding twice its unladen weight and may comprise a semi-
mounted implement of which —
(a) the longitudinal axis of the greater part is capable of articulating in
the horizontal plane in relation to the longitudinal axis of the rear
portion of the vehicle on which the implement is mounted; and
(b) part of the weight is supported by one or more of its own wheels.
agricultural trailed
appliance conveyor
An agricultural trailer which has an unladen weight not exceeding 510 kg, is
clearly and indelibly marked with its unladen weight, has a pneumatic tyre
fitted to each of its wheels, and is designed and constructed for the purpose of
conveying one agricultural trailed appliance or one agricultural, horticultural or
forestry implement.
articulated vehicle
A heavy motor car or motor car with a trailer so attached that part of the trailer
is superimposed on the drawing vehicle, which, when the trailer is uniformly
loaded, bears not less than 20 per cent of the weight of the trailer's load.
axle
A reference to the number of axles of a vehicle is to be interpreted in accordance
with paragraph (6).
axle interspace
(a) in the case of a semi-trailer, the distance between the point of support of
the semi-trailer at its forward end and, if it has only one axle, the centre
of that axle or, if it has more than one axle, the point half way between
the centres of the foremost and rearmost of those axles; and
(b) in the case of any other trailer, the distance between the centre of its
front axle or, if it has more than one axle at the front, the point half way
between the centres of the foremost and rearmost of those axles and the
centre of it rear axle or, if it has more than one axle at the rear, the point
half way between the centre of the foremost and rearmost of those axles.
axle weight
Subject to paragraph (6), the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface
by all the wheels of an axle of a vehicle.
boarding-aid alarm
An alarm fitted to a vehicle and designed to warn persons that a power-
operated lift or ramp fitted to the vehicle is in operation and is being used by
wheelchair users boarding or alighting from it.
braking efficiency
The maximum braking force capable of being developed by the brakes of a
vehicle when expressed as a percentage of the weight of the vehicle including
any persons or load carried in the vehicle.
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braking system
A brake drum and a brake disc are to be taken to form part of the wheel and not
part of the braking system.
breadth of tread The breadth of that part of a tyre which can be in contact with the road under
normal conditions of use measured at 90 degrees to the peripheral line of tread.
bridging plate
Any plate, whether rigid or movable, fitted to a trailer constructed for the
purpose of carrying other vehicles, and designed to bridge the gap between that
trailer and a motor vehicle constructed for that purpose, so that, while the trailer
is attached to the motor vehicle, vehicles which are to be carried by the motor
vehicle may be moved from the trailer to the motor vehicle before a journey
begins, and vehicles which have been carried on the motor vehicle may be
moved from it to the trailer after a journey ends.
bus
A motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 seated
passengers in addition to the driver.
car transporter
A trailer which is constructed and normally used for the purpose of carrying at
least 2 other wheeled vehicles.
cc
Cubic centimetre(s).
child restraint
A seat belt for the use of a young person which is designed either to be fitted
directly to a suitable anchorage or to be used in conjunction with a seat belt for
an adult and held in place by the restraining action of that belt.
close-coupled
In relation to wheels on the same side of a trailer, fitted so that at all times while
the trailer is in motion they remain parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trailer
and the longitudinal distance between the centres of their respective areas of
contact with the road does not exceed 1 m.
cm
Centimetre(s).
coach A motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 seated
passengers in addition to the driver, is not intended to be used by standing
passengers, and has a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes.
combination of vehicles
In relation to a motor vehicle drawing one or more trailers, the motor vehicle
and the trailer or trailers drawn by it (including any other motor vehicle which
is used for the purpose of assisting in the propulsion of the trailer or trailers on a
road).
Community Directive,
followed by a number
The Directive adopted by the Council or the Commission of the European
Communities or by the European Parliament and the Council of the European
Union, the identifying particulars of which are given in the item in column 3 of
Table 1 in Schedule 1 in which that number appears in column 2; and where that
Directive amends a previous Directive mentioned in column 3(d) of the table,
the reference to the amending Directive includes a reference to the previous
Directive as so amended.
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composite trailer A combination of a converter dolly and a semi-trailer.
container An article of equipment (not being a motor vehicle or trailer) having a volume of
at least 8 cubic metres, constructed wholly or mostly of metal, and intended for
repeated use for the carriage of goods or burden.
converter dolly
(a) a trailer which is equipped with 2 or more wheels, is designed to be
used in combination with a semi-trailer without any part of the weight of
the semi-trailer being borne by the drawing vehicle, and is not itself a
part either of the semi-trailer or the drawing vehicle when being so used;
or
(b) a trailer which is equipped with 2 or more wheels, is designed to be
used in combination with a semi-trailer with part of the weight of the
semi-trailer being borne by the drawing vehicle, is not itself a part either
of the semi-trailer or the drawing vehicle when being so used, and is
used solely for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, or
for any 2 or for all of those purposes.
deck
A floor or platform on which seats are provided for the accommodation of
passengers.
the Department
The Department of Infrastructure.
Department plate
A plate complying with regulation 72(1)(a), (b) and (c).
disabled person’s seat
belt
A seat belt which has been specially designed or adapted for use by an adult or
young person suffering from some physical defect or disability and which is
intended for use solely by such a person.
double-decked vehicle
A vehicle with 2 decks, one of which is wholly or partly above the other, and
each of which is provided with a gangway serving seats on that deck only.
dual-purpose vehicle
A vehicle constructed or adapted for the carriage both of passengers and of
goods or burden of any description, being a vehicle which has an unladen
weight not exceeding 2540 kg, and which either is so constructed or adapted that
the driving power of the engine is, or by the appropriate use of the controls of
the vehicle can be, transmitted to all the wheels of the vehicle, or satisfies the
following conditions as to construction, namely —
(a) the vehicle must be permanently fitted with a rigid roof,
with or without a sliding panel;
(b) the area of the vehicle to the rear of the driver's seat must -
(i) be permanently fitted with at least one row of
transverse seats (fixed or folding) for 2 or
more passengers and those seats must be properly
sprung or cushioned and provided with
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upholstered back-rests, attached either to the
seats or to a side or the floor of the vehicle, and
(ii) be lit on each side and at the rear by a window
or windows of glass or other transparent material
having an area or aggregate area of not less than
1850 square centimetres on each side and not
less than 770 square centimetres at the rear; and
(c) the distance between the rearmost part of the steering
wheel and the back-rests of the row of transverse seats
satisfying the requirements specified in sub-paragraph
(b)(i) (or, if there is more than one such row of seats, the
distance between the rearmost part of the steering wheel
and the back-rests of the rearmost such row) must, when
the seats are ready for use, be not less than one third of
the distance between the rearmost part of the steering
wheel and the rearmost part of the floor of the vehicle.
ECE Regulation,
followed by a number
The Regulation, annexed to the Agreement concerning the adoption of uniform
conditions of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts and reciprocal
recognition thereof concluded by members of the United Nations' Economic
Commission for Europe at Geneva on 20th March 1958 (Cmnd 2535) as amended
(Cmnd 3562), the identifying particulars of which are given in the item in
column 3(a), (b) and (c) of Table 2 in Schedule 1 in which that number appears in
column 2; and where that number contains more than 2 digits, it refers to that
Regulation with the amendments in force at the date specified in column 3(d) in
that item.
EEA State
A State which is a contracting party to the Agreement on the European
Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol
signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993.
engineering plant
Either —
(a) movable plant or equipment which –
(i) is a motor vehicle or trailer specially designed and
constructed for the special purposes of engineering
operations,
(ii) cannot, owing to the requirements of those purposes,
comply in all respects with the requirements of the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations and of
these Regulations, and
(iii) is not constructed primarily to carry a load other than
excavated materials raised from the ground by apparatus
on the motor vehicle or trailer or materials which the
vehicle or trailer is specially designed to treat while carried
on it; or
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(b) a mobile crane which does not comply in all respects with the
requirements of the Construction, Equipment and Weights
Regulations and of these Regulations.
exhaust system
A complete set of components through which the exhaust gases escape from the
engine unit of a motor vehicle, including those which are necessary to limit the
noise caused by the escape of those gases.
extreme lateral
projecting point
A point from which the overall width of a vehicle is calculated in accordance
with the definition of "overall width" in this table.
first used
The expression is to be interpreted in accordance with paragraph (3).
foremost point
In relation to a vehicle, the extreme forward projecting point of the vehicle,
being a point from which the overall length of the vehicle is calculated in
accordance with the definition of "overall length" in this table.
forward projection
(a) in relation to a load carried in such a manner that its weight is borne by
only one vehicle, the part of the load which extends beyond the foremost
point of the vehicle;
(b) in relation to a load carried in such a manner that part of its weight is
borne by more than one vehicle, the part of the load which extends
beyond the foremost point of the foremost vehicle by which the load is
carried; and
(c) in relation to a special appliance or apparatus, the part of the appliance
or apparatus which, if it were taken to be a load carried by a vehicle,
would be the part of the load extending beyond the foremost point of the
vehicle,
and for the purposes of paragraph (c) "vehicle" does not include any special
apparatus or appliance or any part of it.
forward-facing
passenger seat
A forward-facing seat which is not the driver’s seat.
forward-facing seat
A seat which is attached to a vehicle so that it faces towards the front of the
vehicle in such a manner that a line passing through the centre of both the front
and the back of the seat is at an angle of 30 degrees or less to the longitudinal
axis of the vehicle.
gangway
The space which is provided for obtaining access from any entrance to the
passengers' seats or from any such seats to an exit other than an emergency exit,
and excludes a staircase and any space in front of a seat or a row of seats which
is required only for the use of a passenger or passengers occupying that seat or
row.
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gas-fired appliance
A device, carried on a motor vehicle or trailer when in use on a road, which
consumes gas and which is not —
(a) a device owned or operated by or with the authority of a public gas
supplier for the purpose of detecting gas;
(b) an engine for the propulsion of a motor vehicle; or
(c) a lamp which consumes acetylene gas.
goods vehicle
A motor vehicle or trailer constructed or adapted for use for the carriage or
haulage of goods or burden of any description.
gritting trailer
A trailer which is used on a road for the purposes of spreading grit or other
matter so as to avoid or reduce the effect of ice or snow on the road.
gross weight
Either, in relation to a motor vehicle, the sum of the weights transmitted to the
road surface by all the wheels of the vehicle or, in relation to a trailer, the sum of
the weights transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of the trailer and of
any weight of the trailer imposed on the drawing vehicle.
heavy motor car
A mechanically propelled vehicle, not being a locomotive, a motor tractor or a
motor car, which is constructed itself to carry a load or passengers and which
has an unladen weight exceeding 2540 kg.
horn
An instrument, not being a bell, gong or siren, capable of giving audible and
sufficient warning of the approach or position of the vehicle to which it is fitted.
indivisible load
A load which —
(a) cannot without undue expense or risk of damage be divided into 2
or more loads for the purpose of conveyance on a road; or
(b) consists of a combination of loads, each of which would fall into
paragraph (a) were it not for this paragraph.
invalid carriage
A mechanically propelled vehicle which has an unladen weight not exceeding
254 kg, is specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the
use of a person suffering from some physical defect or disability, and is solely
used by such a person.
kerbside weight
The weight of a vehicle when it carries, —
(a) in the case of a motor vehicle,
(i) no person, and
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(ii) a full supply of fuel in its tank, an adequate supply of
other liquids incidental to its propulsion, and no load other
than the loose tools and equipment with which it is
normally equipped; and
(b) in the case of a trailer, no person and is otherwise unladen.
kg
Kilogram(s).
km/h
Kilometre(s) per hour.
lateral projection
In relation to a load carried by a vehicle, the part of the load which extends
beyond a side of the vehicle, where the width of the lateral projection is to be
taken as the distance between longitudinal planes passing through the extreme
lateral projecting point of the vehicle on that side on which the projection lies
and that part of the projection farthest from that point.
leaded petrol
Any petrol, the lead-compound content of which, as calculated in terms of lead,
does not exceed 0.40 grams of lead per litre and does not fall below 0.15 grams
of lead per litre.
length
In relation to a forward projection or a rearward projection, the length as
measured between transverse planes passing, in the case of a forward projection,
through the foremost point of the vehicle from which the projection extends and
the part of the projection farthest from that point and, in the case of a rearward
projection, through the rearmost point of the vehicle from which the projection
extends and the part of the projection farthest from that point, where "vehicle"
does not include any part of a special appliance or apparatus which is a forward
projection or a rearward projection.
light goods vehicle
A goods vehicle which has a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3500 kg.
light passenger vehicle
light trailer
any motor vehicle which has at least 4 wheels, is equipped with an internal
combustion engine, is constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of
passengers, has no more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat, and has a
maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, not being a goods vehicle, a
quadricycle or any vehicle used or intended for use for fire brigade purposes.
A trailer with a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3500 kg.
liquefied petroleum gas
(a) butane gas in any phase which meets the requirements contained in the
specification of commercial butane and propane issued by the British
Standards Institution under reference number BS 4250: 1975 and
published on 29th August 1975; or
(b) propane gas in any phase which meets the requirements contained in the
said specification; or
(c) any mixture of such butane gas and such propane gas.
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living van
A trailer which is used primarily as living accommodation by one or more
persons and is not used also for the carriage of goods or burden which are not
needed by such person or persons for the purpose of their residence in the
vehicle.
locomotive
A mechanically propelled vehicle which has an unladen weight exceeding 7370
kg and is not constructed itself to carry a load other than the following articles,
that is to say, water, fuel, accumulators and other equipment used for the
purpose of propulsion, loose tools and loose equipment.
longitudinal plane
A vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle.
low loader
A trailer (not being a stepframe low loader) which is constructed and normally
used for the carriage of engineering equipment and which is so constructed that
the major part of the load platform —
(a) does not extend over or transversely between the wheels; and
(b) has an upper surface which is below the height of the topmost point
of the tyres of those wheels, as measured on level ground when any
adjustable suspension is at the normal travelling height, all pneumatic
tyres are suitably inflated for use when the vehicle is fully laden, and
the trailer is unladen.
m
Metre(s).
manufacturer’s plate
A plate complying with regulation 70(3) or (4).
maximum gross weight
The weight which a vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when the
vehicle is travelling on a road.
maximum laden axle
weight
In relation to an axle, the weight which the axle is not permitted to exceed when
a vehicle is travelling on a road laden.
maximum speed
The speed which a vehicle is incapable, by reason of its construction, of
exceeding on the level under its own power when fully laden.
maximum total laden
weight
In relation to a vehicle, the weight which the vehicle is not permitted to exceed
when travelling on a road laden.
maximum train weight
In relation to a motor vehicle, the combined laden weight of the vehicle and of
any trailer drawn by it, being a weight which the combination of vehicles is not
permitted to exceed when travelling on a road laden.
minibus
A motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 but not
more than 16 seated passengers in addition to the driver.
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minimum ground
clearance
In relation to a trailer, the shortest distance between the ground and the lowest
part of the trailer (excluding any air skirt, any wheel, and any part of a braking,
steering or suspension system attached to any axle) which lies within the area
formed by its overall width and the middle 70% of the axle interspace, and for
the purpose of ascertaining such a distance the trailer must —
(a) be fitted with suitable tyres which are inflated to a pressure
recommended by the manufacturer; and
(b) be reasonably horizontal and stand on ground which is reasonably flat.
Ministry plate
A plate affixed to a vehicle in accordance with regulation 70 of the Construction
and Use Regulations.
mm
Millimetre(s).
motor ambulance
A motor vehicle which is specially designed and constructed (and not merely
adapted) for carrying, as equipment permanently fixed to the vehicle,
equipment used for medical, dental or other health purposes and which is used
primarily for the carriage of persons suffering from illness, injury or disability.
motor car
A mechanically propelled vehicle, not being a motor tractor, a motor cycle or an
invalid carriage, which is constructed itself to carry a load or passengers and has
an unladen weight which —
(a) if it is constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and
their effects and is adapted to carry no more than 7
passengers in addition to the driver, does not exceed 3050
kg;
(b) if it is constructed for use for the conveyance of goods or
burden of any description, does not exceed 3050 kg; or
(c) in any other case, does not exceed 2540 kg.
motor caravan
A motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers
and their effects and which contains, as permanently installed equipment, the
facilities which are reasonably necessary for enabling the vehicle to provide
mobile living accommodation for its users.
motor cycle
A mechanically propelled vehicle, not being an invalid carriage, which has
fewer than 4 wheels and an unladen weight not exceeding 410 kg.
motor tractor
A mechanically propelled vehicle which has an unladen weight not exceeding
7370 kg and is not constructed itself to carry a load other than the following
articles, that is to say, water, fuel, accumulators and other equipment used for
the purpose of propulsion, loose tools and loose equipment.
motor vehicle
A mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads.
18
mph
Miles(s) per hour.
original tread pattern
(a) in the case of a retreaded tyre, the tread pattern of the tyre immediately
after the tyre was retreaded;
(b in the case of a wholly recut tyre, the manufacturer's recut tread pattern;
(c) in the case of a partially recut tyre, on that part of the tyre which has been
recut, the manufacturer's recut tread pattern, and on the other part, the
tread pattern of the tyre when new; and
(d) in the case of any other tyre, the tread pattern of the tyre when new.
overall height
The vertical distance from the ground to the point on the vehicle which is
farthest from it, calculated when the tyres of the vehicle are suitably inflated for
the use to which it is being put, the vehicle is at its unladen weight, and the
surface of the ground under the vehicle is reasonably flat.
overall length
In relation to a vehicle, the distance between transverse planes passing through
the extreme forward and rearward projecting points of a vehicle inclusive of all
parts of the vehicle, of any receptacle which is of a permanent character and
strong enough for repeated use, and of any fitting on, or attached to, the vehicle
except —
(a) any driving mirror;
(b) any expanding or extensible contrivance forming part of a turntable
fire escape fixed to the vehicle;
(c) any snow plough fixed in front of the vehicle;
(d) any receptacle specially designed to hold and keep secure a seal
issued for the purposes of customs clearance;
(e) any tailboard which is let down while the vehicle is stationary in
order to facilitate its loading or unloading;
(f) any tailboard which is let down in order to facilitate the carriage of,
but which is not essential for the support of, loads which are in
themselves so long as to extend at least as far as the tailboard when
upright;
(g) any fitting which is attached to a part of, or to a receptacle on, the
vehicle and which does not increase the carrying capacity of the part
or the receptacle but which enables it —
(i) to be transferred from a road vehicle to a railway vehicle or
from a railway vehicle to a road vehicle,
19
(ii) to be secured to a railway vehicle by a locking device, and
(iii) to be carried on a railway vehicle by the use of stanchions;
(h) any bridging plate;
(i) any sheeting or other readily flexible means of covering or securing
a load;
(j) any special appliance or apparatus which does not itself increase the
carrying capacity of the vehicle;
(k) any rearward projecting buffer made of rubber or other resilient
material; or
(l) in the case of regulations 82, 83, 90, 91 and 93 only, —
(i) any part of a trailer designed primarily for use as a means of
attaching it to another vehicle (not being in the case of an
agricultural trailed appliance a drawbar or other device with
which it is equipped for the purpose of being towed) and any
fitting designed for use in connection with any such part; or
(ii) the thickness of any front or rear wall on a semi-trailer and of
any part forward of such front wall or rearward of such rear
wall which does not increase the vehicle’s load-carrying space.
overall travelling height
A height that is 25 mm higher than the distance between the ground and the
point (measured vertically) which is farthest from it on a motor vehicle, on any
trailer drawn by that vehicle, or on any load or equipment carried by or fitted to
that vehicle or trailer and projecting beyond any part of it, and for the purpose
of determining the overall travelling height —
(a) the tyres of the motor vehicle and of any trailer drawn by it must be
suitably inflated for the use to which the vehicle or combination of
vehicles is or is to be put;
(b) the surface —
(i) under the motor vehicle and any trailer drawn by it, and
(ii) under any load or equipment carried by or fitted to the
motor vehicle or combination of vehicles and projecting
beyond any part of that vehicle or combination,
must be reasonably flat; and
(c) any equipment fitted to the motor vehicle or any trailer drawn by it
must be stowed in the position in which it is to proceed on the road.
20
overall width
The distance between longitudinal planes passing through the extreme lateral
projecting points of a vehicle inclusive of all parts of the vehicle, of any
receptacle which is of a permanent character and strong enough for repeated
use, and of any fitting on, or attached to, the vehicle except —
(a) any driving mirror;
(b) any snow plough fixed in front of the vehicle;
(c) so much of the distortion of any tyre as is caused by the weight of
the vehicle;
(d) any receptacle specially designed to hold and keep secure a seal
issued for the purposes of customs clearance;
(e) any lamp or reflector fitted to the vehicle in accordance with the
Lighting Regulations;
(f) any sideboard which is let down while the vehicle is stationary in
order to facilitate its loading or unloading;
(g) any fitting which is attached to a part of, or to a receptacle on, the
vehicle and which does not increase the carrying capacity of the part
or the receptacle but which enables it —
(i) to be transferred from a road vehicle to a railway vehicle or from
a railway vehicle to a road vehicle,
(ii) to be secured to a railway vehicle by a locking device, and
(iii) to be carried on a railway vehicle by the use of stanchions;
(h) any sheeting or other readily flexible means of covering or securing
a load; or
(i) any special appliance or apparatus which does not itself increase the
carrying capacity of the vehicle.
overhang The distance measured horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of a
motor vehicle between 2 transverse planes passing through the following 2
points —
(a) the rearmost point of the vehicle exclusive of —
(i) any expanding or extensible contrivance forming part of a
turntable fire escape fixed to a vehicle,
21
(ii) in the case of a motor car constructed or adapted solely for the
carriage of no more than 9 persons inclusive of the driver and
their effects, any luggage carrier fitted to the vehicle; and
(b) a point forward of the rearmost point, being —
(i) in the case of a motor vehicle having no more than 3 axles of
which only one is not a steering axle, the centre point of that
axle,
(ii) in the case of a motor vehicle having 3 axles of which the
front axle is the only steering axle, or having 4 axles of which
the 2 foremost are the only steering axles, a point 110 mm
behind the centre of a straight line joining the centre points of
the 2 rearmost axles, and
(iii) in any other case, a point situated on the longitudinal axis of
the vehicle so that a line drawn from it at right angles to that
axis will pass through the centre of the minimum turning circle
of the vehicle.
owner
The owner of a vehicle is to be taken to be —
(a) in the case of a vehicle for the time being registered under the
Registration Act, and not being used under a trade licence
under that Act, the person appearing as the owner of the
vehicle in the register kept by the Department under that Act;
(b) in the case of a vehicle used under a trade licence, the holder of
the licence; and
(c) in the case of a vehicle exempt from vehicle duty by virtue of
the Road Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 2006 9, the
person resident outside the Island who has brought the vehicle
into the Island,
and in cases (a) and (b) the address of the owner as shown on the register in
question or, as the case may be, on the licence may be treated as his or her
address.
passenger car
A motor vehicle (not being a goods vehicle, a motor ambulance or a motor
caravan) which is constructed or adapted to carry no more than 8 seated
passengers and a driver, together with their effects, has at least 3 wheels and a
maximum gross weight not exceeding 3500 kg, and is not steered by handlebars.
passenger vehicle
A vehicle constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects.
9 SD 455/06
22
pedestrian-controlled
vehicle
A motor vehicle which is controlled by a pedestrian and not constructed or
adapted or used for the carriage of a driver or passenger.
petrol
Any volatile mineral oil intended for the operation of spark ignition engines
used for the propulsion of motor vehicles.
pneumatic tyre
A tyre which —
(a) is provided with, or together with the wheel upon which it is
mounted forms, a continuous closed chamber inflated to a pressure
substantially exceeding atmospheric pressure when the tyre is in the
condition in which it is normally used but is not subjected to any
load;
(b) is capable of being inflated and deflated without being removed
from the wheel or vehicle; and
(c) is such that, when it is deflated and is subjected to a normal load,
the sides of the tyre collapse.
public passenger vehicle
A public passenger vehicle within the meaning of the Road Transport Act 2001 10.
public works vehicle
A mechanically propelled vehicle which is used on a road by or on behalf of —
(a) a ferry undertaking;
(b) a local authority;
(c) a Department within the meaning of the Government Departments
Act 198711;
(d) an operator of a telecommunications code system within the
meaning of paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 1 to the Telecommunications
Act 198412;
(e) the Isle of Man Post Office;
(f) the Manx Electricity Authority;
(g) a public gas supplier within the meaning of section 17 of the Gas
Regulation Act 199513;
(h) the Isle of Man Water Authority within the meaning of Part I of the
Water Act 199114; or
(i) a sewerage undertaker.
10
2001 c. 27 11
1987 c. 13 12
1984 c. 11 13
1995 c. 7
23
quadricycle
a 4-wheeled motor vehicle which has –
(a) a maximum net engine power not exceeding 15 kilowatts;
(b) in the case of a vehicle intended to carry goods, an unladen weight not
exceeding 550 kg, and
(c) in any other case, an unladen weight not exceeding 400 kg,
and for the purposes of this definition the unladen weight of an electrically
powered vehicle excludes the weight of batteries.
rearmost point
in relation to a vehicle, the extreme rearward projecting point of the vehicle,
being a point from which the overall length of the vehicle is calculated in
accordance with the definition of "overall length" in this table.
rearward projection
(a) in relation to a load carried in such a manner that its weight is borne by
only one vehicle, the part of the load which extends beyond the rearmost
point of the vehicle;
(b) in relation to a load carried in such a manner that part of its weight is
borne by more than one vehicle, the part of the load which extends
beyond the rearmost point of the rearmost vehicle by which the load is
carried; and
(c) in relation to a special appliance or apparatus, the part of the appliance or
apparatus which, if it were deemed to be a load carried by a vehicle,
would be the part of the load extending beyond the rearmost point of the
vehicle,
and for the purposes of paragraph (c) "vehicle" does not include any special
appliance or apparatus or any part of it.
recut pneumatic tyre
A pneumatic tyre in which all or part of its original tread pattern has been cut
deeper or burnt deeper, or in which a different tread pattern has been cut deeper
or burnt deeper, than the original tread pattern.
refuse vehicle
A vehicle designed for use and used solely in connection with street cleansing,
the collection or disposal of refuse, or the collection or disposal of the contents of
gullies or cesspools.
registered
registered under the relevant law of any part of the British Islands in the case of
a vehicle which prior to its first being brought into the Island was registered
under that law, and registered under the Registration Act in any other case.
14
1991 c. 24
24
relevant braking
requirement
The requirement that a motor vehicle (either alone or when assisted, if a trailer is
being drawn, by the brakes of the trailer) has a service braking system with a
total braking efficiency —
(a) in the case of a motor vehicle drawing a trailer and meeting the
requirements of regulation 5(1), (3), (8) or (9) of the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations, of at least
45 per cent; and
(b) in any other case, of at least 50 per cent,
and a secondary braking system with a total braking efficiency of at least 25 per
cent.
resilient tyre A tyre (not being a pneumatic tyre) of soft or elastic material which —
(a) is continuous round the circumference of the wheel; or
(b) is fitted in sections so that as far as reasonably practicable no space
is left between the ends of the sections,
and is of such thickness and design as to minimise, as far as reasonably possible,
any vibration when the vehicle is in motion and is so constructed as to be free
from any defect which may in any way cause damage to the surface of a road.
retreaded tyre
A tyre which has been reconditioned to extend its useful life by replacement of
the tread rubber or by replacement of the tread rubber and renovation of the
sidewall rubber.
reversing alarm
A device fitted to a motor vehicle and designed to warn persons that the vehicle
is reversing or is about to reverse.
seat
A seat, including any part designed for the accommodation of one adult of a
continuous seat designed for the accommodation of more than one adult.
seat belt
A belt intended to be worn by a person in a vehicle and designed to prevent or
lessen injury to its wearer in the event of an accident to the vehicle, including, in
the case of a child restraint, any special chair to which the belt is attached.
secondary braking
system
A braking system of a vehicle applied by a secondary means of operation
independent of the service braking system or by one of the sections comprised in
a split braking system.
semi-trailer
A trailer which is constructed or adapted to form part of an articulated vehicle,
including a vehicle which is not itself a motor vehicle but which has some or all
of its wheels driven by the drawing vehicle.
service braking system
The braking system of a vehicle which is designed and constructed to have the
highest braking efficiency of any of the braking systems with which the vehicle
is equipped.
25
silencer
A contrivance suitable and sufficient for reducing as far as may be reasonable
the noise caused by the escape of exhaust gases from the engine of a motor
vehicle.
single-decked vehicle
A vehicle on which no part of a deck or gangway is vertically above another
deck or gangway.
single vehicle approval
Single vehicle approval, or single vehicle (motor cycles or quadricycles), as
defined in regulation 3(1) of the Licensing and Registration of Vehicles
Regulations 200415.
skip
An article of equipment designed and constructed to be carried on a road
vehicle and to be placed on a road or other land for the storage of materials or
for the removal and disposal of earth, rubble, waste or household or other
rubbish.
slick pneumatic tyre A pneumatic tyre which is manufactured with no visible tread pattern.
special appliance or
apparatus
In relation to a vehicle, a crane or other special appliance or apparatus which is
fitted to the vehicle and is a permanent or essentially permanent fixture.
split braking system
A braking system of a vehicle, being a system which is so designed and
constructed that —
(a) it comprises 2 independent sections of mechanism;
(b) a failure of any part of one section (excluding the means of
operation, a fixed member or a brake shoe anchor pin) will not
cause a decrease in the braking force capable of being developed by
the other section;
(c) the 2 sections are operated by a means of operation which is
common to both; and
(d) the braking efficiency of either section can be readily checked.
staircase
The means by which passengers on a double-decked vehicle are intended to
pass to and from the upper deck of the vehicle.
statutory power of
removal
A power conferred by or under any enactment to remove or move a vehicle
from any road or from any part of a road.
stepframe low loader
A trailer (not being a low loader) which is constructed and normally used for the
carriage of engineering equipment and which is so constructed that the upper
surface of the major part of the load platform is at a height of less than 1 m
above the ground as measured on level ground when any adjustable suspension
is at the normal travelling height, all pneumatic tyres are suitably inflated for
use when the vehicle is fully laden, and the trailer is unladen.
15 SD 330/04
26
television receiving
apparatus
Any cathode ray tube or liquid crystal display screen on which there can be
displayed an image derived from a television broadcast, a recording, a camera
or a computer.
temporary use spare tyre
A pneumatic tyre which is designed for use on a motor vehicle only in the event
of the failure of one of the tyres normally fitted to a wheel of the vehicle and
only at a speed lower than that for which such normally fitted tyres are
designed.
tie-bar
Any part of a tyre moulded in the tread pattern of the tyre for the purpose of
bracing 2 or more features of that pattern.
.
towing implement A device on wheels designed for the purpose of enabling a motor vehicle to
draw another vehicle by the attachment of that device to that other vehicle in
such a manner that part of that other vehicle is secured to and either rests on or
is suspended from the device and some but not all of the wheels on which that
other vehicle normally runs are raised off the ground.
track-laying
In relation to a vehicle, so designed and constructed that the weight of the
vehicle is transmitted to the road surface either by continuous tracks or by a
combination of wheels and continuous tracks in such circumstances that the
weight transmitted to the road surface by the tracks is not less than half the
weight of the vehicle.
trailer
Subject to paragraph (9), a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle.
train weight
In relation to any motor vehicle, the combined laden weight of the vehicle and of
any trailer drawn by it.
transverse plane
A vertical plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle.
tread pattern
The combination of plain surfaces and grooves extending across the breadth of
tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre, but excluding —
(a) any tie-bars or tread wear indicators;
(b) any features which are designed to wear substantially before the rest
of the pattern under normal conditions of use; and
(c) other minor features.
tread wear indicator
Any bar, not being a tie-bar, projecting from the base of a groove of the tread
pattern and moulded between 2 or more features of the tread pattern for the
purpose of indicating the extent to which the tread pattern is worn.
2-tone horn
An instrument which, when operated, automatically produces a sound which
alternates at regular intervals between 2 fixed notes.
27
type approval
requirements
Such requirements with respect to the design, construction, equipment and
marking of a vehicle as are prescribed by or under the law of the United
Kingdom or of any other EEA State relating to type approval, provided that the
law in question of any other EEA State must be in compliance with measures
relating to type approval adopted by the European Communities.
unbraked wheeled
trailer
Any wheeled trailer other than one which is equipped with a braking system.
unladen weight
The weight of a vehicle or trailer inclusive of the body and all parts (the heavier
being taken where alternative bodies or parts are used) which are necessary to
or ordinarily used with the vehicle or trailer when working on a road, but
exclusive of the weight of water, fuel or accumulators used for the purpose of
the supply of power for the propulsion of the vehicle or, as the case may be, of
any vehicle by which the trailer is drawn, and of loose tools and loose
equipment.
unleaded petrol
Any petrol, the contamination of which by lead compounds, as calculated in
terms of lead, does not exceed 0.013 grams of lead per litre.
vehicle identification
number
A combination of characters assigned to a vehicle by a manufacturer for the
purpose of ensuring, without the need for further information, that the vehicle's
manufacturer, its place of origin, its general characteristics and its main
particulars may be identified.
wheeled
In relation to a vehicle, so constructed that the whole weight of the vehicle is
transmitted to the road surface by means of wheels.
wide tyre
A pneumatic tyre whose area of contact with the road surface is not less than 300
millimetres in width when measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of
the vehicle.
works trailer
A trailer designed for use in private premises and used on a road only —
(a) in delivering goods from or to such premises to or from a vehicle on
a road in the immediate neighbourhood; or
(b) in passing from one part of any such premises to another part or to
other private premises in the immediate neighbourhood; or
(c) in connection with road works while at or in the immediate
neighbourhood of the site of such works.
28
works truck
A motor vehicle designed for use in private premises and used on a road only —
(a) in delivering goods from or to such premises to or from a vehicle on
a road in the immediate neighbourhood; or
(b) in passing from one part of any such premises to another part or to
other private premises in the immediate neighbourhood; or
(c) in connection with road works while at or in the immediate
neighbourhood of the site of such works.
(2) A reference in these Regulations to any legislative provision of the
United Kingdom is a reference to that provision as it existed at the time
that these Regulations were made.
(3) For the purposes of these Regulations the date on which a motor
vehicle is first used is, -
(a) in the case of a vehicle specified in paragraph (4), the date
of manufacture; and
(b) in the case of any other vehicle which is registered, the
date on which it was registered.
(4) The vehicles mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) are —
(a) a vehicle which is being or has been used under a trade
licence (as defined in section 10 of the Registration Act)
otherwise than for the purpose of —
(i) a demonstration or testing of the vehicle, or
(ii) delivery of the vehicle from premises of the
manufacturer by which it was made, or from premises
of a vehicle distributor or dealer, to premises of a
vehicle distributor, dealer, user under a hire purchase or
leasing agreement, or purchaser;
(b) a vehicle which belongs or has belonged to the Crown and
which is or was used for military, naval or air force purposes;
(c) a vehicle which belongs or has belonged to a visiting force or a
headquarters or defence organisation to which in each case an
29
order under section 8 of the Visiting Forces Act 195216 (of
Parliament), as it has effect in the Island17, applies;
(d) a vehicle which has been used on roads outside the British
Islands before being imported into the British Islands; and
(e) a vehicle which has been used otherwise than on roads after
being sold or supplied by retail and before being registered.
(5) For the purposes of these Regulations other than regulations 26 to 34,
any 2 wheels of a motor vehicle or trailer shall be regarded as one
wheel if the distance laterally between the centres of the areas of
contact between such wheels and the road surface is less than 460 mm.
(6) For the purposes of these Regulations other than regulations 26 to 28
and 30 to 34, —
(a) when the number of axles of a vehicle is counted; and
(b) when the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by
any one axle of a vehicle is determined,
all the wheels of which the centres of the areas of contact with the road
surface can be included between any 2 transverse planes less than 0.5
m apart are to be treated as constituting one axle.
(7) For the purposes of these Regulations a reference to axles being closely
spaced is a reference to —
(a) 2 axles (not being part of a group of axles falling within sub-
paragraph (b) or (c)) which are spaced at a distance apart of not
more than 2.5 m;
(b) 3 axles (not being part of a group of axles falling within sub
paragraph (c)), the outermost of which are spaced at a distance
apart of not more than 3.25 m; or
(c) 4 or more axles, the outermost of which are spaced at a
distance apart of not more than 4.6 m,
16
1952 c. 67 17
SI 1962/170
30
where —
(i) the number of axles for the purposes of this paragraph is to be
determined in accordance with paragraph (6); and
(ii) a reference to any particular number of closely spaced axles is to
be construed accordingly.
(8) For the purposes of these Regulations the distance between any 2
axles shall be obtained by measuring the shortest distance between the
line joining the centres of the areas of contact with the road surface of
the wheels of one axle and the line joining the centres of the areas of
contact with the road surface of the wheels of the other axle when the
wheels are in the same longitudinal plane.
(9) For the purposes of regulations 36 and 82 only, a composite trailer is to
be treated as one trailer.
4 Application and exemptions
(1) Save where the context otherwise requires, these Regulations apply to
both wheeled vehicles and track-laying vehicles.
(2) Where a provision is applied by these Regulations to a motor vehicle
first used on or after a specified date, it does not apply to that vehicle if
it was manufactured at least 6 months before that date.
(3) Where an exemption from, or relaxation of, a provision is applied by
these Regulations to a motor vehicle first used before a specified date,
it also applies to a motor vehicle first used on or after that date if it was
manufactured at least 6 months before that date.
(4) Regulations 7, 10, 12, 18 to 23, 26 to 34, 42, 44, 47, 48, 50 to 56, 66, 70 to
75, 77 to 82, 84, and 88 to 93 do not apply to a vehicle manufactured
before 1 January 1906.
(5) Regulations 19 and 20(1) do not apply to a vehicle first used before 1
July 1931.
(6) Regulation 19(3)(b) does not apply to a vehicle first used before 1
August 1973.
31
(7) Regulations 25, 47, 48, 50, 53, 70 to 76, 80, 81, 86 and 88 to 93 do not
apply to —
(a) a vehicle proceeding to a port or airport for export;
(b) a vehicle brought temporarily into the Island by a person
resident outside the Island;
(c) a vehicle which has been purchased by a person who is
temporarily resident in the Island and is or is about to be
resident outside the Island and which has been zero rated with
respect to Value Added Tax; or
(d) a vehicle which belongs or has belonged to a visiting force or a
headquarters or defence organisation to which in each case an
order under section 8 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (of
Parliament), as it has effect in the Island, applies.
(8) Regulations 82, 84 and 87 do not apply to a vehicle of a kind described
in paragraph (7)(a).
(9) Regulation 19 does not apply to a vehicle described in paragraph (7)(b)
or (c).
(10) Regulations 19, 77 to 79, 82, 84 and 87 do not apply to a vehicle of a
kind described in paragraph (7)(d).
(11) Regulations 82, 84, 86, 87 and 90 do not apply to —
(a) a towing implement while it is attached to a vehicle drawing it,
provided that it is being drawn during the hours of daylight at a
speed of 20 mph or less; or
(b) a vehicle which is being drawn by a motor vehicle in the
exercise of a statutory power of removal.
(12) Apart from regulations 36, 37, 41 to 46, 54 to 67, 83 and 85, these
Regulations do not apply to a vehicle being tested on a road under Part
II of Schedule 2 to the Act.
(13) These Regulations do not apply to tramcars.
32
(14) Any reference to a broken down vehicle includes a reference to any
towing implement which is being used for the drawing of any such
vehicle.
(15) The Department being satisfied —
(a) that these Regulations should apply to vehicles registered under
the Registration Act before the expiration of one year from their
making; and
(b) that, notwithstanding that these Regulations will then apply to
those vehicles, no undue hardship or inconvenience will be
caused thereby,
paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 2 to the Act shall not apply to these
Regulations.
5 Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions) Act 1970
Nothing in these Regulations —
(a) whereby any vehicle or any of its parts or equipment is required
to be marked with a specification mark of the British Standards
Institution or with an approval mark; or
(b) whereby such a marking is treated as evidence of compliance
with a standard or instrument to which the marking relates,
is to be taken to authorise any person to apply any such marking to the
vehicle, part or equipment in contravention of the Consumer Protection
(Trade Descriptions) Act 197018.
PART 2 - MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
6 Brakes, steering gear, tracks, windscreen washers and wipers
(1) This regulation applies to —
(a) every braking system;
(b) the means of operation of that system;
18
Vol. XXI p.482
33
(c) all steering gear;
(d) the tracks (if any); and
(e) every windscreen washer and wiper,
fitted to a vehicle (in this regulation referred to as "the fitments").
(2) Every part of the fitments to which this regulation applies must be
maintained in good and efficient working order and must be properly
adjusted.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) any fault in an ABS fitted to a vehicle
is to be disregarded if the vehicle —
(a) is completing a journey at the beginning of which the ABS was
operating correctly; or
(b) is being driven to a place where the ABS is to undergo repairs.
7 Braking efficiencies of agricultural vehicles
(1) The brakes of —
(a) every agricultural motor vehicle first used on or after 1 June
1986 and driven at no more than 20 mph; and
(b) every agricultural trailer —
(i) manufactured on or after 1 December 1985, and
(ii) required to be fitted with brakes by regulation 38 of these
Regulations or by regulation 5 or 6 of the Construction,
Equipment and Weights Regulations,
must be so maintained as to be capable of achieving a braking
efficiency of not less than 25 per cent when the weight of the vehicle is
equal to its maximum gross weight.
(2) Schedule 2 has effect for prescribing the braking efficiencies of
wheeled agricultural motor vehicles (not being locomotives or motor
tractors) which are driven at more than 20 mph.
34
8 Glass or other transparent material
All glass or other transparent material fitted to a motor vehicle must be
maintained in such a condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver
while the vehicle is being driven on a road.
9 Mirrors
(1) Every motor vehicle must be fitted with the prescribed mirrors for the
purpose of affording the driver an adequate view of the road and
traffic to the rear while he or she is in control of the vehicle and in a
normal driving position.
(2) Every mirror fitted to a vehicle for the purpose to which paragraph (1)
refers, whether or not it is required to be fitted by that paragraph, must —
(a) be properly adjusted for that purpose;
(b) be maintained free from any obstruction or obvious defect; and
(c) be otherwise in compliance with the prescribed requirements.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation —
(a) the prescribed mirrors, in relation to a vehicle, are such mirror
or mirrors (if any) as are prescribed for fitting to that vehicle;
and
(b) the prescribed requirements, in relation to a mirror, are such
requirements (if any) as are prescribed for compliance by that
mirror,
in accordance with regulation 33 of the Construction and Use
Regulations19 as if that provision applied to the vehicle or mirror in
question.
(4) This regulation does not apply to a passenger car or dual-purpose
vehicle in respect of which single vehicle approval has been issued.
19 As substituted in the Schedule to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 4)
Regulations 2005, SI 2005/3165
35
10 Speedometers
(1) Every instrument for indicating speed fitted to a motor vehicle in
compliance with regulation 17 of the Construction, Equipment and
Weights Regulations must —
(a) at all material times be maintained in good working order; and
(b) be kept free from any obstruction which might prevent its being
easily read,
(2) However, it is a good defence in proceedings in respect of a
contravention of paragraph (a) to prove that —
(a) the defect occurred in the course of a journey during which the
contravention was detected; or
(b) at the time when the contravention was detected steps had
already been taken to have the defect remedied with all
reasonable expedition.
11 Seat belts and anchorage points etc
(1) This regulation applies to —
(a) every seat belt with which a motor vehicle is required to be
fitted in accordance with Schedule 5 to the Construction,
Equipment and Weights Regulations ("the Schedule");
(b) the anchorages, fastenings, adjusting device and retracting
mechanism (if any) of every such seat belt (the "fittings"); and
(c) every anchorage with which a goods vehicle is required to be
provided in accordance with item 4 of the table in paragraph
1(3) of the Schedule.
(2) The requirements specified in sub-paragraph (3) must be complied
with in relation to all seat belts, fittings and anchorages to which this
regulation applies.
(3) The requirements are that —
36
(a) all load-bearing members of the vehicle structure or panelling
within 30 cm of each anchorage point must be maintained in a
sound condition and free from serious corrosion, distortion or
fracture;
(b) the adjusting device and (if fitted) the retracting mechanism of
each seat belt must be so maintained that the belt may be readily
adjusted to the body of the wearer, either automatically or
manually, according to the design of the device and (if fitted)
the retracting mechanism;
(c) every seat belt and its anchorages, fastenings and adjusting
device must be maintained free from any obvious defect which
would be likely to affect adversely their effectiveness;
(d) the buckle or other fastening of every seat belt must —
(i) be so maintained that the belt can be readily
fastened or unfastened,
(ii) be kept free from any temporary or permanent
obstruction, and
(iii) except in the case of a disabled person's belt, be
readily accessible to a person sitting in the seat for
which the seat belt is provided;
(e) the webbing or other material which forms the seat belt must be
maintained free from cuts or other visible faults (such as
extensive fraying) which would be likely to affect adversely the
performance of the belt when under stress;
(f) the ends of every seat belt (other than a disabled person's belt)
must be securely fastened to the anchorage points provided for
them; and
(g) the ends of every disabled person's belt must, when the belt is
being used for the purpose for which it was designed and
constructed, be securely fastened —
(i) to some part of the structure of the vehicle, or
37
(ii) to the seat which is being occupied by the person wearing
the belt so that the body of the person wearing the belt
would be restrained in the event of an accident to the
vehicle.
(4) The anchorage points provided for seat belts must be used only as
anchorages for the seat belts for which they are intended to be used or
are capable of being used.
(5) For the purposes of this regulation the anchorages and anchorage
points of a seat belt include, in the case of a seat which incorporates
integral seat-belt anchorages, the system by which the seat assembly
itself is secured to the vehicle structure.
(6) Any expression used in this regulation and defined in the Schedule has
the same meaning here as it has there.
12 Miscellaneous components and devices
(1) This regulation applies to every component or device which is —
(a) specified in an item in column 2 of the following table; and
(b) fitted to a vehicle in compliance with a provision of the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations specified in
that item in column 3 of that table.
TABLE
1
Item
2
Component or device
3
Provision of the Construction,
Equipment and Weights
Regulations requiring the
fitment of the component
or device
1
Springs or resilient material
Regulation 12
2
Compensating arrangement for wheel
loads
Regulation 13
38
3
Motor cycle sidestand
Regulation 19
4
Fuel tank
Regulation 20
5
Rear under-run protective device
Regulation 24
6
Sideguard
Regulation 25
7
Wings
Regulation 31
8
Containment device or spray-
suppression system
Regulation 32
(2) Every component or device to which this regulation applies must at all
times be maintained free from any obvious defect that would be likely
to affect adversely its effectiveness.
(3) An expression which is used in an item in column 2 of the table and is
defined in a provision specified in that item in column 3 of that table
has the same meaning in this regulation as it has in that provision.
13 Silencers
Every exhaust system and silencer must be maintained in good and efficient
working order and must not have been altered after the date of manufacture
so as to increase the noise made by the escape of exhaust gases.
PART 3 - REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO USE ON ROADS
A - GENERAL
14 General
A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, a motor vehicle or
trailer on a road when —
(a) the condition of the motor vehicle or trailer, or of its accessories
or equipment, or
39
(b) the purpose for which it is used, or
(c) the number of passengers carried by it, or the manner in which
they are carried, or
(d) the weight, position or distribution of its load, or the manner in
which it is secured,
is such that the use of the motor vehicle or trailer causes or is likely to cause a
danger or nuisance to any person.
15 Unsafe alterations
A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a motor
vehicle or trailer which has been altered in an unsafe way since its date of
manufacture.
B - CONTROL OF NOISE
16 Avoidance of excessive noise — general
(1) A motor vehicle must not be used on a road in such a manner as to
cause any excessive noise.
(2) However, paragraph (1) does not apply to a vehicle if —
(a) the vehicle is being used in an emergency;
(b) the vehicle's engine is being revved so as to facilitate —
(i) the starting of the engine or its running immediately after
starting, or
(ii) the moving of the vehicle when the vehicle is immobile; or
(c) the noise from the vehicle would not be regarded by a reasonable
person as excessive.
17 Avoidance of excessive noise — motor cycles
(1) This regulation applies to —
40
(a) a moped; and
(b) a 2-wheeled motor cycle, whether or not with a sidecar
attached,
when used on a road.
(2) Any original silencer forming part of an exhaust system of a vehicle to
which this regulation applies must be marked with the 'e' mark.
(3) Any replacement silencer forming part of an exhaust system of a
vehicle to which this regulation applies must be marked with the 'e'
mark or the 'BS' mark.
(4) However, it is a good defence in proceedings for a contravention of
paragraph (2) or (3) to prove that —
(a) in the case of paragraph (2), the vehicle in question was first
used before 1 April 2003; and
(b) in the case of paragraph (3), the replacement silencer was fitted
to the vehicle before that date.
(5) No part of an exhaust system of a vehicle to which this regulation
applies shall have —
(a) been indelibly or durably marked by the manufacturer of that
part with the words "NOT FOR ROAD USE" or words to that
effect;
(b) had any such words otherwise affixed or applied to the part by
its manufacturer, whether in an easily removable form or not; or
(c) had any such marks erased or otherwise removed from the part
if its manufacturer has indelibly or durably marked them on it.
(6) For the purposes of this regulation a silencer forming part of an
exhaust system of a vehicle is not to be regarded as marked in
accordance with paragraph (2) or (3) if —
(a) the 'e' mark or the 'BS' mark is so obscured by any part of the
vehicle that it cannot be easily read; or
41
(b) that mark, or any indication given by that mark taken by itself
or as read with any other mark on the silencer, is false.
(7) In this regulation —
"'BS' mark" means the mark "BS AU 193a: 1990/T3" which is applied to a
replacement silencer at the time of its manufacture and indicates that
the silencer at that time complies with the British Standard
specification for replacement motor cycle and moped exhaust systems
published by the British Standards Institution under reference number
BS AU 193a: 1990;
"'e' mark" means the approval mark which is applied to a silencer at the
time of its manufacture —
(a) in the case of an original silencer, in accordance with sub-
paragraph 3.3 of Annex I to Community Directive 89/235, and
(b) in the case of a replacement silencer, in accordance with sub-
paragraph 3.1.3 of Annex II to that Directive,
and indicates that the silencer at that time conforms with a type in
respect of which approval has been granted pursuant to that
instrument;
"moped" has the meaning assigned to it in paragraph 5 of Schedule 10;
"original silencer", in relation to a vehicle, means a silencer which was
fitted to the vehicle when it was manufactured; and
"replacement silencer", in relation to a vehicle, means a silencer fitted to
the vehicle, not being an original silencer.
18 Stopping of engine and other machinery when stationary
(1) The driver of every motor vehicle must, when the vehicle is stationary,
stop —
(a) the engine of that vehicle; and
(b) the action of any other machinery attached to or forming part of
that vehicle,
42
so far as may be necessary for the prevention of noise.
(2) However, paragraph (1) does not apply —
(a) when the vehicle is used for ambulance, fire brigade or police
purposes;
(b) when the vehicle is stationary due to the necessities of traffic;
(c) when it is necessary to examine or run the engine or machinery —
(i) as a result of any failure or derangement of it, or
(ii) for a purpose (other than the driving of the vehicle) for
which the vehicle is designed or adapted;
(d) when the vehicle is propelled by gas produced in plant carried
on the vehicle; or
(e) when the vehicle is propelled by steam.
19 Warning of approach or position (fitments)
(1) This regulation applies to —
(a) every motor vehicle (other than an agricultural motor vehicle)
having a maximum speed exceeding 20 mph; and
(b) every agricultural motor vehicle being driven at a speed
exceeding 20 mph.
(2) Every vehicle to which this regulation applies must be fitted with a
horn, not being a reversing alarm, a boarding-aid alarm or a 2-tone
horn.
(3) Every horn fitted to a vehicle by virtue of paragraph (2) must —
(a) at all times be maintained in good working order; and
(b) when operated, emit a sound that is continuous and uniform
but not strident.
43
(4) A motor vehicle must not be fitted with a bell, gong, siren or 2-tone
horn unless the vehicle is —
(a) used for ambulance, civil defence, fire brigade or police
purposes;
(b) owned by a body formed primarily for the purposes of fire
salvage and used for those or similar purposes;
(c) used for the purposes of the Blood Transfusion Service provided
under the National Health Service Act 200120;
(d) used by the Isle of Man Coastguard for the purposes of aiding
persons in danger or vessels in distress on or near the coast;
(e) owned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and used for
the purposes of launching lifeboats;
(f) owned by the Secretary of State and used for the purposes of the
disposal of bombs or explosives; or
(g) owned by the Secretary of State and used by the Royal Air Force
Mountain Rescue Service for the purposes of rescue operations
in connection with crashed aircraft or any other emergencies.
(5) In this regulation and in regulations 20 and 21 references to a
bell, horn, gong or siren include references to any instrument or
apparatus capable of emitting a sound similar to that emitted by a bell,
horn, gong or siren.
20 Warning of approach or position (use requirements)
(1) A person must not sound, or cause or permit another to sound, any
bell, gong, siren or 2-tone horn fitted to or otherwise carried on a
vehicle (whether the vehicle is in motion or not).
(2) A person must not sound, or cause or permit another to sound, any
horn (not being a 2-tone horn) fitted to or otherwise carried on a
vehicle which —
20 2001 c. 14
44
(a) is stationary at any time on a road other than at times of danger
due to another moving vehicle; or
(b) is in motion between the hours of 23.30 pm and 07.00 am on a
road in relation to which a speed limit under section 23(1) of the
Regulation Act applies.
(3) However, nothing in paragraph (1) or (2) shall prevent the sounding of
an instrument or apparatus fitted to or otherwise carried on a vehicle at
a time when —
(a) the vehicle is being used for any of the purposes specified in
regulation 19(4); and
(b) it is necessary or desirable to warn other road users of the
urgency of the purposes for which the vehicle is being used.
21 Warning of theft or emergency
(1) Despite regulation 19(4), a motor vehicle may be fitted with a bell,
gong or siren for the purpose —
(a) of raising alarm as to the theft or attempted theft of the vehicle
or its contents; or
(b) of summoning help in an emergency —
(i) in the case of a bus, for the driver, the conductor or an
inspector, or
(ii) in any other case, for the driver or a passenger.
(2) Every —
(a) bell, gong or siren fitted for the purpose mentioned in
paragraph (1)(a) to a motor vehicle first used before 1
January 1999; and
(b) appliance fitted to a motor vehicle first used on or after 1
October 1982 and before 1 January 1999 so as to cause a
horn (not being a 2-tone horn) to sound for the purpose
mentioned in paragraph (1)a),
45
must be fitted with a device designed to stop the bell, gong,
siren or horn from emitting noise for a continuous period of
more than 5 minutes; and every such device must at all times be
maintained in good working order.
(3) A bell, gong or siren must not be fitted to a motor vehicle first used on
or after 1 January 1999 for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (1)(a).
(4) Every appliance fitted to a motor vehicle first used on or after 1
January 1999 so as to cause a horn or other instrument to sound for the
purpose mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) must comply with the
requirements set out in paragraph (5).
(5) The requirements are that the appliance —
(a) must be fitted with a device designed to stop the sound
continuing for more than 30 seconds, and every such device
must at all times be maintained in good working order; and
(b) must not repeat the noise mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) unless
that noise is required to prevent a further theft or a further
attempted theft of the vehicle or its contents.
(6) Nothing in regulation 20 prevents a bell, gong, siren or horn from
being sounded for a purpose specified in paragraph (1)(a) or (b).
22 Reversing alarms
(1) Despite regulation 19, a reversing alarm may be fitted to a goods
vehicle having a maximum gross weight of not less than 2000 kg, a bus,
engineering plant, a refuse vehicle or a works truck.
(2) Despite regulation 20, a reversing alarm may be sounded when —
(a) the vehicle to which it is fitted is moving backwards or is about
to move backwards; and
(b) its engine is running.
(3) However, a person must not sound, or cause or permit another to
sound, any reversing alarm fitted to a vehicle unless —
(a) the vehicle is of a kind to which paragraph (1) refers;
46
(b) the sound of the alarm is unlikely to be confused with a sound
emitted in the operation of a pedestrian crossing established, or
having effect as if established, under Part II of the Regulation
Act; and
(c) the sound of the alarm is not strident.
23 Boarding-aid alarms
(1) Despite of regulation 19, a boarding-aid alarm may be fitted to a bus.
(2) Despite of regulation 20, a boarding-aid alarm fitted to a bus may be
sounded if wheelchair users are using a power-operated lift or ramp
fitted to the bus for the purpose of boarding or alighting from it.
(3) However, a person must not sound, or cause or permit another to
sound, any boarding-aid alarm fitted to a bus unless the requirements
of regulation 22(3)(b) and (c) as if they apply to the alarm are met.
C - CONTROL OF OTHER EMISSIONS
24 Environmental pollutants
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any motor
vehicle on a road when any smoke, visible vapour, toxic gases, grit,
sparks, ashes, cinders or oily substance is emitted from that vehicle to
an excessive extent.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a vehicle if —
(a) the vehicle is being used in an emergency; or
(b) the vehicle's engine is being revved, or the vehicle's cold starting
device is being used, so as to facilitate —
(i) the starting of the engine or its running immediately after
starting, or
(ii) the moving of the vehicle when the vehicle is immobile.
47
25 Closets etc
A wheeled vehicle first used on or after 1 April 1934 must not be equipped
with any closet or urinal which can discharge directly on to a road.
D - TYRES
26 Approval marks
(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), paragraph (3) applies to a vehicle
which is —
(a) a dual-purpose vehicle;
(b) a motor cycle or a quadricycle; or
(c) a motor vehicle, being a goods vehicle or a passenger vehicle,
first used on or after 1 January 1933, and to a trailer manufactured on
or after 1 July 1932.
(2) Paragraph (3) does not apply to -
(a) engineering plant;
(b) a locomotive or motor tractor;
(c) a track-laying vehicle;
(d) a works trailer that is drawn at a speed not exceeding 18 mph;
(e) a works truck; or
(f) a motor vehicle with a maximum speed not exceeding 30 mph
or a trailer drawn by such a vehicle, not being in either case —
(i) an agricultural motor vehicle or an agricultural trailer, or
(ii) a vehicle of a class described in sub-paragraph (a), (b), (c),
(d) or (e).
(3) Every wheel of a vehicle to which this paragraph applies must be fitted
with —
48
(a) a tyre (not being a retreaded tyre) marked with an 'E' or 'e' mark;
or
(b) a retreaded tyre which –
(i) bears the 'BS' mark but no 'E' or 'e' mark, or
(ii) bears the retread 'E' mark but no other 'E' or 'e' mark.
(4) It is a good defence in proceedings in respect of a contravention of
paragraph (3) to prove that the wheel in question —
(a) was fitted with its tyre —
(i) before 1 June 2005 in the case of a tyre fitted to the wheel
of a quadricycle,
(ii) before 1 June 2005 in the case of a retreaded tyre fitted to
the wheel of a motor cycle, and
(iii) before 1 January 1999 in any other case; or
(b) was fitted with its tyre when single vehicle approval was
granted in respect of the vehicle, provided that such approval
was so granted not earlier than one year before the date on
which the vehicle was first imported into the Island.
(5) However, paragraph (3) does not apply to a wheel fitted with —
(a) a replacement tyre if the tyre is fitted to the wheel of a vehicle in
compliance with paragraph (7);
(b) a resilient tyre or a slick pneumatic tyre;
(c) a bias-belted tyre or a diagonal-ply tyre;
(d) a tyre which is constructed solely for use on a vehicle for the
purposes of tests or trials of the tyre and is being used by or on
behalf of its manufacturer for those purposes;
(e) a tyre bearing one of the following tyre-size designations,
namely: 185R16, 125R400, 135R400, 145R400, 155R400, 165R400,
49
175R400 or 185R400, being a mark that was moulded on to or
into the tyre at the time of manufacture;
(f) a tyre of speed category Q if the tyre is fitted to the wheel of a
goods vehicle (being a vehicle with a maximum gross weight
exceeding 3500 kg) or a bus;
(g) a tyre (not being a tyre to which sub-paragraph (h) refers) which
is designed so as to be capable of being fitted to a wheel of an
agricultural motor vehicle or agricultural trailer and is used at a
speed not exceeding 20 mph; or
(h) a tyre which —
(i) is designed so as to be capable of being fitted to a wheel
of an agricultural motor vehicle or agricultural trailer,
(ii) bears a speed category symbol and load-capacity index,
being marks that were moulded on to or into the tyre at
the time that it was manufactured,
(iii) is designed and manufactured so as to be capable of
operating safely at the speed and load indicated by those
marks, and
(iv) is used in the circumstances specified in paragraph (6).
(6) A tyre is used in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (5)(h)(iv)
when —
(a) the vehicle is driven or drawn at a speed that does not exceed
the speed indicated by the speed category symbol or 50 mph
(whichever is the lower); and
(b) the load on the tyre does not exceed the load indicated by the
load-capacity index.
(7) Save as provided in paragraph (8), any replacement tyre (not being a
retreaded tyre or a part-worn tyre) which is fitted on or after 1 July
2014 to a wheel of —
(a) a dual-purpose vehicle;
50
(b) a goods vehicle, being a motor vehicle;
(c) a passenger vehicle with 4 or more wheels; or
(d) a trailer constructed or adapted for use with any of those
vehicles,
must be marked with an 'S' mark.
(8) Paragraph (7) does not apply to —
(a) a tyre designed to be fitted to a wheel of any such vehicle
manufactured before 1 April 1980;
(b) a tyre whose speed rating is less than 80 km/h;
(c) a tyre whose nominal rim diameter does not exceed 254 mm or
exceeds 634 mm; or
(d) a T-type temporary-use spare tyre.
(9) In this regulation —
"bias-belted tyre" and "diagonal-ply tyre" have the meanings given in
regulation 30;
"'BS' mark" means the mark `BS AU 144e' which is applied to a tyre at
the time of retreading and indicates that the tyre at that time complies
with the requirements of the British Standard Automobile Series:
Specification for retreaded car and commercial vehicle tyres published
by the British Standards Institution under reference BS AU 144c: 1988
on 30 September 1988 as amended by Amendment No. 1 (reference
AMD 6592) published on 31 August 1990 and by Amendment No. 2
(reference AMD 7506) published on 15 December 1992;
"'E' or 'e' mark" means an approval mark of a description specified in
ECE Regulation 30, 30.01, 30.02, 54, 64 or 75 or in Community Directive
92/23 or 2001/43 which is applied to a tyre at the time of manufacture
and indicates that the tyre at that time conforms with a type in respect
of which approval has been granted pursuant to that instrument, and
"'S' mark" means an approval mark of a description specified in ECE
Regulation 117.01 or in Community Directive 2001/43 which is so
applied and provides such an indication;
51
"load-capacity index" has the same meaning as in paragraph 2.28 of
Annex II to Community Directive 92/23 or paragraph 2.27 of ECE
Regulation 54;
"nominal rim diameter" has the same meaning as in paragraph 2.18 of
Annex II to Community Directive 92/23;
"part-worn tyre" means a tyre that is not new when fitted;
"replacement tyre" means any tyre that replaces a tyre fitted to a wheel
of a vehicle mentioned in paragraph (7);
"retread 'E' mark" means an approval mark of a description specified in
ECE Regulation 108 or 109 which is applied to a tyre at the time of its
manufacture and indicates that the tyre at that time conforms with a
type in respect of which approval has been granted pursuant to that
instrument;
"rim" has the same meaning as in paragraph 2.19 of Annex II to
Community Directive 92/23;
"speed category" has the same meaning as in paragraph 2.29 of Annex
II to Community Directive 92/23 or paragraph 2.28 of ECE Regulation
54; and
"T-type temporary-use spare tyre" has the same meaning as in
paragraph 2.3.6 of Annex II to Community Directive 92/23.
27 Condition of tyres (other than tyre tread depth and pattern)
(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), a person must not use,
or cause or permit another to use, on a road a pneumatic tyre fitted to
a wheel of a motor vehicle or trailer unless the tyre —
(a) is suitable having regard to the use to which the motor
vehicle or trailer is being put or to the types of tyres fitted to its
other wheels;
(b) is so inflated as to make it fit for the use to which the motor
vehicle or trailer is being put;
52
(c) has no cut in excess of 25 mm or 10 per cent of the section width
of the tyre, whichever is the greater, measured in any direction
on the outside of the tyre and deep enough to reach the ply or
cord;
(d) has no lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial
failure of its structure;
(e) has none of the ply or cord exposed; and
(f) is maintained in such a condition as to be fit for the use to which
the motor vehicle or trailer is being put or has no defect which
might in any way cause damage to the surface of the road or
danger to persons on or in vehicle or to other persons using the
road.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not prohibit the use on a road of a motor vehicle or
trailer by reason only that a wheel of the vehicle or trailer is fitted with
a tyre which is deflated or not fully inflated and which fails to comply
with paragraph (1)(c), (d) or (e), provided that —
(a) the tyre and the wheel to which it is fitted are so constructed as
to make the tyre in that condition fit for the use to which the
motor vehicle or trailer is being put; and
(b) the outer sides of the wall of the tyre are so marked as to
enable the tyre to be identified as having been constructed to
comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
(3) Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply to a temporary use spare tyre fitted to
a wheel of a passenger vehicle (not being a bus) unless the vehicle is
driven at a speed exceeding 50 mph.
4) Nothing in paragraph (1)(a) to (e) applies to -
(a) a tyre which is designed so as to be capable of being fitted to a
wheel of an agricultural motor vehicle or agricultural trailer and
is used at a speed not exceeding 20 mph; or
(b) a tyre fitted to a wheel of a broken down vehicle or a vehicle
proceeding to a place where it is to be broken up, being drawn,
in either case, by a motor vehicle at a speed not exceeding 20
mph.
53
28 Tyre tread depth and pattern
(1) A pneumatic tyre fitted to a wheel of a motor vehicle or trailer must, if
the vehicle is of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the following
table, comply with such requirements relating to tyre tread depth and
pattern as are prescribed in that item in column 3, subject to the
exemptions shown in that item in column 4.
TABLE
1
Item
2
Class of vehicle
3
Prescribed requirements
as to tyre tread depth
and pattern
4
Exemptions
1
A motor vehicle or trailer,
being —
(a) a passenger vehicle
(other than a motor
cycle) constructed
or adapted to carry
no more than 8
seated passengers
in addition to the
driver;
(b) a dual-purpose
vehicle;
(c) a light goods
vehicle; or
(d) a light trailer,
first used on or after 1
January 1933.
The grooves of the tread
pattern of the tyre
must have a depth of at
least 1.6 mm throughout a
continuous band
comprising the central ¾ of
the breadth of tread and
encompassing the entire
outer circumference of the
tyre.
(i) a tyre which is
designed so as to be
capable of being
fitted to a wheel of
an agricultural
motor vehicle or
agricultural trailer
and is used at a
speed not exceeding
20 mph;
(ii) a tyre fitted to a
wheel of a broken
down vehicle or a
vehicle proceeding
to a place where it is
to be broken up,
being drawn, in
either case, by a
motor vehicle at a
speed not
exceeding 20 mph;
(iii) a tyre fitted to a
wheel of a
pedestrian-
controlled works
truck.
54
2
A motor vehicle or trailer
not falling within item 1.
Either —
(a) the grooves of the
tread pattern of the
tyre must have a
depth of not less than
1 mm throughout a
continuous band
comprising at least
¾ of the breadth of
tread and encom-
passing the entire
outer circumference
of the tyre; or
(b) if the grooves of the
original tread pattern
of the tyre did not
extend to ¾ of the
breadth of tread, all
those grooves must
have a depth of not
less than 1 mm.
(i) a tyre to which
paragraph (i), (ii) or
(iii) in column 4 of
item 1 refers;
(ii) a tyre fitted to a
wheel of a 3-
wheeled motor cycle
if the vehicle's
unladen weight does
not exceed 102 kg
and it has a
maximum speed of
12 mph or less;
(iii) a tyre fitted to a
wheel of a motor
cycle with an engine
capacity not
exceeding 50 cc.
3
Any motor vehicle or
trailer
The base of any groove
which showed in the
original tread pattern of
the tyre must be clearly
visible.
A tyre —
(i) to which paragraph
(iii) in column 4 of
item 1 refers, or
(ii) to which paragraph
(ii) in column 4 of item
2 refers.
(2) The references in this regulation to grooves are references —
(a) if a tyre has been retreaded, to the grooves which showed when
the tyre was retreaded;
(b) if a tyre has been recut, to the grooves of the manufacturer's
recut tread pattern;
(c) if a tyre has been partially recut, —
55
(i) to the grooves of the manufacturer's recut tread pattern
on that part which has been recut, and
(ii) to the grooves which showed on the other part when the
tyre was new; and
(d) if a tyre has not been recut or retreaded, to the grooves which
showed when the tyre was new.
(3) The reference in this regulation to first use shall, in relation to a trailer,
be taken as a reference to a trailer manufactured on or after 1 July
1932.
29 Tyre loads
(1) This regulation applies to every wheeled vehicle which is -
(a) an agricultural motor vehicle;
(b) a passenger vehicle;
(c) engineering plant;
(d) a motor vehicle being a goods vehicle; and
(e) a works truck,
first used on or after 1 January 1999, and to a wheeled trailer
manufactured on or after 1 July 1998.
(2) Each axle of the vehicle must be fitted with tyres which, as respects
strength, are designed, manufactured and maintained adequately to
support the maximum laden axle weight for the axle.
(3) However, paragraph (2) does not apply to any axle of a vehicle fitted
with tyres if the vehicle is —
(a) broken down or proceeding to a place where it is to be broken
up; and
(b) being drawn by a motor vehicle at a speed not exceeding 20
mph.
56
30 Mixing of tyres
(1) Save as provided in paragraph (5), a person must not use, or cause or
permit another to use, on a road pneumatic tyres of different
types of structure fitted to the same axle of a wheeled vehicle.
(2) Save as provided in paragraph (3) or (5), a person must not use, or
cause or permit another to use, on a road a wheeled motor vehicle
with only 2 axles, each of which is equipped with one or 2 single
wheels, if —
(a) a diagonal-ply tyre or a bias-belted tyre is fitted on its rear axle
and a radial-ply tyre is fitted on its front axle; or
(b) a diagonal-ply tyre is fitted on its rear axle and a bias-belted tyre
is fitted on its front axle.
(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to —
(a) a vehicle to an axle of which there are fitted wide tyres not
specially constructed for use on engineering plant; or
(b) a vehicle which has a maximum speed not exceeding 30 mph.
(4) Save as provided in paragraph (5), a person must not use, or cause or
permit another to use, on a road pneumatic tyres fitted to —
(a) the steerable axles of a wheeled vehicle; or
(b) the driven axles of a wheeled vehicle, not being steerable axles,
unless all tyres fitted to the axles in question are of the same type of
structure.
(5) Paragraphs (1), (2) and (4) do not prohibit the use of a temporary use
spare tyre fitted to a wheel of a passenger vehicle (not being a bus)
unless the vehicle is driven at a speed exceeding 50 mph.
(6) In this regulation —
"axle" includes —
57
(a) 2 or more stub axles which are fitted on opposite sides of the
longitudinal axis of the vehicle so as to form —
(i) a pair in the case of 2 stub axles, and
(ii) pairs in the case of more than 2 stub axles, and
(b) a single stub axle which is not one of a pair;
"bias-belted tyre" means a pneumatic tyre, the structure of which is
such that the ply cords extend to the bead so as to be laid at alternate
angles of substantially less than 90 degrees to the peripheral line of the
tread, and are constrained by a circumferential belt comprising 2 or
more layers of substantially inextensible cord material laid at alternate
angles smaller than those of the ply cord structure;
"diagonal-ply tyre" means a pneumatic tyre, the structure of which is
such that the ply cords extend to the bead so as to be laid at alternate
angles of substantially less than 90 degrees to the peripheral line of the
tread, but not being a bias-belted tyre;
"driven axles" means axles through which power is transmitted from
the engine of a vehicle to the wheels on those axles;
"radial-ply tyre" means a pneumatic tyre, the structure of which is such
that the ply cords extend to the bead so as to be laid at an angle of
substantially 90 degrees to the peripheral line of the tread, the ply cord
structure being stabilised by a substantially inextensible circum-
ferential belt;
"stub axle" means an axle on which only one wheel is mounted; and
"type of structure", in relation to a tyre, means a type of structure of a
tyre of a kind defined in this paragraph.
31 Temporary use spare tyres
A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
temporary use spare tyre fitted to a wheel of a vehicle unless either —
(a) the vehicle is a passenger vehicle (not being a bus) first used
before 1 April 1987; or
58
(b) the vehicle complies —
(i) at the time of its first use, with ECE Regulation 64 or
Community Directive 92/23, and
(ii) thereafter, with the ongoing requirements of that
Regulation or Directive.
32 Recut tyres
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any recut pneumatic tyre fitted to a wheel of a motor vehicle or
trailer unless —
(a) the tyre was designed for recutting and is clearly and indelibly
marked by the manufacturer with the word "REGROOVABLE";
(b) no ply or cord of the tyre has been cut or exposed by the
recutting process; and
(c) to the extent that the tyre has been recut, it has been recut in the
manufacturer's recut tread pattern.
(2) In this regulation "recut" and "recutting" mean "regrooved" and
"regrooving" respectively.
33 Slick tyres
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any slick pneumatic tyre fitted to a wheel of a motor vehicle or trailer,
being a tyre which has been cut after the date of manufacture,
unless —
(a) the tyre was designed for cutting and is clearly and indelibly
marked by the manufacturer with the word "GROOVABLE";
(b) no ply or cord of the tyre has been cut or exposed by the cutting
process; and
(c) to the extent that the tyre has been cut, it has been cut in the
tread pattern prescribed by the manufacturer for that tyre.
59
(2) In this regulation "cut" and "cutting" mean "grooved" and "grooving"
respectively.
34 Tyre repairs
(1) If a pneumatic tyre fitted to the wheel of a motor vehicle or trailer has
been repaired, the requirements of BS AU 159f: 1997 must have been
met in relation to the repair.
(2) However, it is a good defence in proceedings in respect of a
contravention of paragraph (1) to prove that the tyre in question —
(a) was repaired outside the Island;
(b) was repaired before 1 January 1999; or
(c) was properly repaired before 1 June 2005 and the requirements
of paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of BS AU 159e: 1990 have been met
in relation to the repair.
(3) This regulation does not apply to —
(a) a tyre designed primarily for fitting to a wheel of a vehicle
manufactured before 1 January 1933;
(b) a tyre of the limited run-flat type; or
(c) a tyre designed so as to be capable of being fitted to a wheel of
an agricultural motor vehicle or an agricultural trailer.
(4) In this regulation —
"BS AU 159e: 1990" means the British Standard Automobile Series:
Specification for repairs to tyres for motor vehicles used on the public
highway published by the British Standards Institution under reference
BS AU 159d: 1990 as amended by Amendment No. 1 (reference AMD
8216) published on 15 June 1994; and
"BS AU 159f: 1997" means the British Standard Automobile Series:
Specification for repairs to tyres for motor vehicles used on the public
highway published by the British Standards Institution under reference
BS AU 159f: 1997 on 15 December 1997.
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E - TRACKS
35 Condition of tracks
A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, a track-laying
vehicle on a road if the condition of the tracks is such that the use of the
vehicle causes or is likely to cause damage to the surface of the road or danger
to any person.
F - TRAILERS
36 Number
(1) No trailer shall be drawn on a road by a vehicle of a class specified in
an item in column 2 of the following table unless the trailer or trailers
are of a number and description specified in that item in column 3.
TABLE
1
Item
2
Class of vehicle
3
Number and description of permitted trailers
1
An invalid carriage
—
2
A bus not being a minibus
(a) 1 broken down bus where no person other
than the driver is carried in either vehicle;
or
(b) 1 trailer.
3
A locomotive
Not exceeding 3 trailers.
4
A motor tractor
(a) 1 trailer; or
(b) not exceeding 2 trailers if neither is laden.
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5
A heavy motor car or a motor
car not described in item 2
(a) not exceeding 2 trailers if one of them is a
towing implement and part of the other is
secured to and rests on or is suspended
from that implement; or
(b) 1 trailer in any other case.
6
An agricultural motor vehicle
(a) as respects trailers other than agricultural
trailers, such trailers as are permitted
under item 3, 4 or 5 above, as the case may
be, depending on the application of that
item to them; or
(b) as respects agricultural trailers, not
exceeding 2 agricultural trailers, one of
which must be unladen.
(2) For the purposes of items 3, 4, 5 and 6 of that table —
(a) an unladen articulated vehicle, when being drawn by another
motor vehicle because it has broken down, is to be treated as a
single trailer; and
(b) a towed roller used for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture
or forestry and consisting of several separate rollers is to be
treated as one agricultural trailer.
(3) A trailer must not be drawn on a road by a track-laying motor vehicle
exceeding 8 m in overall length unless the trailer is a broken down
vehicle which is being drawn in consequence of a breakdown.
(4) For the purposes of this regulation the word "trailer" does not include a
vehicle drawn by a steam-powered vehicle and used solely for carrying
water for the purposes of the drawing vehicle.
37 Trailers drawn by motor cycles
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
motor cycle which —
(a) draws behind it more than one trailer;
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(b) draws behind it any trailer carrying a passenger;
(c) draws behind it any trailer with an unladen weight exceeding
254 kg;
(d) in the case of a 2-wheeled motor cycle with a sidecar attached,
draws behind it any trailer having an overall width exceeding
1.5 m; or
(e) in the case of a 2-wheeled motor cycle without a sidecar
attached, draws behind it any trailer unless —
(i) the trailer has an overall width not exceeding 1 m,
(ii) the distance between the rear axle of the motor cycle and
the rearmost part of the trailer does not exceed 2.5 m,
(iii) the motor cycle is clearly and indelibly marked in a
conspicuous and readily accessible position with its
kerbside weight,
(iv) the trailer is clearly and indelibly marked in a
conspicuous and readily accessible position with its
unladen weight, and
(v) the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed 150 kg or
⅔ of the kerbside weight of the motor cycle,
whichever is the less.
(2) However, sub-paragraphs (b), (d) and (e) of paragraph (1) do not apply
if the trailer is a broken down motor cycle and one passenger is riding
it.
38 Braking systems of trailers drawn by agricultural motor vehicles
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
wheeled agricultural motor vehicle drawing one or more wheeled
trailers when the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle is less than a
¼ of the gross weight of the trailer or trailers unless —
(a) each trailer has a braking system which complies with —
63
(i) the construction, fitting and performance requirements
referred to in regulation 5(1), (3), (8) or (9) of the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations, or
(ii) the requirements referred to in regulation 6(5) or (6) of
those Regulations,
even though the trailer may be exempted from having such a
system by regulation 5(4) or 6(4) of those Regulations; and
(b) the brakes comprised in that system are operated directly by the
service braking system fitted to the motor vehicle.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any motor vehicle drawing an agricultural trailer of which —
(a) more than 35 per cent of the gross weight is borne by the
drawing vehicle; or
(b) the maximum gross weight exceeds 14,230 kg,
unless that trailer is fitted with a braking system as mentioned in
paragraph (1)(a) and (b).
(3) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road an
agricultural trailer manufactured on or after 1 July 1998, and drawn by
a motor vehicle first used on or after 1 January 1999, unless the brakes
comprised in any braking system required by regulation 5 of the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations to be fitted to the
trailer —
(a) are subject to a means of operation mounted on the drawing
vehicle and can be applied progressively by the driver of the
drawing vehicle from his or her normal driving position without
adverse effect on the driver's proper control of that vehicle; or
(b) automatically come into operation on the over-run of the trailer.
39 Application of brakes on trailers
(1) Without limiting regulation 38(3), a trailer must not be drawn by a
motor vehicle unless the driver (or, in the case of a locomotive, one of
the persons employed in driving or tending the locomotive) is in a
64
position to operate readily, not only the brakes of the motor vehicle,
but also such brakes (if any) as are required to be fitted to the trailer by —
(a) regulation 38(1) or (2); or
(b) regulation 5 or 6 of the Construction, Equipment and Weights
Regulations.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to a trailer when —
(a) a person other than the driver of the motor vehicle (or, in the
case of a locomotive, a person other than one of the persons
employed in driving or tending the locomotive) is in a position,
and is competent, to apply efficiently any such brakes as are so
required to be fitted to the trailer;
(b) the trailer, in compliance with a provision referred to in
paragraph (1)(a) or (b), is fitted with brakes which automatically
come into operation on the over-run of the trailer; or
(c) the trailer is a broken down vehicle being drawn, whether or not
in consequence of a breakdown, in such a manner that it cannot
be steered by its own steering gear.
40 Electrical connection between a drawing vehicle and trailer for the purpose
of ABS
(1) This regulation applies to a combination of a goods vehicle and a
trailer where each vehicle —
(a) has a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500 kg; and
(b) is fitted with ABS and an ISO 7638 connector to provide a
dedicated power supply to the ABS.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
combination to which this regulation applies unless the
connectors to which paragraph (1)(b) refers are used, regardless of any
alternative method available on the vehicles in question to provide
such power.
65
(3) In this regulation "ISO 7638 connector" means an electrical connector
which complies with Standard ISO 7638: 1997-1 or ISO 7638: 1997-2
published by the International Organisation for Standardisation.
41 Distance between vehicles and trailers
(1) When a trailer is attached to the vehicle immediately in front of it by
means of a rope or chain, the distance between the trailer and that
vehicle must not —
(a) in any case exceed 4.5 m; and
(b) exceed 1.5 m unless the rope or chain is made clearly visible to
any other person using the road within a reasonable distance
from either side.
(2) For the purpose of determining the distance between the 2 vehicles —
(a) any part of either vehicle designed primarily for use as a means
of attaching the one vehicle to the other; and
(b) any fitting designed for use in connection with any such part,
is to be disregarded.
42 Use of secondary coupling on light trailers
(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5), this regulation applies to
every wheeled light trailer which —
(a) is being drawn on a road by a motor vehicle; and
(b) is manufactured on or after 1 July 1998.
(2) The trailer must be coupled, by a main coupling and a secondary
coupling to the motor vehicle drawing it, in such a way that the brakes
of the trailer are applied automatically by the secondary coupling in
the event of the separation of the main coupling.
(3) Instead of complying with paragraph (2), the trailer may, if it has a
maximum gross weight not exceeding 1500 kg, be coupled, by a main
coupling and a secondary coupling to the motor vehicle drawing it, in
66
such a way that, in the event of the separation of the main coupling, the
secondary coupling —
(a) prevents the drawbar of the trailer from touching the ground;
and
(b) provides some residual steering of the trailer.
(4) This regulation does not apply to a light trailer fitted with a device
which is designed to stop the trailer, in the absence of a secondary
coupling, in the event of the separation of the coupling linking the
trailer to the drawing vehicle.
(5) This regulation does not apply to a light trailer set out in paragraph (6)
unless it is fitted with a secondary coupling.
(6) A trailer to which paragraph (5) refers is —
(a) an agricultural trailer that is drawn at a speed not exceeding 20
mph;
(b) a works trailer;
(c) a trailer (not being an agricultural trailer) which is designed and
constructed, or adapted, to be drawn exclusively by —
(i) a locomotive or motor tractor,
(ii) a public works vehicle,
(iii) a vehicle which has a maximum speed not exceeding 25
km/h, or
(iv) a works truck;
(d) a trailer which —
(i) is designed and used for street cleansing and does not
carry any load other than its necessary gear and
equipment,
(ii) is drawn by a motor cycle in accordance with regulation
37, or
67
(iii) is a broken down vehicle; or
(e) a gritting trailer with a maximum gross weight not exceeding
2000 kg,
being in each case a light trailer.
43 Unbraked trailers
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, an unbraked
wheeled trailer on a road if —
(a) its laden weight exceeds its maximum gross weight; or
(b) it is drawn by a vehicle whose kerbside weight is less than twice
the sum of the unladen weight of the trailer and the weight of
any load which the trailer is carrying.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to -
(a) a trailer which is designed and used for street cleansing and
does not carry any load other than its necessary gear and
equipment;
(b) an agricultural trailer;
(c) a broken down vehicle;
(d) a trailer drawn by a motor cycle in accordance with regulation
37; or
(e) a gritting trailer with a maximum gross weight not exceeding
2000 kg.
44 Use of bridging plates between motor vehicles and trailers
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road —
(a) any motor vehicle constructed for the purpose of carrying other
vehicles; or
(b) any trailer constructed for that purpose,
68
if, while such a vehicle or trailer is on a road, any part of the weight of
any vehicle which is being carried rests on a bridging plate.
(2) However, paragraph (1) does not apply while —
(a) the motor vehicle or trailer constructed for the purpose of
carrying other vehicles is being loaded or unloaded; or
(b) the bridging plate is folded or withdrawn so that it does not
bridge the gap between the motor vehicle and the trailer.
45 Leaving trailers at rest
A person in charge of a trailer must not cause or permit it to stand on a road
when detached from its drawing vehicle unless —
(a) one or more of the wheels of the trailer; or
(b) in the case of a track-laying trailer, the tracks,
are prevented from revolving by the setting of a parking brake or the use of a
chain, chock or other efficient device.
46 Passengers in trailers
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any trailer for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward.
(2) However, paragraph (1) does not apply in respect of a wheeled trailer
which is, or is carrying, a broken down motor vehicle if —
(a) the trailer is drawn at a speed not exceeding 30 mph; and
(b) in a case where the trailer is, or is carrying, a broken down bus,
it is attached to the drawing vehicle by a rigid draw bar.
(3) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any wheeled trailer (being a living van) which has —
(a) fewer than 4 wheels; or
(b) 4 wheels consisting of 2 close-coupled wheels on each side,
69
if a passenger is carried in that vehicle.
(4) However, paragraph (3) does not apply to a trailer which is being
tested by —
(a) its manufacturer;
(b) a person by whom it has been, or is being repaired; or
(c) a distributor of, or dealer in, trailers.
G - MINIBUSES AND BUSES
47 Fire extinguishing apparatus on minibuses
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
minibus first used on or after 1 April 1988 unless it carries suitable and
efficient apparatus —
(a) for extinguishing fire; and
(b) of a type specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3.
(2) The apparatus to which paragraph (1) refers must —
(a) be readily available for use;
(b) be clearly marked with the appropriate British Standards
Institution specification mark; and
(c) be maintained in good and efficient working order.
48 First-aid equipment on minibuses
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, a minibus
first used on or after 1 April 1988 unless it carries a receptacle
containing the items specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 ("the specified
items").
(2) The receptacle to which paragraph (1) refers must —
(a) be maintained in a good condition;
70
(b) be suitable for keeping the specified items in good condition;
(c) be readily available for use; and
(d) be prominently marked as a first-aid receptacle.
(3) The specified items must be maintained in good condition and must be —
(a) of a good and reliable quality; and
(b) of a suitable design.
49 Carriage of dangerous substances on minibuses
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
minibus carrying any highly inflammable or otherwise dangerous
substance unless the substance —
(a) is carried in containers so designed and constructed; and
(b) is so packed,
that, even if there is an accident to the vehicle, the substance is unlikely
to cause any damage to the vehicle or injury to any passenger.
(2) However, paragraph (1) does not apply to the electrolyte of a battery
installed in an electric wheelchair provided that the wheelchair is
securely fixed to the vehicle.
50 Minibuses and coaches to be fitted with additional seat belts when used in
certain circumstances
(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2) and (4), a person must not use, or
cause or permit another to use, on a road a minibus or coach carrying a
group of 3 or more children if the appropriate number of forward-
facing passenger seats fitted to the vehicle fail to meet the
requirements of this regulation.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a minibus or coach unless —
(a) the group of children is on an organised trip; and
71
(b) the journey is being made for the purposes of the trip.
(3) Without limiting paragraph (2)(a), a group of children is, for the
purposes of this regulation, to be also regarded as being on an
organised trip if they are being carried to or from their school or
from one part of their school premises to another.
(4) Without limiting the meaning of paragraph (2)(b), paragraph (1)
does not apply to a vehicle which is also being used at the same time to
provide a regular service or service of that kind under a licence granted
under any enactment.
(5) For a forward-facing passenger seat to meet the requirements of this
regulation there must be provided for it a seat belt which —
(a) complies with the requirements of a specified British Standard
and is marked with its specification mark and the registered
certification trade mark of the British Standards Institution; or
(b) complies with the requirements of a corresponding standard,
and which has anchorage points complying with the technical and
installation requirements of —
(i) Community Directive 76/115, 81/575, 82/318, 90/629 or 96/38, or
(ii) ECE Regulation 14, 14.01, 14.02, 14.03, 14.04 or 14.05,
whether or not the requirements specified in sub-paragraph (a), (b), (i)
or (ii) apply to the vehicle in question.
(6) For the purposes of this regulation a rearward-facing seat is to be
treated as a forward-facing seat and meets the requirements of this
regulation if —
(a) the minibus or coach in question is first used on or after 1
November 2001; and
(b) the rearward-facing seat complies with the requirements of
Schedule 5 to the Construction, Equipment and Weights
Regulations.
72
(7) In this regulation —
"appropriate number" means the same as the number of children being
carried in the vehicle (excluding disabled children in wheelchairs);
"child" means a person who is aged 3 years or more but less than 16
years;
"corresponding standard" means, in relation to a specified British
Standard, —
(a) a standard or code of practice of a national standards body or
equivalent body of any EEA State;
(b) any measure adopted by the European Communities or the
United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe;
(c) any other international standard recognised for use as a
standard by any EEA State; or
(d) a technical specification recognised for use as a standard by a
public authority of any EEA State,
where the standard, code of practice, measure, international standard
or technical specification provides, in relation to seat belts, a level of
safety equivalent to that provided by the British Standard and contains
a requirement as respects the marking of seat belts equivalent to that
provided by the British Standard;
"regular service" means a regular service within the meaning of
regulation 46(2) of the Buses (Carriage of Passengers for Hire or
Reward) (Construction and Use) Regulations 200121;
"school" has the same meaning as in the Education Act 200122; and
"specified British Standard" means any of the following British
Standards for Seat Belt Assemblies for Motor Vehicles, namely —
(a) in the case of a seat belt for an adult, BS 3254: 1960 or BS 3254:
Part 1: 1988; or
21 SD 100/01 22 2001 c. 33
73
(b) in the case of a child restraint, BS 3254: 1960 (whether or not
amended by Amendment No 16 published on 31 July 1986
under reference number AMD 5210), BS 3254: Part 2: 1988, BS
3254: Part 2: 1991, BS AU 185, 186 or 186a, or BS AU 202 or 202a.
H - TAXIS AND CERTAIN OTHER HIRE CARS
51 Supplementary provision for taxis and certain other hire cars
A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, a public passenger
vehicle on a road if -
(a) it is a passenger car with 4 or more wheels; and
(b) the requirements applying to it in Schedule 4 are not met.
I - SIDECARS
52 Sidecars
Every sidecar fitted to a motor cycle must be so attached that the wheel of the
sidecar is not wholly outside the space between transverse planes passing
through the foremost point and rearmost point of the motor cycle.
J - FUEL
53 Unleaded petrol
(1) This regulation applies to every motor vehicle which —
(a) is propelled by a spark ignition engine which is designed and
constructed to run on unleaded petrol; and
(b) is first used on or after 1 January 1999.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any vehicle to which this regulation applies if —
(a) the engine has been deliberately altered or adjusted to run on
leaded petrol; and
74
(b) as a result of being so altered or adjusted, it is incapable of
running on unleaded petrol.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation an engine is to be regarded as being
incapable of running on unleaded petrol at any one time if and only if
in its state of adjustment at that time it would be damaged by
prolonged continuous running on such petrol.
K - USE OF GAS PROPULSION SYSTEMS, GAS-FIRED APPLIANCES
AND GAS WARNING SIGNS
54 Use of gas propulsion systems
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any vehicle fitted with a gas propulsion system unless the whole of
that system is in a safe condition.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any fuel,
except liquefied petroleum gas, in any gas propulsion system with
which a vehicle on a road is fitted.
(3) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any vehicle propelled by liquefied petroleum gas unless the container
in which the gas is stored is situated —
(a) on the motor vehicle, and not on any trailer; and
(b) in the case of an articulated vehicle, on the portion of the vehicle
to which the engine is fitted.
55 Use of gas-fired appliances — general
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any gas-fired
appliance in or on a vehicle on a road unless the whole of the appliance
and of the gas system to which it is attached is in an efficient and safe
condition.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any fuel,
except liquefied petroleum gas, in any gas-fired appliance in or on a
vehicle on a road.
75
(3) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any gas-fired
appliance in or on a vehicle on a road unless the vehicle is so ventilated
that —
(a) an ample supply of air is available for the operation of the
appliance;
(b) the use of the appliance does not adversely affect the health or
comfort of any person using the vehicle;
(c) any unburnt gas is safely transferred to the outside of the
vehicle for disposal there.
(4) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any gas-fired
appliance in or on a vehicle on a road unless the supply of gas to the
appliance is automatically shut off in the event that the appliance
malfunctions and causes gas to be emitted.
(5) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any vehicle equipped with —
(a) one gas-fired appliance unless the gas supply for the appliance
is shut off at the point where it leaves the container or containers
at all times when the appliance is not in use;
(b) 2 or more gas-fired appliances, each of which has the same
supply of gas, unless the gas supply for the appliances is shut
off at the point where it leaves the container or containers when
none of the appliances is in use; or
(c) 2 or more gas-fired appliances, one or more of which does not
have the same supply of gas, unless each gas supply for the
appliances is shut off at the point where it leaves the container
or containers at all times when none of the appliances which it
serves is in use.
56 Use of gas-fired appliances when a vehicle is in motion
(1) This regulation applies to every motor vehicle and trailer in motion on
a road other than a vehicle constructed or adapted for the conveyance
of goods under controlled temperatures.
76
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any gas-fired
appliance in or on a vehicle to which this regulation applies unless the
appliance —
(a) if fitted to engineering plant, is being used for the purposes of
engineering operations; or
(b) if fitted to any other vehicle, is a refrigerating appliance or an
appliance which —
(i) is permanently fitted to the vehicle,
(ii) is designed to heat or cool any part of the interior of the
vehicle for the comfort of the driver and any passengers,
and
(iii) exposes no naked flame on the outside of the appliance.
(3) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, any gas-fired
appliance in or on a vehicle to which this regulation applies unless —
(a) in the case of an appliance to which paragraph (2)(a) refers, the
appliance complies with the requirements specified in
paragraph 12(1) and (2) of Schedule 5 and the gas system to
which it is attached complies with the requirements specified in
paragraphs 2 to 9 and 13 of that Schedule; or
(b) in the case of an appliance to which paragraph (2)(b) refers, the
appliance complies —
(i) if it is fitted to a motor vehicle, with the requirements
specified in paragraph 12 of Schedule 5, and
(ii) in any other case, with the requirements specified in
paragraph 12(1) and (2) of Schedule 5,
and the gas system to which the appliance is attached complies
with the requirements specified in paragraphs 2 to 9 and 13 of
that Schedule, and, in the case of a bus, with the requirements
specified in its paragraph 11.
77
57 Use of gas warning signs on vehicles propelled by liquefied petroleum gas
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
vehicle conveying liquefied petroleum gas for the propulsion of the
vehicle unless the vehicle complies with the requirements of
paragraph (2) and Schedule 6.
(2) The vehicle must indicate the presence of gas by means of 2 signs
which must be conspicuously displayed, —
(a) one being affixed to the left lower part of the windscreen;
(b) the other being affixed to the rear of the vehicle or, if the vehicle
forms part of a combination of vehicles, to the rear of the
combination, but in neither case to a rear window; and
(c) the front sign being legible when viewed externally from the
front of the vehicle or combination and the rear sign being
legible viewed externally from the rear.
L - AVOIDANCE OF DANGER
58 Parking in darkness
(1) A person must not, except with the permission of a police officer in
uniform, cause or permit any motor vehicle to stand on a road at any
time between sunset and sunrise unless the left side of the vehicle is as
close as may be to the edge of the carriageway.
(2) However, paragraph (1) does not apply to any motor vehicle while it
is —
(a) being used for ambulance, coast guard, defence (including civil
defence), fire brigade, lifeboat or police purposes if compliance
with that paragraph would hinder or be likely to hinder the use
of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on
that occasion;
(b) being used in connection with —
(i) any building operation or demolition,
(ii) the repair of any other vehicle,
78
(iii) the removal of any obstruction to traffic,
(iv) the maintenance, repair or reconstruction of any road, or
(v) the laying, erection, alteration or repair in or near to any
road of any sewer, main, pipe or apparatus for the supply
of gas, water or electricity, of any telecommunications
apparatus as defined in Schedule 1 to the Telecom-
munications Act 1984, or of the apparatus of any
electric transport undertaking,
if, in any case, compliance with paragraph (1) would hinder or
be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for
which it is being used on that occasion;
(c) standing on any road in which vehicles are allowed to proceed
in one direction only; or
(d) standing on any part of a road set aside for the purpose of —
(i) the parking of vehicles,
(ii) a stand for hackney carriages,
(iii) a stand for buses,
(iv) a place where buses may stop for a longer time than is
necessary for the taking up and setting down of
passengers,
where compliance with paragraph (1) would conflict with any
order, regulations or byelaws governing the use of that part of a
road for that purpose.
59 Passengers on motor cycles
(1) If any person, not being the driver, is carried astride a 2-wheeled
motor cycle on a road (whether a sidecar is attached to it or not), the
motor cycle must be provided with suitable footrests.
79
(2) A person must not drive a motor cycle on a road if any other person is
carried astride it otherwise than seated facing towards the front end of
the vehicle.
60 Obstruction
A person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer must not cause or permit the
vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the
road.
61 Driver's control
A person must not drive, or cause or permit another to drive, a motor vehicle
on a road if the driver is in such a position that he or she cannot have proper
control of the vehicle or have a full view of the road and traffic ahead.
62 Opening of doors
A person must not open, or cause or permit another to open, any door of a
vehicle on a road so as to injure or endanger any person.
63 Reversing
(1) A person must not drive, or cause or permit another to drive, a motor
vehicle backwards on a road for a greater distance or time than may be
requisite for the safety or reasonable convenience of the occupants of
the vehicle or of other traffic on the road.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to a road roller or other
vehicle engaged in the construction, maintenance or repair of the road.
64 Leaving motor vehicles unattended
(1) A person must not leave, or cause or permit another to leave, on a road
a motor vehicle which is not attended by a person licensed to
drive it unless the engine is stopped and any parking brake with which
the vehicle is equipped is effectively set.
(2) However, the requirement of paragraph (1) as to the stopping of the
engine does not apply to a vehicle that —
(a) is being used for ambulance, coast guard, defence (including
civil defence), fire brigade, lifeboat or police purposes; or
80
(b) is engaged in an operation which requires its engine to be
applied —
(i) to drive machinery or apparatus forming part of, or
mounted on, the vehicle and used for purposes other
than the driving of the vehicle, or
(ii) to maintain the electrical power of the vehicle's batteries
at a level required for the driving of such machinery or
apparatus,
unless the vehicle is in such a position or condition as to be
likely to endanger any person or property.
65 Securing of suspended implements
If a vehicle is fitted with any apparatus or appliance designed for lifting and
part of the apparatus or appliance consists of a suspended implement, the
implement must at all times —
(a) while the vehicle is in motion on a road; and
(b) while the implement is not attached to any load supported by
the apparatus or appliance,
be so secured either to the apparatus or appliance or to some part of the
vehicle that no danger is caused or is likely to be caused to any person on the
vehicle or on the road.
66 Mascots
No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object may be carried by a motor
vehicle first used on or after 1 July 1951 in any position where it is likely to
strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot,
emblem or object is not liable to cause injury to such a person by reason of
any projection on it.
67 Television sets
A person must not drive, or cause or permit another to drive, a motor vehicle
on a road if the driver is in such a position as to be able to see, whether
directly or by reflection, a television receiving apparatus or cinematographic
81
apparatus carried on the vehicle and used to display anything other than
information about —
(a) the state of the vehicle or its equipment;
(b) the location of the vehicle and the road on which it is located;
(c) any neighbouring road; or
(d) the driver's destination and the way to reach it.
68 Mobile telephones
(1) A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a road while he or she is
using a mobile telephone which is held in his or her hand.
(2) In this regulation —
"mobile telephone" means wireless telegraphy apparatus which is
designed or adapted to be capable —
(a) of connection only to a cellular telecommunication system, and
(b) of use while in motion;
"wireless telegraphy apparatus" has the same meaning as in the
Wireless Telegraphy Act 194923 (of Parliament).
M - REPLACEMENT BRAKE LININGS
69 Replacement brake linings
Schedule 7 has effect in relation to the use on roads of motor vehicles fitted
with replacement brake linings.
23 1949 c. 54
82
PART 4 - PLATES, WEIGHTS, MARKINGS, DIMENSIONS,
TESTING AND INSPECTION
A - PLATES
70 Manufacturers' plates
(1) This regulation applies to a wheeled vehicle which is —
(a) a bus first used on or after 1 April 1982;
(b) a converter dolly manufactured on or after 1 July 1998;
(c) a heavy motor car or motor car (being in neither case a
passenger vehicle) first used on or after 1 January 1968;
(d) a locomotive or motor tractor first used on or after 1 April 1973;
(e) a motor ambulance or motor caravan first used on or after 1
January 1999; and
(f) a trailer which —
(i) is manufactured on or after 1 January 1968, and
(ii) has an unladen weight exceeding 1020 kg.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to —
(a) an agricultural motor vehicle;
(b) an agricultural trailed appliance or agricultural trailed appliance
conveyor whenever manufactured, or any other agricultural
trailer manufactured before 1 July 1998;
(c) a broken down vehicle;
(d) a dual-purpose vehicle;
(e) engineering plant;
(f) a gritting trailer with a maximum gross weight not exceeding
2000 kg;
83
(g) an industrial tractor;
(h) a living van which —
(i) has an unladen weight not exceeding 2040 kg, and
(ii) is fitted with pneumatic tyres;
(i) a pedestrian-controlled vehicle;
(j) a trailer which —
(i) is constructed or adapted to carry no load other than
plant or special appliances or apparatus as permanent or
essentially permanent fixtures, and
(ii) does not exceed 2290 kg in total weight;
(k) a trailer which —
(i) is designed and used for street cleansing, and
(ii) does not carry any load other than its necessary gear and
equipment;
(l) a trailer which was manufactured and used outside Great
Britain and the Island before it was first used in Great Britain or
the Island; or
(m) a works trailer or works truck.
(3) Save as provided in paragraph (4), every vehicle to which this
regulation applies must bear a plate which —
(a) is securely affixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily
accessible position;
(b) contains the particulars prescribed by Part 1 of Schedule 8 in the
case of a motor vehicle, or by Part 2 of that Schedule in the case
of a trailer; and
(c) complies with Part 3 of that Schedule.
84
(4) Instead of bearing a plate in accordance with paragraph (3), a vehicle to
which this regulation applies may bear a plate complying with Part 4
of Schedule 8.
(5) Where, in accordance with this regulation and Schedule 8, a motor
vehicle first used, or a trailer manufactured, after 31 December 1998 is
required to be equipped with a plate showing the maximum weight
in Great Britain for the vehicle or the maximum weight in Great Britain
for each axle of the vehicle, the plate may instead show particulars of
the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle or, as the case may be,
the maximum authorised weight for each axle of the vehicle.
(6) In paragraph (5) the references to the maximum authorised weight for
a vehicle and the maximum authorised weight for each axle of a
vehicle mean those weights as determined in accordance with the Road
Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 199824.
(7) The plate for a vehicle which falls within paragraph (1)(c) and which is
a motor vehicle first used after 31 December 1998 need not include the
particulars referred to in item 8 or 9 of paragraph 1 of Schedule 8.
71 Ministry plates
If —
(a) a vehicle has been fitted with a Ministry plate in Great Britain
prescribing certain weights that are not to be exceeded by it
there; and
(b) the vehicle is imported into the Island,
a person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, the vehicle of that
description on a road unless it continues to bear that plate (within the cab if
there is one) in a conspicuous and readily accessible position.
72 Department plates and Department discs
(1) Every goods vehicle to which the Goods Vehicles (Plating) Regulations
199825 or the Goods Vehicles (Plating without Examination of Vehicles)
24 SI 1998/3111 as amended by SI 2000/3224 and SI 2001/1125 25 SD 348/98
85
Regulations 200226 apply, and in respect of which a plating certificate
prescribed by either of those Regulations has been issued, must be
fitted by the owner with a Department plate, being a plate which —
(a) is issued by the Department to the owner;
(b) is set out in the form prescribed by Schedule 9; and
(c) contains the particulars relating to the vehicle required by that
Schedule.
(2) Every Department plate must be securely affixed by the owner, within
14 days from its date of issue, in a conspicuous and readily accessible
position —
(a) inside the cab; or
(b) if there is no cab, to a vehicle part,
of the vehicle to which it relates.
(3) If —
(a) a plating certificate of a kind described in paragraph (1) has
been issued in respect of a vehicle; and
(b) the permitted weights shown on that certificate do not differ
from the corresponding weights shown on —
(i) the manufacturer's plate (if there is no Ministry plate or
Department plate),
(ii) the Ministry plate (if there is no Department plate), or
(iii) the Department plate,
affixed to that vehicle,
then, instead of issuing a Department plate in relation to the vehicle,
the Department may issue a Department disc.
26 SD 710/02
86
(4) If the Department issues a Department disc, paragraphs (1) and (2) are
to have effect as if, for the words "Department plate" and "plate", there
were substituted the words "Department disc" and "disc" respectively.
73 VIN plates and markings
(1) This regulation applies to every wheeled motor vehicle first used on or
after 1 January 1999 which is constructed solely for the carriage of
passengers and their effects or is a dual-purpose vehicle and in either
case which —
(a) is constructed or adapted to carry no more than 8
passengers in addition to the driver and either has 4 or more
wheels or, if having only 3 wheels, has a maximum gross
weight of more than 1000 kg; or
(b) has 3 wheels, a maximum gross weight not exceeding 1000 kg,
and either a design speed exceeding 50 km/h or an engine
with a capacity exceeding 50 cc, and is not a motor cycle with a
sidecar attached.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to —
(a) a motor ambulance;
(b) a motor caravan;
(c) a motor vehicle brought temporarily into the Island by a person
resident outside the Island;
(d) a motor vehicle which belongs or has belonged to a visiting
force or a headquarters or defence organisation to which in each
case an order under section 8 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (of
Parliament), as it has effect in the Island, applies;
(e) a motor vehicle of a new or improved type which —
(i) is constructed for the purposes of tests or trials of the
vehicle or its equipment, and
(ii) is used by or on behalf of its manufacturer for those
purposes;
87
(f) a motor vehicle which is, or has been, in the public service of the
Crown;
(g) a motor vehicle in respect of which —
(i) single vehicle approval has been issued, and
(ii) the requirements specified in paragraph (6) have been
met; or
(h) a motor vehicle constructed or assembled by a person not
ordinarily engaged in the trade or business of manufacturing
motor vehicles.
(3) A vehicle to which this regulation applies must bear a plate which is
fitted by the vehicle's manufacturer, is in a conspicuous and readily
accessible position, is affixed to a vehicle part which is not normally
subject to replacement, and shows clearly and indelibly —
(a) the vehicle identification number;
(b) the name of the vehicle's manufacturer; and
(c) the approval reference number of the certificate which is issued
under the law of any EEA State and states that the vehicle is of a
type which complies with the relevant type approval
requirements.
(4) The approval reference number may be omitted from the plate to
which paragraph (3) refers if it is shown clearly and indelibly on an
additional plate which is fitted by the vehicle's manufacturer in a
position, and affixed to a vehicle part, of a kind specified in that
paragraph.
(5) The vehicle identification number of a vehicle to which this regulation
applies must —
(a) be marked by the manufacturer of the vehicle on the chassis,
frame or other similar structure on the offside of the vehicle;
(b) be so marked in a clearly visible and accessible position; and
88
(c) be so marked by hammering or stamping so that the number
cannot be obliterated or deteriorate.
(6) The requirements referred to in paragraph (2)(g) are that —
(a) the vehicle bears a plate which is in a position, and is affixed to a
vehicle part, of a kind described in paragraph (3);
(b) the plate shows clearly and indelibly the identification, chassis
or serial number shown on the certificate comprising single
vehicle approval together with the name of the manufacturer of
the vehicle; and
(c) that number is marked on the vehicle in a place, position and
manner described in paragraph (5)(a), (b) and (c).
74 Plates for agricultural trailed appliances
(1) Save as provided in paragraph (3), every wheeled agricultural trailed
appliance manufactured on or after 1 July 1998 must be fitted with a
plate which is affixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily
accessible position and which is clearly and indelibly marked with the
particulars relating to the appliance specified in paragraph (2).
(2) The particulars to which paragraph (1) refers are —
(a) the name of the manufacturer;
(b) the year of manufacture;
(c) the maximum gross weight;
(d) the unladen weight; and
(e) the maximum load which would be imposed by the appliance
on a drawing vehicle.
(3) In the case of a towed roller consisting of several separate rollers used
in combination, a single plate shall satisfy the above requirements.
89
75 Motor cycle plates
(1) This regulation applies to every motor cycle which is first used on or
after 1 January 1999 and is propelled by an internal combustion engine
with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cc.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to a mowing machine or to a
pedestrian-controlled vehicle.
(3) Every motor cycle to which this regulation applies must be fitted with
a plate which is securely affixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous and
readily accessible position and which complies with the requirements
of Schedule 10.
76 Goods vehicle maximum speed notices
(1) This regulation applies to every goods vehicle which —
(a) is a motor vehicle;
(b) is let for hire from the premises where it is kept; and
(c) is driven by the person to whom it is hired under the terms of a
hiring agreement.
(2) There must be affixed and displayed in the cab of the vehicle a notice
which specifies —
(a) its maximum speed; and
(b) if the vehicle draws a trailer, the maximum speed of the
combination of vehicles,
and which is clearly visible to the driver.
(3) In this regulation "maximum speed", in relation to a vehicle or a
combination of vehicles, means the speed which the vehicle or the
combination must not exceed on a road, being —
(a) in the case of a vehicle to which regulation 79(1)(b) applies, the
speed specified there;
90
(b) in the case of a vehicle authorised to be used on roads by virtue
of an order under paragraph 3(1) or (2) of Schedule 2 to the Act,
the relevant speed specified in that order; and
(c) in any other case, the relevant speed specified in regulations
made under section 25 of the Regulation Act.
B - WEIGHTS
77 Restrictions on weights of plated vehicles
(1) Except where paragraph (2) applies, a person must not use, or cause or
permit another to use, on a road a vehicle fitted with —
(a) a manufacturer's plate, but not a Ministry plate or a Department
plate, if any permitted weight shown on the manufacturer's
plate is exceeded;
(b) a Ministry plate, but not a Department plate, if any permitted
weight shown on the Ministry plate is exceeded;
(c) a Department plate, if any permitted weight shown on the
Department plate is exceeded; or
(d) an agricultural plate, if the maximum gross weight shown on
the agricultural plate is exceeded.
(2) Where a prescribed weight applying to a vehicle is less than the
corresponding permitted weight shown on —
(a) the manufacturer's plate (if no Ministry plate or Department
plate is fitted); or
(b) the Ministry plate (if no Department plate is fitted),
affixed to that vehicle, a person must not use, or cause or permit
another to use, on a road the vehicle if the prescribed weight is
exceeded.
(3) In this regulation —
91
"maximum authorised weight", in relation to a vehicle, means any
weight determined in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Authorised
Weight) Regulations 1998;
"permitted weight", in relation to a vehicle, means the maximum total
laden weight, the maximum train weight, the maximum laden wheel
weight or the maximum laden axle weight (being in no case a design
weight) applicable to that vehicle in Great Britain or (in the case of a
vehicle fitted with a Department plate) in the Island, and includes any
maximum authorised weight; and
"prescribed weight", in relation to a vehicle of any class, means any
weight prescribed by Schedule 11 in relation to a vehicle of that class.
78 Restrictions on weights of unplated vehicles or of vehicles with unplated
weights
(1) This regulation applies where a vehicle —
(a) is not fitted with a plate of a kind to which regulation 77 refers;
or
(b) is fitted with such a plate, and the plate applies to the use of the
vehicle in the Island but does not contain one or more permitted
weights related to such use.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, the vehicle
on a road if -
(i) in the case of a vehicle to which paragraph (1)(a) refers, any
specified weight applying to that vehicle is exceeded, and
(ii) in the case of a vehicle to which paragraph (1)(b) refers, any
specified weight applying to that vehicle in the absence of a
permitted weight is exceeded.
(3) However, where the vehicle has a readily ascertainable manufacturer's
design weight which is less than, and corresponds to, a specified
weight referred to in paragraph (2), a person must not use, or cause or
permit another to use, the vehicle on a road if the manufacturer's
design weight is exceeded.
92
(4) In this regulation —
"permitted weight" has the same meaning as in regulation 77; and
"specified weight" means any weight specified in Schedule 6 to the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations.
79 Weights requiring road-friendly suspension or 30 mph speed limit
(1) If the total permitted laden weight of an articulated vehicle exceeds
32520 kg but does not exceed 38000 kg —
(a) every driving axle of the motor vehicle and every axle of the
trailer must be fitted with road-friendly suspension; or
(b) the articulated vehicle must be driven at a speed not exceeding
30 mph.
(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(a) an axle is to be regarded as fitted
with road-friendly suspension if its suspension is of a kind to which
paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 11 refers.
C - MARKINGS
80 Marking of unladen weight on certain motor vehicles
(1) This regulation applies to a locomotive, motor tractor and registered
heavy motor car.
(2) The owner of a vehicle to which this regulation applies must cause the
unladen weight of the vehicle to be painted or otherwise plainly and
indelibly marked upon some conspicuous place on the left side of the
vehicle.
81 Marking of date of manufacture and maximum gross weight on certain
light trailers
(1) This regulation applies to a light trailer which is manufactured on or
after 1 July 1998.
(2) The year of manufacture and the maximum gross weight of every
trailer to which this regulation applies must —
93
(a) be permanently marked in a clearly visible and accessible
position on the chassis, frame or other similar structure on the
left side of the vehicle; or
(b) be indelibly marked on a plate permanently affixed to the
vehicle in such a position.
D - DIMENSIONS
82 Length
(1) Save as provided in the following provisions of this regulation, a
person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road —
(a) a combination of vehicles; or
(b) a vehicle (whether used alone or in combination with another),
of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the following table if the
overall length specified in that item in column 3 is exceeded.
TABLE
1
Item
2
Class of vehicle
3
Overall length not to be
exceeded (metres)
1
Combinations of vehicles
A motor vehicle drawing one trailer where the
trailer –
(a) is a composite trailer; or
(b) does not otherwise comprise a semi-trailer
18.75
2
An articulated vehicle
16.5
3
Motor vehicles
A wheeled motor vehicle, not being a 2-axle
coach or a part of an articulated vehicle
12
4
A 2-axle coach
13.5
94
5
A track-laying motor vehicle, not being a part of
an articulated vehicle
9.2
6
Trailers
A trailer (not being a semi-trailer or a composite
trailer)
8½
(2) Items 1 and 2 of the table do not apply to —
(a) a combination of vehicles consisting of a broken down vehicle
(including an articulated vehicle) drawn by a motor vehicle in
consequence of a breakdown;
(b) a combination of vehicles which includes a low loader or a
stepframe low loader; or
(c) a combination of vehicles which includes a trailer constructed
and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of
exceptional length.
(3) Item 6 of the table does not apply to —
(a) an agricultural trailed appliance;
(b) a broken down vehicle (including an articulated vehicle) drawn
by a motor vehicle in consequence of a breakdown;
(c) a low loader or a stepframe low loader;
(d) a trailer constructed and normally used for the conveyance of
indivisible loads of exceptional length; or
(e) a trailer which is —
(i) a drying or mixing plant designed for producing asphalt
or bituminous or tar macadam and used mainly for
constructing, repairing or maintaining roads, or
(ii) a road planing machine which is so used.
95
(4) If a person uses, or causes or permits another to use, on a road a motor
vehicle which is drawing 2 or more trailers —
(a) none of those trailers shall have an overall length exceeding 8½
m; and
(b) the overall length of the motor vehicle must not exceed 9.2 m.
(5) If a person uses, or causes or permits another to use, on a road —
(a) a combination of vehicles to which paragraph (2)(b) refers, the
overall length of the combination must not exceed 18 m unless
the combination also falls within paragraph (2)(c);
(b) a trailer to which paragraph (3)(b) refers, the overall length of
the trailer must not exceed 23 m.
(6) If a broken down articulated vehicle is being towed by a motor vehicle
in consequence of a breakdown, the articulated vehicle is to be
regarded as a single trailer.
(7) This regulation does not apply to any vehicle being used —
(a) for ambulance, coast guard, defence (including civil defence),
fire brigade, lifeboat or police purposes; or
(b) for the purpose of removing any obstruction to traffic.
(8) For the purposes of this regulation, and of regulation 83 and Schedule
12, "overall length", in relation to a combination of vehicles, means the
distance between the foremost point of the drawing vehicle and the
rearmost point of the rearmost vehicle comprised in the combination,
measured when the longitudinal axis of each vehicle lies in the same
vertical plane.
83 Forward and rearward projections of load
(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2) to (7), a person must not use, or
cause or permit another to use, on a road —
(a) any vehicle, not forming part of a combination of vehicles, if the
length of any forward or rearward projection of load exceeds 4
m; or
96
(b) any combination of vehicles, if the length of any forward or
rearward projection of load extends more than 4 m beyond —
(i) in a case where the load is carried by one vehicle, the
foremost point or the rearmost point of that vehicle, or
(ii) in a case where the load is carried by more than one
vehicle, the foremost point of the foremost vehicle, or the
rearmost point of the rearmost vehicle, by which the load
is carried.
(2) Save as provided in paragraphs (3) to (7), a person must not use, or
cause or permit another to use, on a road a vehicle or vehicles carrying
a load or fitted with a special appliance or apparatus unless, in a case
where the load, appliance or apparatus has —
(a) a forward projection of a length specified in an item in column 2
of the following table; or
(b) a rearward projection of a length specified in an item in column
3 of that table,
the conditions specified in that item in column 4 are complied with.
TABLE
1
Item
2
Length of forward
Projection
3
Length of rearward
Projection
4
Conditions to be
complied with
1
Exceeding 1.83 m but not
exceeding 3.05 m
—
Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Part
1 of Schedule 12
2
Exceeding 3.05 m but not
exceeding 4 m
—
Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of
Part 1 of Schedule 12
3
—
Exceeding 1 m but not
exceeding 1.83 m
Paragraph 4 of Part 1
of Schedule 12
97
4
—
Exceeding 1.83 m but not
exceeding 3.05 m
Paragraph 3 of Part 1
of Schedule 12
5
—
Exceeding 3.05 m but not
exceeding 4 m
Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of
Part 1 of Schedule 12
(3) If another vehicle is attached to that end of a vehicle from which a
projection of load extends, then, for the purposes of any requirement in
this regulation to comply with paragraph 3 or 4 of Part 1 of Schedule
12, that projection is to be treated as a forward or rearward projection
only if, and to the extent that, its length extends beyond the foremost
point or, as the case may be, the rearmost point of that other vehicle,
measured when the longitudinal axis of each vehicle lies in the same
vertical plane.
(4) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
combination of vehicles described in regulation 82(2)(c) if —
(a) the overall length of the trailer exceeds 23 m;
(b) the overall length of the drawing vehicle exceeds 9.2 m; and
(c) the overall length of the combination, together with the length
of a forward or rearward projection of load extending beyond
the foremost point of the foremost vehicle or, as the case may be,
the rearmost point of the rearmost vehicle, exceeds 33 m.
(5) If a person uses, or causes or permits another to use, on a road a motor
vehicle drawing one or more trailers, the overall length of the
combination of vehicles, together with the length of any forward or
rearward projection of load extending, as the case may be, beyond the
foremost point of the foremost vehicle or the rearmost point of the
rearmost vehicle, must not exceed 22 m unless the conditions specified
in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 are complied with.
(6) This regulation does not apply to any vehicle being used for a purpose
described in regulation 82(7).
98
(7) For the purposes of this regulation the length of a forward or rearward
projection of load, or the length of a part thereof, is to be measured
parallel to the longitudinal axis of —
(a) the vehicle; or
(b) if the load is carried by more than one vehicle, the foremost
vehicle or the rearmost vehicle by which, as the case may be, the
load is carried.
84 Width
(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), a person must not use, or
cause or permit another to use, on a road a vehicle of a class specified
in an item in column 2 of the following table if the overall width
specified in column 3 in that item is exceeded.
TABLE
1
Item
2
Class of vehicle
3
Overall width
not to be
exceeded
(metres)
1
Motor vehicles
A locomotive other than an agricultural motor vehicle.
2.75
2
A refrigerated motor vehicle.
2.6
3
Any other motor vehicle.
2.55
4
Trailers
A trailer (other than an agricultural trailer or a refrigerated trailer)
which is drawn by a motor vehicle having a maximum gross
weight above 3500 kg.
2.55
5 An agricultural trailer (other than an agricultural trailed
appliance).
2.55
6
An agricultural trailed appliance.
3.0
7
A refrigerated trailer.
2.6
99
8
Any other trailer drawn by a vehicle other than a 2-wheeled motor
cycle.
2.3
9
A trailer drawn by a 2-wheeled motor cycle —
(a) without a sidecar attached;
(b) with a sidecar attached.
1
1.5
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a broken down vehicle which is being
drawn in consequence of a breakdown.
(3) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
wheeled agricultural motor vehicle drawing a wheeled trailer if, when
the longitudinal axes of the vehicles are parallel but in different vertical
planes, the overall width of the 2 vehicles, measured as if they
were one vehicle, —
(a) exceeds 3 m in a case where the trailer is an agricultural trailed
appliance; or
(b) exceeds 2.55 metres in any other case.
(4) In this regulation "refrigerated motor vehicle" and "refrigerated trailer"
mean respectively a motor vehicle or a trailer which, in either case, —
(a) is specially designed for the carriage of goods at low
temperatures; and
(b) has a thickness of each side wall which, inclusive of insulation,
is at least 45 mm.
85 Lateral projections of load
(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), a person must not use, or
cause or permit another to use, on a road a vehicle carrying a
load if, in a case where the load extends beyond the side or sides of the
vehicle, —
(a) the load has a lateral projection on either side exceeding 305
mm; or
100
(b) the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of the
lateral projection or projections of its load exceeds —
(i) 3 m in the case of an agricultural trailed appliance, or
(ii) 2.9 m in any other case.
(2) If a person uses, or causes or permits another to use, on a road a
vehicle carrying —
(a) loose agricultural produce not baled or crated; or
(b) an indivisible load,
then, if the load extends beyond the side or sides of the vehicle, the
overall width of the vehicle together with the width of the lateral
projection or projections of its load may extend to 4.3 m, provided that,
in the case of an indivisible load, —
(i) it is not reasonably practical to comply with paragraph (1),
(ii) the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 and 5 of Part 1 of
Schedule 12 are complied with if the overall width of the vehicle
together with the width of the lateral projection or projections of
its load exceeds 3 m, and
(iii) the conditions specified in paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12
are complied with if the overall width of the vehicle together
with the width of the lateral projection or projections of its load
exceeds 3.5 m.
(3) This regulation does not apply to any vehicle being used for a purpose
described in regulation 82(7).
86 Height
A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, a vehicle in motion
on a road (other than a vehicle tipping a load) if its overall height, together
with the height of any vertical projection of load extending beyond its overall
height, exceeds 4.57 m.
101
87 Indication of overall travelling height
(1) This regulation applies to every motor vehicle which —
(a) is carrying a container or engineering equipment;
(b) is constructed or adapted so as to be capable of hoisting and
carrying a skip;
(c) is drawing a trailer or semi-trailer carrying a container or
engineering equipment; or
(d) is engineering plant.
(2) Without limiting regulation 86, a person must not use, or cause or
permit another to use, on a road a vehicle to which this regulation
applies unless —
(a) the overall travelling height does not exceed 3.66 m; or
(b) there is carried in the vehicle, in the manner specified in
paragraph (3), a notice clearly indicating the overall travelling
height in both metres and feet and inches and in figures not less
than 40 mm tall.
(3) The notice to which paragraph (2)(b) refers must be affixed to the
vehicle in such a manner that it can be easily read by the driver when
in the driving position.
88 Overhang
(1) A person shall not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
wheeled motor vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the
following table if, subject to any exemption specified in that item in
column 4, the overhang of the vehicle exceeds the distance specified in
that item in column 3.
102
TABLE
1
Item
2
Class of vehicle
3
Maximum overhang
4
Exemptions
1
Motor tractor
1.83 m
(a) an agricultural motor
vehicle;
(b) a track-laying vehicle.
2
Heavy motor
car and motor
car
60% of the distance between the
transverse plane which passes
through the centre or centres of
the foremost wheel or wheels
and the transverse plane which
passes through the forward
point from which the overhang
is to be measured in accordance
with the definition of
"overhang" in regulation 3(1).
(a) an agricultural motor
vehicle;
(b) a bus;
(c) a heavy motor car first used
before 15 August 1928;
(d) a motor car first used
before 2 April 1936;
(e) a motor car which is an
ambulance;
(f) a refuse vehicle;
(g) a track-laying vehicle;
(h) a vehicle designed to
dispose of its load to the
rear, provided that the
overhang does not exceed
1.15 m;
(i) a vehicle first used before
1 January 1966 if —
(i) the distance between
the centres of the
rearmost and foremost
axles does not exceed
2.29 m , and
(ii) the distance specified
in column 3 is not
exceeded by more
than 76 mm;
(j) a works truck.
103
(2) In the case of a vehicle designed and mainly used for the purpose of
heating a road or other similar surface in the process of construction,
repair or maintenance, no part of the heating plant is to be taken into
account when calculating the overhang.
(3) In the case of an agricultural motor vehicle, the distance measured
horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rear portion of
the vehicle between the transverse planes passing through the
rearmost point of the vehicle and through the centre of the rear or
rearmost axle must not exceed 3 m.
(4) A heavy motor car is to be taken as complying with the requirements
of paragraph (1) if it meets the requirements of paragraph 7.6.2 of
Annex I to Community Directive 97/27.
89 Minimum ground clearance
(1) This regulation applies to a wheeled trailer which —
(a) is a goods vehicle; and
(b) is manufactured on or after 1 April 1984.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
trailer to which this regulation applies unless it has a minimum ground
clearance of not less than —
(a) 160 mm if the trailer has an axle interspace of more than 6 m but
less than 11.5 m; or
(b) 190 mm if the trailer has an axle interspace of 11.5 m or more.
(3) However, this regulation does not apply to a trailer —
(a) while it is being loaded or unloaded; or
(b) while a height-adjustable suspension system, if fitted to the
trailer, is raised or lowered to enable the vehicle to pass over or
under an obstruction (including a bridge) that lies across or over
a road, provided that no part of the trailer (excluding the
wheels) touches the ground at such a time or is likely to do so.
104
90 Turning circle — articulated vehicles other than those incorporating a car
transporter, low loader, stepframe low loader or semi-trailer of exceptional
length
(1) This regulation applies to an articulated vehicle unless —
(a) its semi-trailer —
(i) was manufactured before 1 April 1990, and
(ii) has an overall length that does not exceed the overall
length which it had on that date;
(b) its semi-trailer —
(i) is a car transporter, a low loader or a stepframe low
loader,
(ii) is constructed and normally used for the conveyance of
indivisible loads of exceptional length, or
(iii) has an axle raised to aid traction; or
(c) the articulated vehicle has an overall length not exceeding 15.5
m and —
(i) its drawing vehicle was first used before 1 June 1998, or
(ii) its semi-trailer was manufactured before 1 December
1997.
(2) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
vehicle to which this regulation applies unless the vehicle can move on
either lock so that, —
(a) when all its wheels are, or are not, in contact with the road
surface; and
(b) when the items set out —
(i) in paragraphs (a) to (i) in the definition of "overall width",
and
105
(ii) in paragraphs (a) to (k) in the definition of "overall
length",
in the table in regulation 3(1) are disregarded,
no part of the vehicle projects outside the area contained between
concentric circles with radii of 12.5 m and 5.3 m.
(3) In relation to a vehicle manufactured before 1 June 1998 paragraph (2)
has effect as if sub-paragraph (a) were omitted.
(4) An articulated vehicle is to be taken as complying with paragraph (2) if
its semi-trailer is, by virtue of paragraph 7.6.1.2 of Annex 1 to
Community Directive 97/27, taken to comply with paragraph 7.6.1 of
that Annex.
91 Turning circle — articulated vehicles incorporating a car transporter other
than a low loader or stepframe low loader
(1) This regulation applies to an articulated vehicle with an overall length
exceeding 15.5 m, the semi-trailer of which is a car transporter.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to an articulated vehicle if its
semi-trailer —
(a) is a low loader or a stepframe low loader; or
(b) was manufactured before 1 April 1990 and the distance from the
front of the trailer to its rearmost axle is no greater than it was
on that date.
(3) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
vehicle to which this regulation applies unless the vehicle can move on
either lock so that, —
(a) when all its wheels are, or are not, in contact with the road
surface; and
(b) when the items set out —
(i) in paragraphs (a) to (i) in the definition of "overall width",
and
106
(ii) in paragraphs (a) to (k) in the definition of "overall
length",
in the table in regulation 3(1) are disregarded,
no part of —
(i) the motor vehicle drawing the car transporter, or
(ii) the car transporter to the rear of the transverse plane passing
through the king pin,
projects outside the area contained between concentric circles with
radii of 12.5 m and 5.3 m.
(4) In relation to a vehicle manufactured before 1 June 1998 paragraph (3)
has effect as if sub-paragraph (a) were omitted.
92 Turning circle — buses
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road a
bus first used on or after 1 April 1982 unless the 2 requirements set out
in paragraphs (2) and (3) are both met.
(2) The bus must be able to move on either lock so that, when all its wheels
are, or are not, in contact with the ground, no part of it projects outside
the area contained between concentric circles with radii of 12.5 m and
5.3 m.
(3) When the bus moves forward from rest, on either lock, so that its
outermost point describes a circle of 12.5 m radius, no part of the
vehicle must project by more than 0.8 m beyond the longitudinal plane
which, at the beginning of the manoeuvre, defines the overall width of
the vehicle on the side opposite to the direction in which it is turning.
(4) In relation to a bus manufactured before 1 June 1998 paragraph (2) has
effect as if the words ", when all its wheels are, or are not, in contact
with the ground," were omitted.
(5) In relation to a 2-axle coach whose overall length exceeds 12 but not
13.5 m paragraph (3) has effect as if for "0.8 m" there were substituted
"1.2 m".
107
93 Turning circle — heavy motor cars
(1) This regulation applies to a vehicle which —
(a) is a heavy motor car manufactured after 31 May 1998; and
(b) a vehicle combination consisting of such a motor car and one
trailer not being a semi-trailer.
(2) However, this regulation does not apply to —
(a) a vehicle having 4 or more axles where the distance between the
foremost and rearmost axles exceeds 6.4 m;
(b) a vehicle or vehicle combination to which regulation 90, 91 or 92
applies; or
(c) a vehicle or vehicle combination constructed and normally used
for the carriage of indivisible loads of abnormal length.
(3) Every vehicle or vehicle combination to which this regulation applies
must be able to move on either lock so that, —
(a) when all its wheels are, or are not, in contact with the road
surface; and
(b) when the items set out —
(i) in paragraphs (a) to (i) in the definition of "overall width",
and
(ii) in paragraphs (a) to (k) in the definition of "overall
length",
in the table in regulation 3(1) are disregarded,
no part of the vehicle or vehicle combination projects outside the area
contained between concentric circles with radii of 12.5 m and 5.3 m.
108
E - TESTING AND INSPECTION
94 Testing and inspection
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in paragraph (2), the following
persons are empowered to test and inspect the brakes, silencers,
steering gear and tyres of any vehicle on any premises where that
vehicle is located, namely -
(a) a police constable in uniform;
(b) any person for the time being appointed as an examiner for the
purposes of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Act; and
(c) any person for the time being appointed as an authorised
examiner for the purposes of section 38 of the Road Transport
Act 2001.
(2) The conditions are that a person so empowered under paragraph (1) —
(a) must produce his or her authorisation if required to do so;
(b) must not enter any premises unless the consent of the owner of
those premises has first been obtained;
(c) must not test or inspect any vehicle on any premises unless —
(i) the owner of the vehicle consents to the test or inspection,
(ii) notice has been given to that owner personally or left at
his or her address not less than 48 hours before the time
of the proposed test or inspection, or has been sent to the
owner at least 72 hours before that time by the recorded
delivery service to his or her address last known to the
person giving the notice, or
(iii) the test or inspection is made within 48 hours of an
accident to which section 20 of the Act applies and in
which the vehicle was involved.
109
95 Revocations
The Regulations specified in columns 1 and 2 of the table in Schedule 13 are
revoked to the extent specified in its column 3.
MADE 14/5 2012
DC Cretney MHK
Minister for Infrastructure
110
111
SCHEDULE 1
[Regulation 3(1)]
COMMUNITY DIRECTIVES AND ECE REGULATIONS
TABLE 1
COMMUNITY DIRECTIVES
1
2
3
Item
Reference No
Community Directives
(a)
Date
(b)
Official Journal
Reference
(c)
Subject matter
(d)
Previous
Directives
included
1
76/114
18.12.75
L24, 30.1.76,
p.1
Statutory plates
and inscriptions
for motor
vehicles and
trailers
—
2
76/115
18.12.75
L24, 30.1.76,
p.6
Anchorages for
motor vehicle
seat belts
—
3
78/507
19.5.78
L155, 13.6.78,
p.31
Statutory plates
and inscriptions
for motor
vehicles and
trailers
76/114
4
78/1015
23.11.78
L349, 13.12.78,
p.21
The permissible
sound level and
exhaust systems
of motor cycles
—
5
81/575
20.7.81
L209, 29.7.81,
p.30
Anchorages for
motor vehicle
seat belts
76/115
6
82/318
2.4.82
L319, 19.5.82,
p.9
Anchorages for
motor vehicle
seat belts
76/115 as
amended by
81/575
7
87/56
18.12.86
L24, 27.1..87,
p.42
The permissible
sound level and
exhaust systems
of motor cycles
78/1015
112
8
89/235
13.3.89
L98, 11.4.89,
p.1
The permissible
sound level and
exhaust systems
of motor cycles
78/1015 as
amended by
87/56
9
90/629
30.10.90
L341, 6.12.90,
p.14
Anchorages for
motor vehicle
safety belts
76/115 as
amended by
81/575 and
82/318
10
92/7
10.2.92
L57, 2.3.92,
p.29
The weights,
dimensions and
other technical
characteristics of
certain road
vehicles
85/3 as
amended by
86/360, 88/218,
89/338, 89/460
and 89/461
11
92/23
31.3.92
L129, 14.5.92,
p.95
Tyres of motor
vehicles and
their trailers and
their fitting
—
12
92/53
18.6.92
L225, 10.8.92,
p.1
Type approval of
motor vehicles
and their trailers
70/156
13
96/38
17.6.96
L187, 26.7.96,
p.95
Anchorages for
motor vehicle
safety belts
76/115 as
amended by
81/575, 82/318
and 90/629
14
97/24
17.6.97
L226, 18.8.97,
p. 1
Certain
components and
characteristics of
2- or 3-wheel
vehicles
—
15
97/27
22.7.97
L233, 25.8.97,
p.1
Masses and
dimensions of
certain
categories of
vehicle and their
trailers
—
16
98/12
27.1.98
L81, 18.3.98,
p.1
The braking
devices of
certain
categories of
motor vehicles
and their trailers
71/320 as
amended by
74/132, 75/524.
79/489, 85/647,
88/194 and
91/422
17
2001/43
27.6.01
L211, 4.8.01,
p.25
Tyres of motor
vehicles and
their trailers and
their fitting
92/23
113
18
2001/116
20.12.01
L18, 21.1.2002,
p. 1
Type approval of
motor vehicles
and their trailers
70/156 as
amended by
87/403, 92/53,
93/81 and 98/14
19
2002/78
1.10.02
L267, 4.10.02,
p. 23
The braking
devices of
certain
categories of
motor vehicles
and their trailers
71/320 as
amended by
74/132, 75/524,
79/489, 85/647,
88/194, 91/422
and 98/12
TABLE 2
ECE REGULATIONS
1
2
3
Item
Reference No
ECE Regulations
(a)
Number
(b)
Date
(c)
Subject matter
(d)
Date of
amendment
1
14
14
30.1.70
Anchorages for
seat belts
—
2
14.01
14
30.1.70
Anchorages for
seat belts
28.4.76
3
14.02
14
30.1.70
Anchorages for
seat belts
22.11.84
4
14.03
14
30.1.70
Anchorages for
seat belts
29.1.92
5
14.04
14
30.1.70
Anchorages for
seat belts
18.1.98
6
14.05
14
30.1.70
Anchorages for
seat belts
4.2.99
7
30
30
1.4.75
Pneumatic tyres
for motor
vehicles and
their trailers
—
8
30.01
30
1.4.75
Pneumatic tyres
for motor
vehicles and
their trailers
25.9.77
114
9
30.02
30
1.4.75
Pneumatic tyres
for motor
vehicles and
their trailers
15.3.81
10
54
54
1.3.83
Pneumatic tyres
for commercial
vehicles and
their trailers
—
11
64
64
1.10.85
Vehicles with
temporary-use
spare
wheels/tyres
—
12
67.01
67
27.4.90
Vehicles using
liquefied
petroleum gas
13.11.99
13
75
75
1.4.88
Pneumatic tyres
for motor cycles
and mopeds
—
14
90.01
90
1.11.92
Replacement
brake lining
assemblies for
power-driven
vehicles and
their trailers
18.9.94
15
108
108
23.6.98
Retreaded
pneumatic tyres
for motor
vehicles and
their trailers
—
16
109
109
23.6.98
Retreaded
pneumatic tyres
for commercial
vehicles and
their trailers
—
17 117.01 117 6.4.2005 Tyres — rolling
sound
emissions and
adhesion to
wet surfaces
2.2.2007
115
SCHEDULE 2 [Regulation 7(2)]
BRAKING EFFICIENCIES OF AGRICULTURAL MOTOR VEHICLES
1 Subject to paragraph 2, every wheeled agricultural motor vehicle (not being
a locomotive or motor tractor) which is driven at more than 20 mph and is of
a class specified in an item in column 2 of the following table must be so
maintained that —
(a) its service braking system has a total braking efficiency not less than
that shown in column 3 for that item; and
(b) its secondary braking system has a total braking efficiency not less than
that shown in column 4 for that item.
2 Where there is a reference in that table to an agricultural motor vehicle
drawing, or not drawing, a trailer, the reference to a trailer is to a trailer
required by regulation 5 or 6 of the Construction, Equipment and Weights
Regulations to be equipped with brakes.
TABLE
1
2
3
4
Item
Wheeled agricultural motor vehicles (not being
locomotives or motor tractors)
Total braking
efficiency of
service braking
system
Total braking
efficiency of
secondary
braking system
1
Vehicles first used on or after 1 January 1999 —
(a) when not drawing a trailer; or
(a) when drawing a trailer.
50
45
25
25
2
Vehicles first used on or after 1 January 1968 but
before 1 January 1999 —
(a) when not drawing a trailer;
(b) when drawing a trailer manufactured on or
after 1 January 1968; or
(c) when drawing a trailer manufactured before
1 January 1968.
50
50
40
25
25
15
116
3
Vehicles which have an unladen weight exceeding
1525 kg and which were first used on or after 15
August 1928 but before 1 January 1968, being —
(a) rigid vehicles with 2 axles —
(i) when not drawing a trailer, or
(ii) when drawing a trailer; or
(b) other vehicles, whether drawing a trailer or
not.
45
40
40
20
15
15
4
Vehicles (not being heavy motor cars) which have an
unladen weight exceeding 1525 kg and which were
first used on or after 1 January 1919 but before
15 August 1928, being —
(a) rigid vehicles with 2 axles —
(i) when not drawing a trailer, or
(ii) when drawing a trailer; or
(b) other vehicles, whether drawing a trailer or
not.
45
40
40
20
15
15
5
Vehicles which have an unladen weight not
exceeding 1525 kg and which were first used on or
after 1 January 1919 but before 1 January 1968, being
—
(a) motor vehicles with at least 4 wheels and 2
means of operating the brakes, where —
(i) one means of operation applies
brakes to at least 4 wheels, or
(ii) neither means of operation applies
brakes to at least 4 wheels; or
(b) 3-wheeled motor vehicles with 2 means of
operating the brakes, where —
(i) one means of operation applies
brakes to all 3 wheels, or
(ii) neither means of operation applies
brakes to all 3 wheels.
50
30
40
30
25
25
25
25
117
SCHEDULE 3
[Regulations 47 and 48]
FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND FIRST AID EQUIPMENT FOR
MINIBUSES
PART 1
FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS
A fire extinguisher which —
(a) complies in all respects with the specification for portable fire
extinguishers issued by the British Standards Institution and numbered
BSEN 3: 1996;
(b) has a minimum test fire rating of 5A or 34B; and
(c) contains water or foam.
PART 2
FIRST-AID EQUIPMENT
(1) 10 antiseptic wipes, foil packed;
(2) One conforming disposable bandage (not less than 7.5 cm wide);
(3) 2 triangular bandages;
(4) One packet of 24 assorted adhesive dressings;
(5) 3 large sterile unmedicated ambulance dressings (not less than 15 cm
by 20 cm);
(6) 2 sterile eye pads with attachments;
(7) 12 assorted safety pins; and
(8) One pair of rustless blunt-ended scissors.
118
SCHEDULE 4 [Regulation 51]
TAXIS AND CERTAIN OTHER HIRE CARS - SUPPLEMENTARY
REQUIREMENTS
1 - PRELIMINARY
1 Application
(1) This Schedule applies to all public passenger vehicles which are
passenger cars with 4 or more wheels.
(2) However, —
(a) paragraph 4 does not apply to such vehicles unless they are
authorised by the Road Transport Licensing Committee (within
the meaning of section 1 of the Road Transport Act 2001) to
stand or ply for hire on a road; and
(b) paragraph 15 does not apply to such vehicles as are authorised
by that Committee to stand or ply for hire on a road.
2 - REQUIREMENTS
2 Odometer
Each vehicle must be fitted with an odometer which is in good and efficient
working order, whether it is comprised in the speedometer or not.
3 Cleanliness
The bodywork, paintwork, windows, upholstery and fittings of a vehicle
must be maintained in a good and clean condition at all times.
4 Right-hand drive
The steering wheel of each vehicle must be on the right side.
5 Doors
(1) Every door of a vehicle must —
119
(a) be capable of being opened, when unlocked, from inside or
outside the vehicle by a single movement of its handle or other
opening device; and
(b) be incapable of being locked from outside the vehicle unless,
when so locked, the door is capable of being opened from inside
the vehicle when stationary.
(2) Every door of a vehicle must, if it is not a power-operated door, —
(a) have a slam lock of the 2-stage type; or
(b) be linked to a device which —
(i) is operated by the movement of the handle or other
device for opening the door or, in the case of a handle or
other device with a spring-return mechanism, by
movement of both the door and the handle or other
device, and
(ii) informs the driver, when occupying the driver's seat, if
the door is not securely closed.
6 Accessibility
(1) Every vehicle must be so constructed that —
(a) a passenger sitting or intending to sit beside the driver is
able to enter or leave the vehicle by its nearside front door; and
(b) a passenger sitting or intending to sit behind the driver is
able to enter or leave the vehicle by —
(i) a nearside rear door, and
(ii) either an offside rear door or a door at the back of the
vehicle.
(2) Every vehicle must be so constructed that —
(a) no door for the use of a passenger under paragraph (1); and
(b) no seat, fitting or equipment in the vehicle,
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is likely to prevent an adult able-bodied passenger without luggage
from entering or leaving the vehicle unaided or without inconvenience.
7 Windows
The window in each passenger door of a vehicle must be capable of being
easily opened by a passenger seated adjacent to it.
8 Wheelchairs
(1) If a vehicle is to carry any wheelchair occupied by a person, the vehicle
must be equipped with —
(a) an anchorage which will —
(i) secure the chair while the vehicle is in motion, and
(ii) prevent it from facing either side of the vehicle; and
(b) a ramp, hoist or lift to facilitate the entry of the chair into, and
its exit from, the vehicle.
(2) Any anchorage, ramp, hoist or lift provided in accordance with sub-
paragraph (1) must be maintained in good and serviceable condition.
9 Spare wheels and wheels repaired by a foam inflation device
(1) Each vehicle must carry —
(a) a spare wheel fitted with an inflated tyre, both of which must be
in good and serviceable condition; and
(b) a jack and other tools necessary for affixing that wheel to the
vehicle.
(2) If the spare wheel is fitted with a temporary use spare tyre, it must not
be used on the vehicle except —
(a) in a case where a normally fitted tyre fails on a journey
involving the carriage of passengers, for enabling the vehicle to
complete the journey; and
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(b) in a case where such a journey is completed or a normally fitted
tyre fails in other circumstances, for enabling the vehicle to go
to —
(i) the driver's home or operating centre,
(ii) a place where the normally fitted tyre may be repaired or
replaced.
(3) If a tyre fitted to a wheel of the vehicle fails, it may not be repaired by
the use of a foam inflation device unless the vehicle will cease to be
used for the carriage of passengers while the tyre is in place.
(4) If the vehicle is so designed that tyres fitted to its front wheels should
differ in size from tyres fitted to its rear wheels, a temporary use spare
tyre and the wheel to which it is fitted must be suitable for use on —
(a) the front axle of the vehicle; or
(b the rear axle of the vehicle,
as the case may be, in the event that they are to be used there.
10 Grab handles etc
Each vehicle must be provided with a grab handle or other suitable means to
assist a passenger when entering or leaving a seat.
11 Seats
(1) This paragraph applies to passenger seats ("seats") fitted in a vehicle
other than occasional seats.
(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), if a vehicle was used before 17
April 2000 to carry passengers for hire or reward, every seat
accommodating one or more passengers must allow a width of at least
400 mm per passenger, as measured horizontally along its front.
(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), if a vehicle is so used on or after that date, —
(a) every seat (excluding a back rest), or every back rest forming
part of a seat, must, if it is designed to accommodate only one
122
passenger, be at least 400 mm wide, as measured horizontally
across its widest point; and
(b) every back rest must, if it forms part of a seat designed to
accommodate more than one passenger, allow a width of at least
400 mm per passenger, as measured horizontally across that
part of the rest against which the full width of the passenger's
back would lie.
(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) a seat fitted with arms,
being arms so constructed that they can be folded back or otherwise
put out of use, is to be measured as if it were not fitted with arms.
(5) Instead of complying with sub-paragraph (2), a vehicle falling within
that sub-paragraph may comply with sub-paragraph (3).
12 Occasional seats
Any occasional seat fitted to a vehicle must —
(a) be at least 400 mm wide;
(b) be at least 355 mm long, when measured longitudinally from the centre
of the front of its back rest to the front edge of the seat;
(c) be so constructed that, when not in use, it is retracted automatically so
as not to obstruct any doorway; and
(d) be symmetrically placed in relation to, and at least 40 mm from, any
other occasional seat.
13 Seats fitted lengthwise
(1) No passenger seat fitted in a vehicle may be so placed as to face a side
of the vehicle.
(2) However, in the case of a vehicle used before 17 April 2000 to carry
passengers for hire or reward, —
(a) sub-paragraph (1) does not apply; but
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(b) a passenger seat facing a side of the vehicle must be so placed
that the front edge of its back rest is not less than 1.35 m from
the front edge of the back rest of any seat facing it.
14 Floor covering
The floor of each vehicle must be covered with non-slip material which can be
easily cleaned.
15 Luggage
For each passenger which a vehicle may lawfully carry, there must be space
provided in or on the vehicle for carrying luggage measuring at least 50 x 38.1
x 22.8 cm.
16 Fire-extinguishing apparatus
(1) Every vehicle must carry one or more portable fire extinguishers, each
of which —
(a) complies in all respects with the specification for such
extinguishers issued by the British Standards Institution and
numbered BS 5423: 1987 or BSEN 3: 1996;
(b) has a minimum test fire rating of 3A or 21B;
(c) contains water or foam; and
(d) within the period of 12 months preceding each certification of
the vehicle under regulation 13 of the Licensing and
Registration of Vehicles Regulations 2004, has been certified by
the manufacturer or his or her agent as being in good and
efficient working order.
(2) Of the fire extinguishers referred to in sub-paragraph (1) —
(a) each must be clearly marked with the relevant British Standards
Institution specification number; and
(b) one must be carried in the area of the vehicle accommodating
the driver or front passenger.
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SCHEDULE 5 [Regulation 56(3)]
GAS SYSTEMS AND GAS-FIRED APPLIANCES
1 Definitions
In this Schedule —
"check valve" means a device which permits the flow of gas in one direction
and prevents the flow of gas in the opposite direction;
"design pressure" means the pressure which a part of a gas system has been
designed and constructed safely to withstand;
"double-check valve" means a device which consists of 2 check valves in series
and which permits the flow of gas in one direction and prevents the flow of
gas in the opposite direction;
"electrically operated valve" means a device which is electrically operated and
opens when the ignition is switched on and closes when the ignition is
switched off or the power is otherwise cut off;
"excess flow valve" means a device which automatically and instantaneously
reduces to a minimum the flow of gas through the valve when the flow rate
exceeds a set value;
"fixed gas container" means a gas container which is attached to a vehicle
permanently and in such a manner that the container can be filled without
being moved;
"gas container" means any container, not being a container for the carriage of
gas as goods, which is fitted to or carried on a motor vehicle or trailer and is
intended for the storage of gas for the propulsion of the motor vehicle or the
operation of a gas-fired appliance;
"high pressure" means a pressure exceeding 1.0325 bar absolute;
"high pressure pipeline" means a pipeline intended to contain gas at high
pressure;
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"pipeline" means any pipe or passage connecting any 2 parts of a gas
propulsion system of a vehicle or of a gas-fired appliance supply system on a
vehicle or any 2 points on the same part of any such system;
"portable gas container" means a gas container which may be attached to a
vehicle but which can readily be removed;
"pressure relief valve" means a device which opens automatically when the
pressure in the part of the gas system to which it is fitted exceeds a set value,
reaches its maximum flow capacity when the set value is exceeded by 10%,
and closes automatically when the pressure falls below a set value; and
"reducing valve" means a device which automatically reduces the pressure of
the gas passing through it, and includes regulator devices.
2 Gas containers
(1) Every gas container must —
(a) be capable of withstanding the pressure of the gas which may be
stored in the container at the highest temperature which the gas
is likely to reach;
(b) if fitted inside the vehicle, be so arranged as to prevent as far as
practicable the possibility of gas entering the engine, passenger
or living compartments due to leaks or venting from the
container or valves, connections and gauges immediately
adjacent to it, and the space containing these components must
be so ventilated and drained as to prevent the accumulation of
gas;
(c) be securely attached to the vehicle in such a manner as not to be
liable to displacement or damage due to vibration or other
cause; and
(d) be so placed and so insulated or shielded as not to suffer any
adverse effect from the heat of the exhaust system of any engine
or any other source of heat.
(2) Every portable gas container must —
(a) be hermetically sealed; or
126
(b) be fitted with a valve or cock to enable the flow of gas from the
container to be stopped.
(3) Every fixed gas container must —
(a) be fitted with —
(i) at least one pressure relief valve, and
(ii) at least one manually operated valve which may be
extended by an internal dip tube inside the gas container
so as to indicate when the container has been filled to the
level corresponding to the filling ratio specified in the
British Standards Institution Specification for Filling
Ratios and Developed Pressure for Liquefiable and
Permanent Gases (as defined, respectively, in paragraphs
3.2 and 3.5 of that Specification) published in May 1976
under the number BS 5355; and
(b) be conspicuously and permanently marked with its design
pressure.
(4) If any fixed gas container is required to be fitted in a particular attitude
or location, or if any device referred to in sub-paragraph (3) requires
the container to be fitted in such a manner, then it must be
conspicuously and permanently marked to indicate that requirement.
(5) If the operation of any pressure relief valve or other device referred to
in sub-paragraph (3) may cause gas to be released from the gas
container, an outlet must be provided to lead such gas to the outside of
the vehicle so as not to suffer any adverse effect from the heat of the
exhaust system of any engine or any other source of heat, and that
outlet from the pressure relief valve must not be fitted with any other
valve or cock.
3 Filling systems for fixed gas containers
(1) Every connection for filling a fixed gas container must be on the
outside of the vehicle.
(2) There must be fitted to every fixed gas container —
(a) a manually operated shut-off valve and an excess flow valve; or
127
(b) a manually operated shut-off valve and a single check valve; or
(c) a double-check valve,
and all parts of these valves in contact with gas must be made entirely
of suitable metal except that they may contain non-metal washers and
seals provided that such washers and seals are supported and
constrained by metal components.
(3) In every case where a pipe is attached to a gas container for the
purpose of filling the gas container, there must be fitted to the end of
the pipe farthest from the gas container a check valve or a double-
check valve.
(4) There must be fitted over every gas filling point on a vehicle a cap
which —
(a) prevents any leakage of gas from the gas filling point;
(b) is secured to the vehicle by a chain or other suitable means;
(c) is made of suitable material; and
(d) is fastened to the gas filling point by a screw or other suitable
means.
4 Pipelines
(1) Every pipeline must be fixed in such a manner and position that —
(a) it will not be adversely affected by the heat of the exhaust
system of any engine or any other source of heat;
(b) it is protected from vibration and strain in excess of that which it
can reasonably be expected to withstand; and
(c) in the case of a high pressure pipeline, it is, as far as practicable,
accessible for inspection.
(2) Save as provided in sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), every high pressure
pipeline must —
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(a) be a rigid line of steel, copper or copper alloy of high pressure
hydraulic grade, suitable for service on road vehicles and
designed for a minimum service pressure rating of not less than
75 bar absolute; and
(b) be effectively protected against, or shielded from, or treated so
as to be resistant to, external corrosion throughout its length
unless it is made from material which is corrosion-resistant
under the conditions which it is likely to encounter in service.
(3) No unsupported length of any high pressure pipeline may exceed 600
mm.
(4) Save as provided in sub-paragraph (5), flexible hose may be used in a
high-pressure pipeline if —
(a) in a case where the length of the hose does not exceed 500 mm,
—
(i) it is reinforced either by stainless-steel wire braid or by
textile braid, and
(ii) save in the case of a pipeline attached to a gas container
for the purpose of filling that container, the flexibility
which it provides is necessary for the construction or
operation of the gas system of which it forms part; or
(b) in a case where the length of the hose exceeds 500 mm, -
(i) it complies with Annex 8 to ECE Regulation 67.01, and
(ii) is marked in accordance with that regulation.
(5) In the case of a motor vehicle which first uses gas as a fuel for its
propulsion on or after 1 June 2005, a flexible hose of any length used in
a high-pressure pipeline must –
(a) comply with the requirements of Annex 8 to ECE Regulation
67.01;
(b) be marked in accordance with that regulation; and
(c) be no longer than is reasonably necessary.
129
(6) If a high pressure pipeline or part of such a pipeline is so constructed
or located that it may, in the course of its normal use (excluding the
supply of fuel from a gas container), contain liquid which is prevented
from flowing, a relief valve must be incorporated in that pipeline.
5 Unions and joints
(1) Every union and joint on a pipeline or gas container must be so
constructed and fitted that it —
(a) will not be liable to work loose or leak when in use; and
(b) will be readily accessible for inspection and maintenance.
(2) Every union on a high pressure pipeline or on a gas container must be
made of suitable metal but such a union may contain non-metal
washers and seals provided that such washers and seals are supported
and constrained by metal components.
6 Reducing valves
Every reducing valve must be made of suitable materials and be so fitted as to
be readily accessible for inspection and maintenance.
7 Pressure relief valves
(1) Every pressure relief valve which is fitted to any part of a gas system
(including a gas container) must —
(a) be made entirely of suitable metal and be so constructed and
fitted as to ensure that the cooling effect of the gas during
discharge shall not prevent its effective operation;
(b) be capable, under the most extreme temperatures likely to be
met (including exposure to fire), of a discharge rate which
prevents the pressure of the contents of the gas system from
exceeding its design pressure;
(c) have a maximum discharge pressure not greater than the design
pressure of the gas container;
(d) be so designed and constructed as to prevent unauthorised
interference with the relief pressure setting during service; and
130
(e) have outlets which —
(i) are so sited that so far as is reasonably practicable in the
event of an accident the valve and its outlets are
protected from damage and the free discharge from such
outlets is not impaired, and
(ii) are so designed and constructed as to prevent the
collection of moisture and other foreign matter which
could adversely affect their performance.
(2) The pressure at which a pressure relief valve is designed to start lifting
must be clearly and permanently marked on every such valve.
(3) Every pressure relief valve which is fitted to a gas container must
communicate with the vapour space in the gas container and not with
any liquefied gas.
8 Valves and cocks
(1) A valve or cock must be fitted to every supply pipeline as near as
practicable to every fixed gas container, and such valve or cock must
by manual operation enable the supply of gas from the gas container to
the gas system to be stopped and, save as provided in sub-paragraph
(2), must —
(a) if fitted on the outside of the vehicle, be readily visible and
accessible from the outside of the vehicle; or
(b) if fitted inside the vehicle, be readily accessible for operation
and be so arranged as to prevent as far as practicable the
possibility of gas entering the engine, passenger or living
compartments due to leaks, and the space containing the valve
or cock must be so ventilated and drained as to prevent the
accumulation of gas in that space.
(2) If a gas container supplies no gas system other than a gas propulsion
system —
(a) an electrically operated valve may be fitted in place of the valve
or cock referred to in sub-paragraph (1);
131
(b) either –
(i) it must be fitted as near as practicable to the gas
container, or
(ii) if fitted in addition to the valve or cock referred to in sub-
paragraph (1), it must either be incorporated into that
valve or cock or be fitted immediately downstream from
it; and
(c) it must, if fitted inside the vehicle, be so arranged as to prevent
as far as practicable the possibility of gas entering the engine,
passenger or living compartment due to leaks, and the space
containing the valve must be so ventilated and drained as to
prevent the accumulation of gas in any of those spaces.
(3) A notice clearly indicating the position, purpose and method of
operating every valve or cock referred to in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2)
must be fixed —
(a) in all cases, in a conspicuous position on the outside of the
vehicle; and
(b) in every case where the valve or cock is located inside the
vehicle, in a conspicuous position adjacent to the gas container.
(4) In the case of a high pressure pipeline for the conveyance of gas from
the gas container, an excess flow valve must be fitted as near as
practicable to the gas container, and such a valve must operate in the
event of a fracture of the pipeline or other similar failure.
(5) All parts of every valve or cock referred to in this paragraph which are
in contact with gas must be made of suitable metal, save that they may
contain non-metal washers and seals provided that such washers and
seals are supported and constrained by metal components.
9 Gauges
Every gauge connected to a gas container or to a pipeline must be so
constructed as to be unlikely to deteriorate under the action of the gas used or
to be used and must be so constructed and fitted that —
132
(a) no gas can escape into any part of the vehicle as a result of any
failure of the gauge; and
(b) in the event of any failure of the gauge, the supply of gas to the
gauge can be readily stopped,
provided that the requirement specified in sub-paragraph (b) shall not apply
in respect of a gauge fitted as an integral part of a gas container.
10 Propulsion systems
(1) Every gas propulsion system must be so designed and constructed that —
(a) the supply of gas to the engine is automatically stopped by the
operation of a valve when the engine is not running at all or is
not running on the supply of gas; and
(b) if a reducing valve is relied on to comply with sub-paragraph
(a), the supply of gas to the engine is automatically stopped by
the operation of an additional valve when the engine is switched
off.
(2) If the engine of a vehicle is constructed or adapted to run on one or
more fuels as alternatives to gas, the safety and efficiency of the engine
and any fuel system must not be impaired by the presence of any other
fuel system.
11 Special requirements for buses
In the case of a bus there must be fitted as near as practicable to the gas
container a valve which stops the flow of gas into the gas supply pipeline in
the event that —
(a) the angle of tilt of the vehicle —
(i) in the case of a double-decked vehicle, exceeds 28 degrees
from the horizontal, or
(ii) in the case of a single-decked vehicle, exceeds 35 degrees
from the horizontal; and
(b) the deceleration of the vehicle exceeds 5g.
133
12 Gas-fired appliances
(1) Every part of a gas-fired appliance must —
(a) be so designed and constructed that leakage of gas is unlikely to
occur; and
(b) be constructed of materials which are compatible with each
other and with the gas used.
(2) Every gas-fired appliance must —
(a) be so located as to be easily inspected and maintained;
(b) be so located and either insulated or shielded that its use does
not cause or is unlikely to cause danger due to the presence of
any flammable material;
(c) be so constructed and located as not to impose undue stress on
any pipe or fitting; and
(d) be so fastened or located as not to work loose or move in
relation to the vehicle.
(3) With the exception of catalytic heating appliances, every appliance of
the kind described in regulation 56(2)(b) which is fitted to a motor
vehicle must be fitted with a flue which —
(a) is connected to an outlet which is on the outside of the vehicle;
(b) is constructed and located so as to prevent any expelled matter
from entering the vehicle; and
(c) is located so that it does not cause any adverse effect to, or suffer
any adverse effect from, the exhaust outlet of any engine or any
other source of heat.
13 General requirements
Every part of a gas propulsion system or a gas-fired appliance system,
excluding the appliance itself, must —
134
(a) as far as practicable be so located or protected as not to be
exposed to accidental damage;
(b) be soundly and properly constructed of materials which are
compatible with each other and with the gas used or to be used
and which are capable of withstanding the loads and stresses
likely to be met in operation; and
(c) be so designed and constructed that leakage of gas is unlikely to
occur.
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SCHEDULE 6 [Regulation 57]
GAS WARNING SIGNS ON VEHICLES PROPELLED BY LIQUEFIED
PETROLEUM GAS
A sign complies with the requirements of this Schedule if —
(a) save as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), it is in the form shown in
the diagram below;
(b) its dimensions are not less than 50 mm square; and
(c) it has —
(i) a figure of a flame in white or black in one half of the sign and
the words "FLAMMABLE GAS" in white or black in the other,
(ii) a white, black or red border, and
(iii) a red background.
Diagram of sign
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SCHEDULE 7 [Regulation 69]
REPLACEMENT BRAKE LININGS
1 Interpretation
In this Schedule —
"brake lining" means the friction material component of a brake lining
assembly;
"brake lining assembly" means a component of a friction brake which is
pressed against a drum or disc to produce the friction force;
"the Braking Devices Directive" means Community Directive 2002/78;
"certificate of conformity" and "Minister's approval certificate" have the
meanings respectively assigned to those expressions in sections 57 and 58 of
the Road Traffic Act 1988 (of Parliament)27;
"EC type approval" means –
(a) vehicle type approval for a light passenger vehicle granted
pursuant to the Framework Directive, or
(b) system, component or separate technical unit type approval
granted pursuant to a Directive of the European Communities;
"the Framework Directive" means Community Directive 2001/116; and
"relevant vehicle" means a vehicle which falls within vehicle category M1, M2
or N1 of the categories specified in Annex II to the Framework Directive and
has a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
2 Prohibition on the use of replacement brake linings containing asbestos
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any motor vehicle fitted with replacement brake linings which
contain asbestos.
27
1988 c. 52
137
(2) However, nothing in sub-paragraph (1) applies to a vehicle fitted with
replacement brake linings if they were fitted –
(a) before 1 January 2005 in the case of a vehicle first used before 1
January 1973; and
(b) before 1 October 2000 in any other case.
(3) Without limiting sub-paragraph (2), nothing in this paragraph
applies in relation to replacement brake linings –
(a) fitted to a relevant vehicle which was first used before 31 March
2001, provided that those linings do not cause the vehicle to
contravene such of the provisions (if any) of regulation 5 of the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations as apply to
it;
(b) fitted to a relevant vehicle which was first used on or after 31
March 2001, provided that those linings comply with the
requirements of points 2.3 to 2.3.4 in Annex I to the Braking
Devices Directive;
(c) fitted on or after 1 August 2004 to a relevant vehicle in respect of
which –
(i) a certificate of conformity, a Minister's approval
certificate, or single vehicle approval has been granted,
(ii) an equivalent approval has been granted in a member
State of the European Union other than the United
Kingdom, or
(iii) the design of the braking system has been modified to
enhance the brake performance beyond that required to
secure EC type approval,
in a case where approval for those linings cannot be obtained
under Annex XV to Community Directive 98/12 or under ECE
Regulation 90.01.
138
3 Replacement brake linings for relevant vehicles
(1) A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road
any relevant vehicle fitted with replacement brake linings which do not
meet the requirements specified in sub-paragraph (2)(a) or (b).
(2) The requirements are —
(a) that the brake linings —
(i) have been type approved in accordance with the
requirements of the Braking Devices Directive,
(ii) have been marked by the manufacturer in accordance
with the requirements of paragraph 3 of Article 6 of the
Framework Directive, and
(iii) are marked in accordance with the requirements of point
4 of Annex XV to the Braking Devices Directive; or
(b) that the brake linings —
(i) have been approved in accordance with paragraph 4 of
ECE Regulation 90.01, and
(ii) are marked in accordance with paragraph 6 of that
Regulation.
(3) However, nothing in this paragraph applies in relation to replacement
brake linings fitted to a relevant vehicle which was first used before 1
September 1999, provided that those linings are not such as to cause
the vehicle to contravene the version of the Braking Devices Directive
that was applicable to it when it was first used.
4 Replacement brake linings for other vehicles
A person must not use, or cause or permit another to use, on a road any
vehicle (not being a relevant vehicle) if it is fitted with replacement brake
linings which cause it to contravene such of the provisions (if any) of
regulation 5 of the Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations as
apply to it.
139
SCHEDULE 8 [Regulation 70(3) and (4)]
MANUFACTURERS' PLATES
PART 1
MOTOR VEHICLES
1 In accordance with the footnotes appended to them, the following particulars
are to be shown on a plate for motor vehicles (including motor vehicles
forming part of articulated vehicles):
1. Manufacturer's name.
2. Vehicle type.
3. Chassis number or serial number.
4. Number of axles.
5. Maximum axle weight for each axle28.
6. Maximum gross weight29.
7. Maximum train weight30.
8. Maximum weight in Great Britain for each axle31.
9. Maximum weight in Great Britain32.
2 The references in footnotes 28 to 32 to the weights to be transmitted to the
road surface by all or any of the wheels of the vehicle or of any trailer drawn
are references to the weights so to be transmitted both of the vehicle or trailer
and of any load or persons carried by it.
PART 2
TRAILERS
3 In accordance with the footnotes appended to them, the following particulars
are to be shown on a plate for trailers (including trailers forming part of
articulated vehicles):
28
This weight as respects each axle is the sum of the weights to be transmitted to the road surface by all the
wheels of that axle. 29
This weight is the sum of the weights to be transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of the motor
vehicle (including any load imposed on the motor vehicle by a trailer, whether forming part of an articulated
vehicle or not). 30
This weight is the sum of the weights to be transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of the motor
vehicle and of any trailer drawn, but this item need not be completed where the motor vehicle is not
constructed to draw a trailer. 31
Footnote 28 applies to the completion of this item, which need not be completed in the case of a vehicle
manufactured before 1 October 1972 or in the case of a locomotive or motor tractor. 32
Footnote 29 applies to the completion of this item, which need not be completed in the case of a vehicle
mentioned in footnote 31.
140
1. Manufacturer's name.
2. Chassis number, serial number or vehicle identification number.
3. Number of axles.
4. Maximum axle weight for each axle33.
5. Maximum load imposed on drawing vehicle34.
6. Maximum gross weight35.
7. Maximum weight in Great Britain for each axle36.
8. Maximum weight in Great Britain37.
9. Year of manufacture38.
4 The references in footnotes 33 to 37 to the weights to be transmitted to the
road surface by all or any of the wheels of the trailer are references to the
weight so to be transmitted both of the trailer and of any load or persons
carried by it, and references to the weights to be imposed on a drawing
vehicle are references to the weights so to be imposed both of the trailer and
of any load or persons carried by it.
PART 3
PROVISIONS SUPPLEMENTARY TO PARTS I AND II
5 (1) Save as provided in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), the weights to be
shown on the plate in relation to items 5, 6 and 7 in Part I and in
relation to items 4, 5 and 6 in Part II must be the maximum weights at
which the vehicle is certified fit for use —
(a) in the case of a motor vehicle which is either a goods vehicle or
the tractor unit of an articulated vehicle, by the Secretary of
State; or
(b) in the case of any other vehicle, by the manufacturer,
33
This weight as respects each axle is the sum of the weights to be transmitted to the road surface by all the
wheels of that axle. 34
This item is to be completed only where the trailer forms part of an articulated vehicle or where some of the
weight of the trailer or its load is to be imposed on a drawing vehicle. This item does not apply to a
converter dolly manufactured before 1 February 1992. 35
This weight is the sum of the weights to be transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of the trailer,
including any weight of the trailer to be imposed on the drawing vehicle. 36
Footnote 33 applies to the completion of this item, which need not be completed in the case of a trailer
manufactured before 1 October 1972. 37
Footnote 35 applies to the completion of this item, which need not be completed in the case of a trail er
which was manufactured before 1 October 1972 or which forms part of an articulated vehicle. 38
This item need not be completed in the case of a trailer manufactured before 1 April 1970.
141
when due regard is had to the design, construction and equipment of
the vehicle and to the stresses to which it is likely to be subjected in
use.
(2) If alterations are made to a vehicle which may render the vehicle fit for
use at weights exceeding those referred to in sub-paragraph (1) and
shown on the plate —
(a) there may be shown on the plate, in place of those weights, such
new weights as the manufacturer of the vehicle or any person
carrying on business as a manufacturer of motor vehicles or
trailers (or a person duly authorised on behalf of that
manufacturer or any such person) or a person authorised by the
Secretary of State or by the Department considers to represent
the maximum weights at which the vehicle will then be fit for
use, having regard to those alterations, to the design,
construction and equipment of the vehicle, and to the stresses to
which it is likely to be subjected when in use; and
(b) the name of the person who has determined the new weights
must be shown on the plate and, where he or she is a person
authorised by the Secretary of State or by the Department, his
or her appointment must be shown.
(3) In sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), in so far as a vehicle manufactured on or
after 1 October 1972 is concerned, the references to equipment are not
to be treated as including a reference to the type of tyres with which
the vehicle is fitted.
6 The weights which are to be shown on the plate —
(a) in respect of items 8 and 9 in Part I must be the weights shown
respectively at items 5 and 6 in that Part; and
(b) in respect of items 7 and 8 in Part II, must be the weights shown
respectively at items 4 and 6 in that Part,
subject to each weight being reduced so far as necessary to indicate the
maximum weight for each axle or, as the case may be, the maximum weight
for the vehicle if —
(i) the vehicle were not to be used in contravention of the
provisions of the Construction and Use Regulations relating to
142
maximum permitted weights were it to be used in Great Britain,
and
(ii) the tyres fitted to the vehicle are not, as respects strength, to be
inadequate to support the weights to be so shown at items 8 and
9 in Part I and at items 7 and 8 in Part II.
7 (1) Save as provided in sub-paragraph (2), weights on plates first affixed
to a vehicle on or after 1 October 1972 must be shown in kilograms,
and weights on plates first so affixed before that date must be shown in
tons and decimals thereof.
(2) If a new weight is first shown on a plate by virtue of paragraph 5(2),
the weight must be shown in kilograms if it appears on the plate on or
after 1 October 1972, and in tons and decimals thereof if it appears on
the plate before that date.
8 All letters and figures shown on the plate must be at least 6 mm in height.
9 In the preceding Parts of this Schedule references to the manufacturer of a
motor vehicle or trailer are —
(a) in relation to a vehicle constructed with a chassis which has not
previously formed part of another vehicle, references to the
person by whom that chassis was made; and
(b) in relation to any other vehicle, references to the person by
whom that vehicle was constructed.
PART 4
ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS
10 Instead of bearing a plate to which regulation 70(3) refers, a vehicle may bear
a plate which —
(a) is securely affixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily
accessible position; and
(b) complies with the requirements of —
(i) the Annex to Community Directive 78/507, or
143
(ii) in the case of a vehicle first used before 1 October 1982,
the Annex to Community Directive 76/114,
subject to the modifications of those requirements set out in
following provisions of this Part.
11 Instead of the particulars required by items 2.1.4 to 2.1.7 of the Annex to
either Directive, the plate must show, for a vehicle of a class specified in
column 2 of the following table against an item in the Annex specified in its
column 1, the following particulars —
(a) the maximum permitted weight for that class, if any, shown in
column 3 of the table;
(b) if the maximum design weight shown in column 4 of the table
exceeds the maximum permitted weight, the maximum design
weight in a column on the plate to the right of the maximum
permitted weight; and
(c) if no weight is shown in column 3 of the table, the maximum
design weight shown in column 4 of the table in the right-hand
column of the plate.
TABLE
1
2
3
4
Item in Annex to either
Directive
Class of vehicle
Maximum permitted
weight
Maximum design weight
2.1.4 (Laden weight of
vehicle)
(i) Motor vehicles
(ii) Trailers, other than
semi-trailers
(iii) Semi-trailers
The maximum weight in
Great Britain as referred
to in item 9 in paragraph
1 of Part 1
The maximum weight in
Great Britain as referred
to in item 8 in paragraph
3 of Part 2
The maximum gross
weight referred to in item
6 in paragraph 1 of Part 1
The maximum gross
weight referred to in item
6 in paragraph 3 of Part
2
The maximum gross
weight referred to in item
6 in paragraph 3 of Part
2
144
2.1.5 (Train weight of
motor vehicle
Motor vehicles
constructed to draw a
trailer
The lower of -
(a) the maximum design
train weight; and either
(b) in the case of vehicles
constructed to form part
of an articulated vehicle,
the maximum total laden
weight specified in Part
4 of Schedule 6 to the
Construction, Equipment
and Weights Regulations;
or
(c) in the case of other
vehicles, the maximum
train weight specified in
Part 3 of that Schedule
The maximum design
train weight
2.1.6 (Axle weight of
vehicle)
(i) Motor vehicles
(ii) Trailers
The maximum weight in
Great Britain for each
axle as referred to in item
8 in paragraph 1 of Part 1
The maximum weight in
Great Britain for each
axle as referred to in item
7 in paragraph 3 of Part 2
The maximum weight for
each axle as referred to in
item 5 in paragraph 1 of
Part 1
The maximum weight for
each axle as referred to in
item 4 in paragraph 3 of
Part 2
2.1.7 (Load imposed by
semi-trailer
Semi-trailers
The maximum load
imposed on the drawing
vehicle as referred to in
item 5 in paragraph 3 of
Part 2
145
SCHEDULE 9 [Regulation 72]
DEPARTMENT PLATES AND DEPARTMENT DISCS
The Department plate and the Department disc must be in the form shown in the
diagrams below and must contain the particulars provided for there.
Diagram of Department plate
Department of Infrastructure
ROAD VEHICLES (MAINTENANCE AND USE) REGULATIONS 2012
PLATING OF GOODS VEHICLES
Department Plate
Plate Ref No:
Registration Mark
Chassis No. or Serial No. Type Approval No./Variant
Manufacturer and Model Type
Function (See Note 3 below)
Year of original registration Year of manufacture
Length Width Coupling centre to vehicle
foremost part (See Note 5
below)
max min
Coupling centre to vehicle
rearmost part (See Note 6 below)
max min
(1)
Description of weights
applicable to vehicle
(2)
Weights not to be exceeded in
the Isle of Man
(3)
Design weights (if higher than
shown in column 2)
Maximum Kingpin Load
(semi-trailers only)
Gross Weight (See Notes 1 & 4
below)
Train Weight (See Note 2 below)
Axle weights
(Axles
numbered
from front to
rear) (See
Note 1)
Axle 1
Axle 2
Date of issue and authenticating
stamp
Axle 3
Axle 4
NOTES
1. A reduced gross weight and/or axle weight may apply in certain cases to a vehicle towing or being
towed by another.
2. The MAXIMUM permissible train weight can vary depending on the type of trailer drawn.
3. If the last letter in the function box is “R”, road-friendly suspension is fitted.
4. All weights shown are subject to the fitting of correct tyres.
5. This dimension applies only to drawing vehicles of trailers and semi-trailers.
6. This dimension applies only to trailers and semi-trailers.
Tyre use conditions applicable
to vehicle (eg 2B, 2J or 2M etc):
146
Diagram of Department disc
Isle of Man
GOVERNMENT
Department of Infrastructure
Road Vehicles (Maintenance and Use Regulations) 2012
PLATING OF GOODS VEHICLES
Department Disc
Reference No. ………………
The weights shown on the plate, and for the vehicle,
referred to below remain valid
Plate Reference No. ………………………
Plate issued by……………………………..on (date)…………….
Registration mark of vehicle…………………………………..Manufacturer………………………….
Chassis or Serial No. …………………………………………………
Date of issue and authentication stamp
147
SCHEDULE 10 [Regulation 75(3)]
MOTOR CYCLE PLATES
1 The plate required by regulation 75(3) must be firmly attached to a part of the
motor cycle which is not normally subject to replacement during the life of the
vehicle.
2 The plate must be in the form shown in the diagram in this paragraph, must
have dimensions not less than those shown in that diagram, and must show
the information provided for in that diagram and detailed in the Notes at the
end of this Schedule.
Diagram of Plate
30 mm
50 mm
(see Note 4)
3 The information on the plate must be shown in characters not less than 4 mm
in height and in the positions on the plate indicated in the diagram above.
4 No information other than that provided for in the diagram above is to be
marked within the rectangle which is shown in that diagram.
2
Manufacturer’s name
Category (see Note 1)
Details (see Note 2)
VIN (see Note 3)
148
5 In this Schedule —
"maximum engine power" means the maximum net power in kilowatts that
the motor cycle engine will develop when measured in accordance with the
test conditions specified in the document numbered ISO 4106 published by
the International Organisation for Standardisation under reference ISO 1978
4106-09-01;
"moped" means a motor cycle which —
(a) has a kerbside weight not exceeding 250 kg,
(b) has an internal combustion engine with a cylinder capacity not
exceeding 50 cc, and
(c) is designed to have a maximum speed not exceeding 30 mph when
driven under the conditions set out in paragraph 6;
"power to weight ratio" means the ratio of the maximum engine power to the
kerbside weight of the vehicle when measured, as regards the maximum
engine power, in kilowatts and, as regards the kerbside weight, in 1000 kg;
"standard motor cycle" means a motor cycle which is not a moped.
6 A motor cycle is to be regarded as complying with paragraph (c) of the
definition of "moped" in paragraph 5 if it cannot exceed 35 mph when tested
under the following conditions —
(a) the surface on which it is tested must be dry asphalt or concrete;
(b) the rider must be a person not exceeding 75 kg in weight;
(c) no passenger or load shall be carried;
(d) the test route must be so located that acceleration to, and deceleration
from, maximum speed can take place elsewhere than on the test route
itself;
(e) the test route must not have a gradient exceeding 5 per cent;
(f) the motor cycle must be ridden in opposite directions along the test
route, and the speed recorded for the purpose of the test must (in order
149
to minimise the effect of wind resistance and gradient) be the average
of speed shown for each direction;
(g) when being driven along the test route, the motor cycle must be driven
in such a manner and in such a gear as to achieve the maximum speed
of which the vehicle is capable; and
(h) if the motor cycle is fitted with a device which can, without the use of
specialist tools or equipment, be readily modified or removed so as to
increase its maximum speed, the test must be carried out with the
device in the modified condition or, as the case may be, without the
device.
NOTES:
1 The categories are "standard motor cycle" and "moped".
2 The details are —
(a) for standard motor cycles —
(i) the engine capacity,
(ii) the maximum engine power, and
(iii) the power to weight ratio;
(b) for mopeds —
(i) the engine capacity,
(ii) the kerbside weight, and
(iii) the maximum speed.
3 The vehicle identification number (VIN) must be marked in the form
used by the manufacturer to identify any one individual vehicle.
4 In the case of a plate fitted to a moped, this dimension must be 40 mm.
150
SCHEDULE 11 [Regulation 77]
WEIGHTS NOT TO BE EXCEEDED IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BY CERTAIN
VEHICLES FITTED WITH A MANUFACTURER'S PLATE OR A MINISTRY PLATE
PART 1
INTRODUCTORY
1 Application
A weight is prescribed by this Schedule for the purposes of regulation 77(2)
and applies to a vehicle which is fitted with a manufacturer's plate or a
Ministry plate, but not a Department plate.
2 Interpretation
(1) In this Schedule —
"air spring" means a spring operated by means of air or compressible
fluid under pressure; and
"air suspension" means a suspension system in which at least 75 per
cent of the spring effect is caused by an air spring.
(2) For the purposes of this Schedule an axle is to be regarded as fitted
with road-friendly suspension if its suspension is —
(a) an air suspension; or
(b) a suspension, not necessarily being an air suspension, which —
(i) is equivalent to an air suspension for the purposes of
Community Directive 92/7, or
(ii) in the Department's opinion is adequately effective in
suppressing recoil and damping hammer-blow between a
vehicle's frame and the surface and structure of a road
which the vehicle is permitted to use.
151
PART 2
MAXIMUM TOTAL LADEN WEIGHTS AND MAXIMUM TRAIN WEIGHTS
3 Maximum total laden weight of locomotives
(1) This paragraph applies to a wheeled locomotive fitted with —
(a) a pneumatic tyre or resilient tyre on each wheel; and
(b) suitable and sufficient springs between each wheel and the
frame of the vehicle.
(2) A locomotive to which this paragraph applies must not exceed a total
laden weight of 28450 kg if it has more than 6 wheels.
4 Maximum train weights of locomotives
(1) The total laden weight of a wheeled locomotive to which paragraph 3
applies, together with that of one or more wheeled trailers drawn by it,
must not exceed —
(a) 50810 kg if the locomotive has fewer than 6 wheels;
(b) 54870 kg if the locomotive has 6 wheels; or
(c) 56900 kg if the locomotive has more than 6 wheels.
(2) The total laden weight of a wheeled locomotive to which paragraph 3
does not apply, together with that of one or more wheeled trailers
drawn by it, must not exceed 49280 kg.
5 Maximum total laden weights of motor vehicles, being 2-axle buses not
fitted with twin tyres and road-friendly suspension, 3-axle buses, and
goods vehicles, in each case complying with the relevant braking
requirement
(1) This paragraph applies to —
(a) a 2-axle bus which has its driving axle not fitted with twin
tyres and road-friendly suspension;
(b) a 3-axle bus; and
152
(c) a wheeled heavy motor car or wheeled motor car, being in either
case a goods vehicle,
where the vehicle in question —
(i) does not form part of an articulated vehicle,
(ii) is not an agricultural motor vehicle, and
(iii) complies with the relevant braking requirement.
(2) Save as provided in sub-paragraphs (3) to (5), every vehicle to which
this paragraph applies, and which has the number of axles and the axle
spacing specified in an item in columns 2 and 3 of Table 1, must not
exceed the total laden weight specified in that item in column 4.
(3) In the case of a goods vehicle to which this paragraph applies, being a
vehicle specified in item 3 of Table 1, the maximum total laden weight
has effect as if, for the figure of "17000", there were substituted the
figure of "18000", provided that the vehicle complies with Table 7 in
Schedule 6 to the Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations
as modified by paragraph 21(1) of that Schedule.
(4) In the case of a goods vehicle to which this paragraph applies, being a
vehicle specified in item 6 of Table 1, the maximum total laden weight
has effect as if, for the figure of "25000", there were substituted the
figure of "26000", provided that the vehicle complies with Table 7 in
Schedule 6 to the Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations as
modified by paragraph 21(1) of that Schedule.
(5) In the case of a goods vehicle to which this paragraph applies, being a
vehicle specified in item 10 of Table 1, the maximum total laden weight
has effect as if, for the figure of "31000", there were substituted the
figure of "32000", provided that the vehicle complies with Table 7 in
Schedule 6 to the Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations as
modified by paragraph 21(3) or (4) of that Schedule.
153
TABLE 1
MAXIMUM TOTAL LADEN WEIGHTS OF VEHICLES TO WHICH
PARAGRAPH 5 APPLIES
1
2
3
4
Item
No. of axles
Distance between foremost and rearmost axles (metres)
Maximum
total laden
weight (kg)
1
2
Less than 2.65
14230
2 2 At least 2.65 16260
3
4
2
3 or more
At least 3.0
At least 3.2 but less than 3.9
17000
20330
5 3 or more At least 3.9 but less than 4.9 22360
6 3 At least 4.9 25000
7 4 or more At least 4.9 but less than 5.6 25000
8 4 or more At least 5.6 but less than 5.9 26420
9 4 or more At least 5.9 but less than 6.3 28450
10 4 or more At least 6.3 31000
6 Maximum total laden weights of trailers (other than semi-trailers) drawn by
motor vehicles complying with the relevant braking requirement
(1) This paragraph applies to a wheeled trailer (including a composite
trailer) which —
(a) does not form part of an articulated vehicle;
(b) is not an agricultural trailer or a trailer fitted with overrun
brakes; and
(c) is drawn by a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car which
in each case complies with the relevant braking requirement.
(2) Every vehicle to which this paragraph applies, and which has the
number of axles and the axle spacing specified in an item in columns 2
and 3 of Table 2, must not exceed the total laden weight specified in
that item in column 4.
154
TABLE 2
MAXIMUM TOTAL LADEN WEIGHTS OF VEHICLES TO WHICH
PARAGRAPH 6 APPLIES
1
2
3
4
Item
No. of axles
Distance between foremost and rearmost axles (metres)
Maximum
total laden
weight (kg)
1
2
Less than 2.65
14230
2 2 At least 2.65 16260
3 3 or more At least 3.9 but less than 4.9 22360
4 3 At least 4.9 24390
5 3 or more At least 4.9 25000
7 Maximum train weights of motor vehicles drawing drawbar trailers
The total laden weight of a wheeled motor tractor, wheeled heavy motor car
or wheeled motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle),
together with that of a wheeled trailer (other than a semi-trailer) drawn by it,
must not —
(a) exceed 32520 kg if the combination of vehicles has a total of 4
or more axles and if the drawing vehicle —
(i) was first used on or after 1 April 1973,
(ii) complies with the relevant braking requirement,
(iii) has every driving axle (not being a steering axle) fitted
with twin tyres, and
(iv) has every driving axle fitted with road-friendly
suspension;
(b) exceed 28450 kg if —
(i) the conditions referred to in sub-paragraph (a) are not
met,
155
(ii) the trailer is fitted with power-assisted brakes which can
be operated by the driver of the drawing vehicle and are
not rendered ineffective by the non-rotation of its engine,
and
(iii) the drawing vehicle is equipped with a warning device
placed so as to be readily visible to its driver and which is
capable of indicating any impending failure of, or
deficiency in, the vacuum or pressure system; or
(c) exceed 24390 kg in any other case.
8 Maximum total laden weight of motor vehicles forming part of
articulated vehicles and complying with the relevant braking requirement
(1) This paragraph applies to a wheeled heavy motor car or wheeled
motor car which in either case is not an agricultural motor vehicle,
forms part of an articulated vehicle, and complies with the relevant
braking requirement.
(2) Every vehicle to which this paragraph applies, and which has the
number of axles and the axle spacing specified in an item in columns 2
and 3 of Table 3, must not exceed —
(a) the total laden weight specified in that item in column 5; and
(b) as respects any intermediate axle, the axle weight specified in
that item in column 4.
TABLE 3
MAXIMUM TOTAL LADEN WEIGHTS OF VEHICLES TO WHICH
PARAGRAPH 8 APPLIES
1
2
3
4
5
Item
No. of axles
Distance between foremost and rearmost
axles (metres)
Weight not
exceeded by
any
intermediate
axle (kg)
Maximum
total laden
weight (kg)
1
2
At least 2.0
—
14230
2 2 At least 2.4 — 16260
156
3
3 or more
At least 3.0
8390
20330
4 3 or more At least 3.8 8640 22360
5 3 or more At least 4.0 8900 22500
6 3 or more At least 4.3 9150 24390
7 3 or more At least 4.9 10170 24390
9 Maximum total laden weights of articulated vehicles
The maximum total laden weight of an articulated vehicle must not —
(a) in the case of a vehicle complying with the relevant braking
requirement, exceed the weight specified in column 4 of Table 4 in an
item in which the vehicle is described in columns 2 and 3; or
(b) in the case of a vehicle not complying with the relevant braking
requirement, exceed –
(i) 20330 kg if the trailer has fewer than 4 wheels, or
(ii) 24390 kg if the trailer has 4 or more wheels.
TABLE 4
MAXIMUM TOTAL LADEN WEIGHTS OF VEHICLES TO WHICH
PARAGRAPH 9(a) REFERS
1
2
3
4
Item
Description of articulated vehicles
to which this Schedule applies
Number of axles
Maximum total
laden weight (kg)
1
Articulated vehicle
3
24390
2
Articulated vehicle
4
32520
157
3
Articulated vehicle
5
38000
4
Articulated vehicle not satisfying the
conditions specified in paragraph
14(2) of Schedule 6 to the
Construction, Equipment and
Weights Regulations
6 or more
38000
PART 3
MAXIMUM LADEN AXLE WEIGHTS
10 Maximum laden axle weight of 2-axle buses not fitted with twin tyres
and road-friendly suspension, 3-axle buses, goods vehicles and trailers
(1) This paragraph applies to —
(a) a 2-axle bus which —
(i) has its driving axle not fitted with twin tyres and road-
friendly suspension, and
(ii) complies with the relevant braking requirement;
(b) a 3-axle bus complying with the relevant braking
requirement;
(c) a wheeled heavy motor car or wheeled motor car, being in either
case a goods vehicle, complying with that requirement;
(d) a wheeled trailer drawn by a motor vehicle complying with that
requirement; and
(e) a wheeled agricultural motor vehicle and a wheeled agricultural
trailer.
(2) However, this paragraph does not apply to a vehicle forming part of an
articulated vehicle.
158
(3) In the case of a vehicle to which this paragraph applies, the maximum
laden axle weight transmitted to the road surface by any 2 wheels in
line transversely must not, save as provided in regulation 35 of the
Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations, exceed 10170 kg if
each wheel is fitted with a wide tyre or with 2 pneumatic tyres
having the centres of their areas of contact with the road surface not
less than 300 mm apart as measured at right angles to the longitudinal
axis of the vehicle.
11 Maximum laden axle weights of articulated vehicles complying with the
relevant braking requirement
(1) This paragraph applies to an articulated vehicle which complies with
the relevant braking requirement.
(2) In the case of an axle described in an item in column 2 of Table 5, the
maximum laden axle weight transmitted to the road surface by all the
wheels together of the axle must not, save as provided in regulation 35
of the Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations, exceed the
weight specified in that item in column 3.
TABLE 5
1
2
3
Item
Description of axle
Maximum
laden axle weight
(kg)
1
Single driving axle
10170
2
Driving tandem axle
18000
3
Triaxle not fitted with road-friendly suspension
22500
159
(3) In this paragraph "triaxle" has the same meaning as in regulation 35 of
the Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations.
12 Maximum laden axle weights of vehicles not complying with the relevant
braking requirement
In the case of —
(a) a wheeled heavy motor car or wheeled motor car which in
either case —
(i) is not an agricultural motor vehicle, and
(ii) does not comply with the relevant braking requirement;
or
(b) a wheeled trailer (not being an agricultural trailer) drawn by a
motor vehicle not complying with that requirement,
the maximum laden axle weights are, whether or not the vehicle forms part of
an articulated vehicle, the relevant weights specified in items 4 and 5 in Table
7 of Schedule 6 to the Construction, Equipment and Weights Regulations.
PART 4
MAXIMUM WEIGHTS FOR CERTAIN CLOSELY SPACED AXLES
13 Maximum weights for certain closely spaced axles
(1) Save in respect of articulated vehicles, this paragraph applies to —
(a) a wheeled motor vehicle complying with the relevant braking
requirement; and
(b) a wheeled trailer drawn by a motor vehicle complying with that
requirement.
(2) In the case of a motor vehicle to which this paragraph applies, the total
weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of 2 closely
spaced axles must not, if the distance between those axles is at least 1.3
m, exceed 18000 kg.
160
(3) In the case of any vehicle to which this paragraph applies, the total
weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of 3 closely
spaced axles must not, if the smallest distance between any 2 of
those axles is at least 1.3 m, exceed 22500 kg.
PART 5
GENERAL
14 Vehicles no longer complying with the relevant braking requirement
If a vehicle ceases to comply with the relevant braking requirement, a weight
prescribed by this Schedule and otherwise applying to the vehicle must not be
exceeded by virtue of that fact.
SCHEDULE 12 [Regulations 83 and 85]
CONDITIONS TO BE COMPLIED WITH IN RELATION TO LONG VEHICLE
COMBINATIONS AND VEHICLES WITH FORWARD, REARWARD
OR LATERAL PROJECTIONS OF LOAD
PART 1
1 Advance notice to police
(1) Before using on a road a vehicle or vehicles to which this paragraph
applies, the user of the motor vehicle must give notice of the intended
use to the Chief Constable.
(2) The notice must be given so that it is received by the date after which
there are at least 2 working days before the date on which the use of
the vehicle or vehicles is to begin, and must include the following
details —
(a) the time, date and route of the proposed journey; and
(b) in a case to which regulation 83(2) applies, the overall length of
the vehicle or, if there is more than one vehicle, of the
combination of vehicles and the length of the forward or
rearward projection of —
161
(i) the load; or
(ii) the special appliance or apparatus;
(c) in a case to which regulation 83(5) applies, the overall length of
the combination of vehicles and the length of any forward or
rearward projection of the load; and
(d) in a case of an indivisible load to which regulation 85(2) applies,
the overall length of the vehicle or, if there is more than one
vehicle, of the combination of vehicles, the overall width of the
vehicle or vehicles, and the width of the lateral projection or
projections of the load.
(3) The Chief Constable may, in his or her discretion, accept a shorter
period of notice or fewer details than are provided for in sub-
paragraph (2).
(4) The vehicle or vehicles must be used only in accordance with the
details provided in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)or (3), which
may be subject to such variation in the time, date or route as may be
directed by —
(a) the Chief Constable to the user of the vehicle or vehicles; or
(b) a police constable to the driver in the interests of road safety or
in order to avoid undue traffic congestion.
(5) In this paragraph —
"bank holiday" means a day which is a bank holiday by or under the
Bank Holidays Act 198939; and
"working day" means a day which is not a Sunday, a bank holiday,
Christmas Day or Good Friday.
2 Attendants
(1) Save as provided in sub-paragraph (2), at least one person in addition
to the person or persons employed in driving a motor vehicle to which
this paragraph applies must be employed —
39
1989 c. 5
162
(a) in attending to that vehicle and its load, any other vehicle or
vehicles drawn by that vehicle, and the load or loads carried on
the vehicle or vehicles so drawn; and
(b) to give warning to the driver of that motor vehicle and to any
person of any danger likely to be caused to any such other
person by reason of the presence of that vehicle or those vehicles
on the road.
(2) If 3 or more vehicles as respects which the conditions in this
paragraph are applicable are travelling together in convoy, it is a
sufficient compliance with this paragraph if only the foremost and
rearmost vehicles in that convoy are attended in the manner prescribed
in this paragraph.
(3) For the purposes of this paragraph, when a motor vehicle is drawing a
trailer or trailers —
(a) any person employed in pursuance of section 26 of the Act in
attending that vehicle or any such trailer is to be treated as being
an attendant required by this paragraph as long as he or she is
also employed to discharge the duties mentioned in sub-
paragraph (1); and
(b) if another motor vehicle is used for the purpose of assisting in
their propulsion on the road, the person or persons employed in
driving that other motor vehicle are not to be treated as a person
or persons employed in attending to the first-mentioned vehicle
or any vehicle or vehicles drawn by it.
3 Marking of longer projections
(1) Every forward and rearward projection to which this paragraph
applies must be fitted with —
(a) an end marker, except in the case of a rearward projection which
is fitted with a rear marking in accordance with the Lighting
Regulations; and
(b) where required by sub-paragraph (3), 2 side markers,
which must be of the size, shape and colour described in Part 2.
163
(2) The end marker must be so fitted that —
(a) it is as near as practicable in a transverse plane;
(b) it is not more than 0.5 m from the extreme end of the projection;
(c) the vertical distance between the lowest point of the marker and
the road surface is not more than 2.5 m;
(d) it, and the means by which it is fitted to the projection, impedes
the view of the driver as little as possible; and
(e) it is clearly visible within a reasonable distance to a person using
the road at the end of the vehicle from which the projection
extends.
(3) If the forward projection exceeds 1.83 m or the rearward projection
exceeds 3.05 m, one side marker must be fitted on the right-hand side
and one on the left-hand side of the projection so that —
(a) each marker is as near as practicable in a longitudinal plane;
(b) no part extends beyond the end of the projection;
(c) the vertical distance between the lowest part of each marker and
the surface of the road is not more than 2.5 m;
(d) the horizontal distance between each marker and the end
marker or, as the case may be, the rear marking carried in
accordance with the Lighting Regulations does not exceed 1 m;
and
(e) each marker is clearly visible within a reasonable distance to a
person using the road on that side of the projection.
(4) Every marker fitted in accordance with this paragraph must be kept
clean and unobscured and be illuminated between sunset and sunrise
by a lamp which renders it readily visible from a reasonable distance
and which is so shielded that its light, except as reflected from the
marker, is not visible to other persons using the road.
164
4 Marking of shorter projections
A rearward projection to which this paragraph applies must be rendered
clearly visible to other persons using the road within a reasonable distance
from the rear, and from either side, of the projection.
5 Marking of wide loads
(1) Every load carried on a vehicle in circumstances where this paragraph
applies must be fitted transversely, on each side of the front and rear of
the load, and in the prescribed manner, with —
(a) a prescribed marker in such a position that it is visible from the
front of the vehicle; and
(b) a prescribed marker in such a position that it is visible from the
rear of the vehicle.
(2) Every marker fitted pursuant to this paragraph must be kept clean and
unobscured and be illuminated between sunset and sunrise by a lamp
which renders it readily visible from a reasonable distance and which
is so shielded that its light, except as reflected from the marker, is not
visible to other persons using the road.
(3) If the load does not extend beyond the longitudinal plane passing
through the extreme lateral projecting point of one side of the vehicle,
it is not necessary for a marker to be fitted to the load on that side.
(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) —
(a) a marker fitted transversely on each side of the front and rear of
the load is fitted in the prescribed manner if at least part of it is
within 50 mm of a longitudinal plane passing through the point
on that side of the load which is farthest from the longitudinal
axis of the vehicle; and
(b) a prescribed marker is a side marker of the size, shape and
colour described in Part 2.
165
PART 2
PROJECTION MARKERS
Diagram of End Marker
Not less than 610 mm
45°
Alternate red and white
stripes 100 mm wide
Not less than 610 mm
50 mm wide red border
Diagram of Side Marker
45°
Alternate red and white stripes
100 mm wide
Not less than
610 mm 50 mm wide red border
Not less than 1520 mm
166
SCHEDULE 13 [Regulation 95]
REVOCATIONS
1
SD No.
2
Title
3
Extent of revocation
673/02
Road Vehicles (Maintenance and Use) Regulations 2002
The entire Regulations
674/02
Road Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Weights)
Regulations 2002
The entire Regulations
698/04
Road Vehicles (Construction, Lighting and Use)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004
Regulation 2(1) and (2)
and Schedules 1 and 2
404/05
Road Vehicles (Maintenance and Use) (Amendment)
Regulations 2005
The entire Regulations
162/07
Road Vehicles (Construction, Lighting and Use)
(Amendment) Regulations 2007
Regulation 2(1) and (2)
and Schedules 1 and 2
28/11
Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment)
Regulations 2011
Regulation 3(1) and (2)
and Schedules 1 and 2
167
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations consolidate with 2 amendments the road vehicles maintenance
and use provisions of the Regulations revoked by regulation 95 and Schedule 13.
The first amendment incorporates in regulation 26 provisions for the "S" marking of
replacement tyres fitted on or after 1 July 2014 to certain vehicles. Tyres so marked
will have reduced noise. The lead-in time will allow for the sale of non-compliant
stock.
The second amendment involves the substitution of a new paragraph 9 in Schedule
4, which will —
enable temporary use spare tyres to be used in limited circumstances on
public passenger vehicles which are passenger cars, and
restrict the use on them of tyres repaired by a foam inflation device.
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