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The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Type Statutory-Instrument

Publication 1986-06-25

Last updated 2025-04-29

State In force

Department Westlaw

Source legislation.gov.uk

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Made: 25th June 1986

Laid before Parliament: 18th July 1986

Coming into Operation: 11th August 1986

The Secretary of State for Transport (hereinafter referred to as “the Secretary of State”), in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 34(5), 40(1), (2) and (3) and 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 now vested in him[^f00001] and of all other enabling powers, and after consultation with representative organisations in accordance with the provisions of section 199(2) of that Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:—

PART I — PRELIMINARY

Commencement and citation

1

These Regulations shall come into operation on 11th August 1986, and may be cited as the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

Revocation

2

The Regulations specified in Schedule 1 are hereby revoked.

Interpretation

3

(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

(a) any reference to a numbered regulation or a numbered Schedule is a reference to the regulation or Schedule bearing that number in these Regulations,

(b) any reference to a numbered or lettered paragraph or sub-paragraph is a reference to the paragraph or sub-paragraph bearing that number or letter in the regulation or Schedule or (in the case of a sub-paragraph) paragraph in which the reference occurs, and

(c) any reference to a Table, or to a numbered Table, is a reference to the Table, or to the Table bearing that number, in the regulation or Schedule in which that reference occurs.

(2) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, the expressions specified in column 1 of the Table have the meaning, or are to be interpreted in accordance with the provisions, specified for them in column 2 of the Table.

1	2
Expression	Meaning
The 1971 Act	The Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971.
The 1972 Act	The Road Traffic Act 1972.
The 1981 Act	The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.
The 1984 Act	The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 .
The 1988 Act	The Road Traffic Act 1988
The Approval Marks Regulations	The Motor Vehicles (Designation of Approval Marks) Regulations 1979[^f00002].
The EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval Regulations	The Motor Vehicles (EC Type Approval) Regulations 1998
The Lighting Regulations	The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1984.
The Plating and Testing Regulations	The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1982[^f00003].
The Type Approval Regulations	The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) Regulations 1980[^f00004].
The Type Approval (Great Britain) Regulations	The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1984 [^f00005].
The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations	Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 of 12 December 2012 implementing Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to type-approval requirements for masses and dimensions of motor vehicles and their trailers and amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1892 of 31 October 2019.
The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations (Northern Ireland)	Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 of 12 December 2012 implementing Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to type-approval requirements for masses and dimensions of motor vehicles and their trailers and amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1892 of 31 October 2019, as it has effect in Northern Ireland by virtue of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the EU withdrawal agreement.
The (European Union) Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations	Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 of 12 December 2012 implementing Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to type-approval requirements for masses and dimensions of motor vehicles and their trailers and amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1892 of 31 October 2019, as it has effect in EU law.
The Type Approval for Goods Vehicles Regulations	The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval for Goods Vehicles) (Great Britain) Regulations 1982[^f00006].
The Type Approval for Agricultural Vehicles Regulations	The Agricultural or Forestry Tractors and Tractor Components (Type Approval) Regulations 1979[^f00007].
The Vehicle Approval Regulations	The Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2009
The Act of Accession	the Treaty concerning the Accession of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community[^f00008]
aerodynamic devices and equipment	devices or equipment that are designed to reduce the aerodynamic drag of road vehicles, with the exception of elongated cabs, type-approved in accordance with—(a)Article 4a of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations;(b)Article 4a of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations (Northern Ireland); or(c)Article 4a of The (European Union) Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations.
agricultural or forestry tractor	an agricultural or forestry tractor within the meaning of Community Directive 82/890.
agricultural motor vehicle	a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted for use off roads for the purpose of agriculture, horticulture or forestry and which is primarily used for one or more of those purposes, not being a dual-purpose vehicle.
agricultural trailer	a trailer which is constructed or adapted for the purpose of agriculture, horticulture or forestry and which is only used for one or more of those purposes, not being an agricultural trailed appliance.
agricultural trailed appliance	a trailer—which is an implement constructed or adapted—for use off roads for the purpose of agriculture, horticulture or forestry and which is only used for one or more of those purposes, andso that, save in the case of an appliance manufactured before 1st December 1985, or a towed roller, its maximum gross weight is not more than twice its unladen weight; butwhich is not—a vehicle which is used primarily as living accommodation by one or more persons, and which carries no goods or burden except those needed by such one or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle; oran agricultural, horticultural or forestry implement rigidly but not permanently mounted on any vehicle whether or not any of the weight of the implement is supported by one or more of its own wheels; so however that such an implement is an agricultural trailed appliance if—part of the weight of the implement is supported by one or more of its own wheels, and—the longitudinal axis of the greater part of the implement is capable of articulating in the horizontal plane in relation to the longitudinal axis of the rear portion of the vehicle on which it is mounted.
agricultural trailed appliance conveyor	an agricultural trailer which— (a) has an unladen weight which does not exceed 510 kg; (b) is clearly and indelibly marked with its unladen weight; (c) has a pneumatic tyre fitted to each one of its wheels; (d) is designed and constructed for the purpose of conveying one agricultural trailed appliance or one agricultural, horticultural or forestry implement.
anti-lock braking system (“ABS”)	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 the vehicle during braking.
articulated bus	a bus so constructed that— (a) it can be divided into two parts, both of which are vehicles and one of which is a motor vehicle, but cannot be so divided without the use of facilities normally available only at a workshop; and (b) passengers carried by it can at all times pass from either part to the other.
articulated vehicle	a heavy motor car or motor car, not being an articulated bus, with a trailer so attached that part of the trailer is superimposed on the drawing vehicle and, when the trailer is uniformly loaded, not less than 20% of the weight of its load is borne by the drawing vehicle.
axle	any reference to the number of axles of a vehicle is to be interpreted in accordance with paragraph (8).
axle weight	in relation to each axle of a vehicle, the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of that axle, having regard to the provisions of paragraph (8).
braking efficiency	the maximum braking force capable of being developed by the brakes of a vehicle, expressed as a percentage of the weight of the vehicle including any persons or load carried in the vehicle.
braking system	is to be interpreted in accordance with paragraph (6).
bus	a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver.
camera-monitor system	has the same meaning as in ECE Regulation 46.04.
car transporter	a trailer which is constructed and normally used for the purpose of carrying at least two other wheeled vehicles.
category T tractor	A vehicle in “category T” as defined in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles.
cc	cubic centimetre(s).
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 that the distance between the centres of their respective areas of contract with the road surface does not exceed 1 m.
. . .	. . .
cm	centimetre(s).
cm²	square centimetre(s).
coach	means a large bus with a maximum gross weight of more than 7.5 tonnes and with a maximum speed exceeding 60 mph;
Community Directive, followed by a number	the Directive adopted by the Council or the Commission of the European Communities or the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of which identifying particulars are given in the item in column 3 of Table I in Schedule 2 in which that number appears in column 2; where such a Directive amends a previous Directive mentioned in column 3(d) of the Table the reference to the amending Directive includes a reference to that previous Directive as so amended. Any reference to a Directive which has been amended by the Act of Accession is a reference to the Directive as so amended.
. . .	. . .
. . .	. . .
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 trailer which is— equipped with 2 or more wheels,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, andnot itself a part either of the semi-trailer or the drawing vehicle when being so used; ora trailer which is—equipped with 2 or more wheels;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;not itself a part either of the semi-trailer or the drawing vehicle when being so used; andused solely for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, or for any two or for all of those purposes.
Council Regulation (EEC), followed by a number	the Regulation adopted by the Council of the European Communities.
deck	a floor or platform on which seats are provided for the accommodation of passengers.
design weight	in relation to the gross weight, each axle weight or the train weight of a motor vehicle or trailer, the weight at or below which in the opinion of the Secretary of State or of a person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State the vehicle could safely be driven on roads.
double-decked vehicle	a vehicle having two 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 of which the unladen weight does not exceed 2040 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; orsatisfies the following conditions as to construction, namely—the vehicle must be permanently fitted with a rigid roof, with or without a sliding panel;the area of the vehicle to the rear of the driver's seat must—be permanently fitted with at least one row of transverse seats (fixed or folding) for two or more passengers and those seats must be properly sprung or cushioned and provided with upholstered back-rests, attached either to the seats or to a side or the floor of the vehicle; andbe 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; andthe distance between the rearmost part of the steering wheel and the back-rests of the row of transverse seats satisfying the requirements specified in head (i) of sub-paragraph (b) (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 Vehicles Equipment and Parts and reciprocal recognition thereof concluded at Geneva on 20th March 1958[^f00009] as amended[^f00010], to which the United Kingdom is a party[^f00011], of which identifying particulars are given in the item in column (3)(a), (b) and (c) of Table II in Schedule 2in which that number appears in column (2); and where that number contains a full-stop followed by another number, it refers to that Regulation with the amendments in force at the date specified in column (3)(d) in that item.
elongated cab	the cab of a vehicle or a combination of vehicles that complies with—(a)Appendix 5 of Annex I of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations;(b)Appendix 5 of Annex I of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations (Northern Ireland); or(c)Appendix 5 of Annex I of The (European Union) Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations.
engine power in kilowatts (kW)	the maximum net power ascertained in accordance with Community Directive 80/1269.
engineering equipment	engineering plant and any other plant or equipment designed and constructed for the purpose of engineering operations.
engineering plant	(a) movable plant or equipment being a motor vehicle or trailer specially designed and constructed for the special purposes of engineering operations, and which cannot, owing to the requirements of those purposes, comply with all the requirements of these Regulations and which is not constructed primarily to carry a load other than a load being either 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 thereon; or (b) a mobile crane which does not comply in all respects with the requirements of these Regulations.
EU Tachographs Regulation	Regulation (EU) No. 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on tachographs in road transport as read with the Community Drivers’ Hours and Recording Equipment Regulations 2007.
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.
first used	is to be interpreted in accordance with paragraph (3).
Framework Directive	Council Directive 70/156/EEC as amended by Council Directive 87/403/EEC, Council Directive 92/53/EEC , Commission Directive 93/81/EEC and Commission Directive 98/14/EC.
fuel cell	a device in which hydrogen reacts with oxygen, creating water and generating an electric current.
gangway	the space provided for obtaining access from any entrance to the passengers' seats or from any such seat to an exit other than an emergency exit, but excluding a staircase and any space in front of a seat which is required only for the use of passengers occupying that seat or a seat in the same row of seats.
gas	any fuel which is wholly gaseous at 17.5°C under a pressure of 1.013 bar absolute.
gas-fired appliance	a device carried on a motor vehicle or trailer when in use on a road, which consumes gas and which is none of the following—(a) a device owned or operated by or with the authority of a gas transporter for the purposes of detecting gas;(b) an engine for the propulsion of a motor vehicle;(c) a lamp which consumes acetylene gas;(d) a fuel cell.
gas transporter	a holder of a licence under section 7(1) of the Gas Act 1986 except where the holder is acting otherwise than for purposes connected with—(a) the carrying on of activities authorised by the licence;(b) the conveyance of gas through pipes which—(i) are situated in an authorised area of the licence holder; or(ii) are situated in an area which was an authorised area of the licence holder, or an authorised area of a previous holder of the licence, and were so situated at a time when it was such an area; or(c) the conveyance through pipes of gas which is in the course of being conveyed to or from a country of territory outside Great Britain.
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 purpose of spreading grit or other matter so as to avoid or reduce the effect of ice or snow on the road.
gross weight	(a) in relation to a motor vehicle, the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of the vehicle. (b) 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 carry, which is constructed itself to carry a load or passengers and the weight of which unladen exceeds 2540 kg.
indivisible load	a load which cannot without undue expense or risk of damage be divided into two or more loads for the purpose of conveyance on a road.
industrial tractor	a tractor, not being an agricultural motor vehicle, which— (a) has an unladen weight not exceeding 7370 kg, (b) is designed and used primarily for work off roads, or for work on roads in connection only with road construction or maintenance (including any such tractor when fitted with an implement or implements designed primarily for use in connection with such work, whether or not any such implement is of itself designed to carry a load), and (c) has a maximum speed not exceeding 20 mph.
intermodal transport operation	shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 9(3) of Part IV of Schedule 11A.
invalid carriage	a mechanically propelled vehicle the weight of which unladen does not exceed 254 kg and which 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.
ISO	International Organisation for Standardisation.
ISO 7638 connector	an electrical connector that complies with standard ISO 7638: 1997–1 or ISO 7638: 1997–2 and is used to provide a dedicated power supply and a communication link between the tow vehicle and trailer.
kerbside weight	the weight of a vehicle when it carries—in the case of a motor vehicle, no person; anda 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; in the case of a trailer, no person and is otherwise unladen.
kg	kilogram(s).
km/h	kilometre(s) per hour.
kW	kilowatt(s).
large bus	means a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 seated passengers in addition to the driver;
light trailer	a trailer with a maximum gross weight which does not exceed 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 the number BS 4250: 2014 and published on 30th November 2014; 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.
living van	a vehicle used primarily as living accommodation by one or more persons, and which is not also used for the carriage of goods or burden which are not needed by such one or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle.
locomotive	a mechanically propelled vehicle which 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, and the weight of which unladen exceeds 7370 kg.
longitudinal plane	a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle.
low platform trailer	a trailer fitted with tyres with a rim diameter size code of less than 20 and displaying a rectangular plate which– ais at least 225 mm wide and at least 175 mm high; and bbears two black letters “L” on a white ground each at least 125 mm high and 90 mm wide with a stroke width of 12 mm.
low loader	a semi-trailer which is constructed and nor mally used for the carriage of engineering equipment so constructed that the major part of the load platform does not extend over or between the wheels and the upper surface of which is below the height of the top most point of the tyres of those wheels, measured on level ground and when– aany adjustable suspension is at the normal travelling height, ball pneumatic tyres are suitably infl ated for use when the vehicle is fully laden, and cthe semi-trailer is unladen, (see also the definition of stepframe low loader).
m	metre(s).
m²	square metre(s).
m³	cubic metre(s).
maximum permitted axle weight	in relation to an axle– ain the case of a vehicle which is equipped with a Ministry plate in accordance with regulation 70, the axle weight shown in column (2) of that plate (where the plate is in the form required by Schedule 10 or 10B) or in column (2) of that plate (where the plate is in the form required by Schedule 10A or 10C) in relation to that axle; bin the case of a vehicle which is not equipped with a Ministry plate but which is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 66, the maximum axle weight shown for that axle on the plate in respect of item 9 of Part I of Schedule 8 in the case of a motor vehicle and item 7 of Part II of Schedule 8 in the case of a trailer; and cin any other case, the weight which the axle is designed or adapted not to exceed when the vehicle is travelling on a road.
maximum gross weight	(a) in the case of a vehicle equipped with a Ministry plate in accordance with regulation 70, the design gross weight shown in column (3) of that plate or, if no such weight is shown, the gross weight shown in column (2) of that plate (where the plate is in the form required by Schedule 10 or 10B) or in column (4) of that plate (where the plate is in the form required by Schedule 10A or 10C).; (b) in the case of a vehicle not equipped with a Ministry plate, but which is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 66, the maximum gross weight shown on the plate in respect of item 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 8 in the case of a motor vehicle and item 6 of Part II of Schedule 8 in the case of a trailer; (c) in any other case, the weight which the vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when the vehicle is travelling on a road.
maximum total design axle weight (an expression used only in relation to trailers)	ain the case of a trailer equipped with a Ministry plate in accordance with regulation 70, the sum of the relevant axle weights; bin the case of a trailer which is not equipped with a Ministry plate, but which is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 66, the sum of the maximum axle weights shown on the plate in respect of item 4 of Part II of Schedule 8; or cin the case of any other trailer, the sum of the axle weights which the trailer is designed or adapted not to exceed when the vehicle is travelling on a road; and for the purposes of sub-paragraph (a) the relevant axle weight, in respect to an axle, is the design axle weight shown in column (3) of the Ministry plate (where the plate is in the form required by Schedule 10 or 10B) or in column (4) of that plate (where the plate is in the form required by Schedule 10A or 10C) in relation to that axle or if no such weight is shown, the axle weight shown in column (2) of that plate in relation to that axle;
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.
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.
Ministry plate	is to be interpreted in accordance with regulation 70.
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 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 the weight of which unladen— (a) if it is constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects and is adapted to carry not more than seven passengers exclusive of 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; (c) does not exceed 2540 kg in a case falling within neither of the foregoing paragraphs.
motor caravan	means 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, having less than four wheels and the weight of which unladen does not exceed 410 kg.
motor tractor	a mechanically propelled vehicle which 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, and the weight of which unladen does not exceed 7370 kg.
motor vehicle	a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads.
mph	mile(s) per hour.
N/mm ²	newton(s) per square millimetre.
an NHS ambulance service	an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust established under the National Health Service Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;an NHS trust established under the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;the Scottish Ambulance Service Board.
off-road vehicle	an off-road vehicle as defined in Annex I to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6th February 1970[^f00004] as read with Council Directive 87/403/EEC of 25th June 1987[^f00005].
overall height	the vertical distance between the ground and the point on the vehicle which is furthest from the ground, calculated when— (a) the tyres of the vehicle are suitably inflated for the use to which it is being put; (b) the vehicle is at its unladen weight; and (c) the surface of the ground under the vehicle is reasonably flat; but, in the case of a trolley bus, exclusive of the power collection equipment mounted on the roof of the vehicle.
overall length	in relation to a vehicle, the distance between transverse planes passing through the extreme forward and rearward projecting points of the vehicle inclusive of all parts of the vehicle, of any receptacle which is of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough for repeated use, and any fitting on, or attached to, the vehicle except—for all purposes— any driving mirror;any expanding or extensible contrivance forming part of a turntable fire escape fixed to a vehicle;any snow-plough fixed in front of a vehicle; any receptacle specially designed to hold and keep secure a seal issued for the purposes of customs clearance; any tailboard which is let down while the vehicle is stationary in order to facilitate its loading or unloading; 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;any fitting attached to a part of, or to a receptacle on, a vehicle which does not increase the carrying capacity of the part or receptacle but which enables it to be —transferred from a road vehicle to a railway vehicle or from a railway vehicle to a road vehicle,—secured to a railway vehicle by a locking device, and —carried on a railway vehicle by the use of stanchions: 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 and to which the trailer is attached 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;any sheeting or other readily flexible means of covering or securing a load;...any empty receptacle which itself forms a load; any receptacle which contains an indivisible load of exceptional length;any receptacle manufactured before 30th October 1985, not being a maritime container (namely a container designed primarily for carriage on sea transport without an accompanying road vehicle); ...any special appliance or apparatus as described in regulation 81(c) which does not itself increase the carrying capacity of the vehicle; ...any rearward projecting buffer made of rubber or other resilient material ; ... any aerodynamic devices and equipment; or any camera-monitor system. for the purposes of regulations 7, 13A, 13B and 13C— any part of a trailer (not being in the case of an agricultural trailed appliance a drawbar or other thing with which it is equipped for the purpose of being towed) designed primarily for use as a means of attaching it to another vehicle and any fitting designed for use in connection with any such part;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 width	the distance between longitudinal planes passing through the extreme lateral projecting points of the vehicle inclusive of all parts of the vehicle, of any receptacle which is of permanent character and accordingly strong enough for repeated use, and any fitting on, or attached to, the vehicle except—any driving mirror;any snow-plough fixed in front of the vehicle;so much of the distortion of any tyre as is caused by the weight of the vehicle;any receptacle specially designed to hold and keep secure a seal issued for the purposes of customs clearance; any lamp or reflector fitted to the vehicle in accordance with the Lighting Regulations;any sideboard which is let down while the vehicle is stationary in order to facilitate its loading or unloading; any fitting attached to part of, or to a receptacle on, a vehicle which does not increase the carrying capacity of the part or receptacle but which enables it to be —transferred from a road vehicle to a railway vehicle or from a railway vehicle to a road vehicle;—secured to a railway vehicle by a locking device; and —carried on a railway vehicle by the use of stanchions; any sheeting or other readily flexible means of covering or securing a load;any receptacle with an external width, measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, which does not exceed 2.5 m;any empty receptacle which itself forms a load;any receptacle which contains an indivisible load of exceptional width;any receptacle manufactured before 30th October 1985, not being a maritime container (namely a container designed primarily for carriage on sea transport without an accompanying road vehicle); ...any special appliance or apparatus as described in regulation 81(c) which does not itself increase the carrying capacity of the vehicle ; ... any apparatus fitted to a bus which enables it to be guided wholly or mainly by means of wheels bearing outwards against fixed apparatus, provided that no part of the apparatus projects more than 75mm beyond the side of the bus when the wheels of the bus are parallel to its longitudinal axis ; ... any aerodynamic devices and equipment; or any camera-monitor system.and the reference in paragraph (n) above to the side of a bus is a reference to the longitudinal plane passing through the extreme lateral projecting points of the vehicle inclusive of all parts of the vehicle, of any receptacle which is of permanent character and accordingly strong enough for repeated use, and any fitting on, or attached to, the vehicle except those items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (n).
overhang	the distance measured horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle between two transverse planes passing through the following two points—the rearmost point of the vehicle exclusive of— any expanding or extensible contrivance forming part of a turntable fire escape fixed to a vehicle;in the case of a motor car constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects and adapted to carry not more than eight passengers exclusive of the driver, any luggage carrier fitted to the vehicle; andin the case of a motor vehicle having not more than three axles of which only one is not a steering axle, the centre point of that axle;in the case of a motor vehicle having three axles of which the front axle is the only steering axle and of a motor vehicle having four axles of which the two foremost are the only steering axles, a point 110 mm behind the centre of a straight line joining the centre points of the two rearmost axles; andin any other case a point situated on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and such 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.
passenger vehicle	a vehicle constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects.
pedestrian-controlled vehicle	a motor vehicle which is controlled by a pedestrian and not constructed or adapted for use or used for the carriage of a driver or passenger.
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 removal 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 works vehicle	a mechanically propelled vehicle which is used on a road by or on behalf of–the Central Scotland Water Development Board;a ferry undertaking;a highway or roads authority;a local authority;a market undertaking;the National Rivers Authority;an operator of an electronic communications code network;a police authority or local policing body;a universal service provider (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011) in connection with the provision of a universal postal service (within the meaning of that Part);a public electricity supplier within the meaning of Part I of the Electricity Act 1989[^f00005]; a public gas transporter within the meaning of Part I of the Gas Act 1986;a statutory undertaker within the meaning of section 329(1) of the Highways Act 1980[^f00007];an undertaking for the supply of district heating;a water authority within the meaning of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980[^f00008]; ora water or sewerage undertaker within the meaning of the Water Act 1989[^f00009];for the purpose of works which such a body has a duty or power to carry out, and which is used only for the carriage of–the crew, andgoods which are needed for works in respect of which the vehicle is used.
recut pneumatic tyre	a pneumatic tyre in which all or part of its original tread pattern has been cut deeper or burnt deeper or 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 any of the following enactments— (a) the Roads Act 1920, (b) the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1949, (c) the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1962, or (d) the 1971 Act and,in relation to the date on which a vehicle was registered, the date on which it was first registered under any of those enactments.
relevant braking requirement	a requirement that the brakes of a motor vehicle (as assisted, where a trailer is being drawn, by the brakes on the trailer) comply— (i) in a case to which item 1 in Table 1 in regulation 18 applies, with the requirements specified in regulation 18(3) for vehicles falling in that item;(ii) in any other case, with the requirements specified in regulation 18(3) for vehicle classes (a) and (b) in item 2 of that Table (whatever the date of first use of the motor vehicle and the date of manufacture of any trailer drawn by it may be).
resilient tyre	a tyre, not being a pneumatic tyre, which is of soft or elastic material, having regard to paragraph (5).
restricted speed vehicle	a vehicle displaying at its rear a “50” plate in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 13.
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.
rigid vehicle	a motor vehicle which is not constructed or adapted to form part of an articulated vehicle or articulated bus.
rim diameter	is to be interpreted in accordance with the British Standard BS AU 50: Part 2: Section 1: 1980 entitled “British Standard Automobile Series: Specification for Tyres and Wheels Part 2. Wheels and rims Section 1. Rim profiles and dimensions (including openings for valves)” which came into effect on 28th November 1980.
rim diameter size code	is to be interpreted in accordance with the British Standard referred to in the meaning given in this Table to “rim diameter”.
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.
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.
semi-trailer	a trailer which is constructed or adapted to form part of an articulated vehicle including (without prejudice to the generality of that) a vehicle which is not itself a motor vehicle but which has some or all of its wheels driven by the drawing vehicle.
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 upon which no part of a deck or gangway is vertically above another deck or gangway.
split braking system	in relation to a motor vehicle, a braking system so designed and constructed that— (a) it comprises two independent sections of mechanism capable of developing braking force such that, excluding the means of operation, a failure of any part (other than a fixed member or a brake shoe anchor pin) of one of the said sections will not cause a decrease in the braking force capable of being developed by the other section; (b) the said two sections are operated by a means of operation which is common to both sections; (c) the braking efficiency of either of the said two sections can be readily checked.
stepframe low loader	a semi-trailer (not being a low loader) which is constructed and normally used for the carriage of engineering equipment and is so constructed that the upper surface of the major part of the load platform is at a height of less than 1m above the ground when measured on level ground and when– aany adjustable suspension is at the normal travelling height, ball pneumatic tyres are suitably inflated for use when the vehicle is fully laden, and cthe semi-trailer is unladen.
stored energy	in relation to a braking system of a vehicle, energy (other than the muscular energy of the driver or the mechanical energy of a spring) stored in a reservoir for the purpose of applying the brakes under the control of the driver, either directly or as a supplement to his muscular energy.
straddle carrier	a motor vehicle constructed to straddle and lift its load for the purpose of transportation.
staircase	means a staircase by means of which passengers on a double-decked vehicle may 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.
swap body	a part of a vehicle which is intended to bear the load, has supports and, by means of a device which is part of the vehicle, may be detached from the vehicle and re-incorporated into it.
temporary use spare tyre	a pneumatic tyre which is designed for use on a motor vehicle only— (a) in the event of the failure of one of the tyres normally fitted to a wheel of the vehicle, and (b) at a speed lower than that for which such normally fitted tyres are designed.
three-wheeled motor cycle	a motor cycle having three wheels, not including a two-wheeled motor cycle with a sidecar attached.
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 thereof is transmitted to the road surface either by means of 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	means a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle and is to be interpreted in accordance with paragraphs (9) and (11).
train weight	in relation to a motor vehicle which may draw a trailer, the maximum laden weight for the motor vehicle together with any trailer which may be drawn by it.
transverse plane	a vertical plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of a vehicle.
trolley bus	a bus adapted for use on roads without rails and moved by power transmitted thereto from some external source.
unbraked trailer	any trailer other than one which, whether or not regulation 15 or 16 applies to it, is equipped with a braking system in accordance with one of those regulations.
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.
vehicle in the service of a visiting force or of a headquarters	a vehicle so described in Article 8(6) of the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1965
wheel	a wheel the tyre or rim of which when the vehicle is in motion on a road is in contact with the ground; two wheels are to be regarded as one wheel in the circumstances specified in paragraph (7).
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 of which the area of contact with the road surface is not less than 300mm 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 in delivering goods from or to such premises to or from a vehicle on a road in the immediate neighbourhood, or in passing from one part of any such premises to another or to other private premises in the immediate neighbourhood or in connection with road works while at or in the immediate neighbourhood of the site of such works.
works truck	a motor vehicle (other than a straddle carrier) designed for use in private premises and used on a road only in delivering goods from or to such premises to or from a vehicle on a road in the immediate neighbourhood, or in passing from one part of any such premises to another or to other private premises in the immediate neighbourhood or in connection with road works while at or in the immediate neighbourhood of the site of such works.

(2A) Without prejudice to section 17 of the Interpretation Act 1978[^f00003] and subject to the context, a reference in these Regulations to any enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of that Act) is a reference to that enactment as from time to time amended or re-enacted with or without modification.

(3) For the purpose of these Regulations, the date on which a motor vehicle is first used is—

(a) in the case of a vehicle not falling within sub-paragraph (b) and which is registered, the date on which it was registered;

(b) in each of the following cases—

(i) a vehicle which is being or has been used under a trade licence as defined in section 16 of the 1971 Act (otherwise than for the purposes of demonstration or testing or of being delivered from premises of the manufacturer by whom it was made or of a distributor of vehicles, or dealer in vehicles, to premises of a distributor of vehicles, dealer in vehicles or purchaser thereof or to premises of a person obtaining possession thereof under a hiring agreement or hire purchase agreement);

(ii) a vehicle belonging, or which has belonged, to the Crown and which is or was used or appropriated for use for naval, military or air force purposes;

(iii) a vehicle belonging, or which has belonged, to a visiting force or a headquarters or defence organisation to which in each case the Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1965 applies;

(iv) a vehicle which has been used on roads outside Great Britain before being imported into Great Britain; and

(v) a vehicle which has been used otherwise than on roads after being sold or supplied by retail and before being registered;

the date of manufacture of the vehicle.

In sub-paragraph (b) (v) of this paragraph “sold or supplied by retail” means sold or supplied otherwise than to a person acquiring it solely for the purpose of resale or re-supply for a valuable consideration .

(4) The date of manufacture of a vehicle to which the Type Approval for Goods Vehicles Regulations apply shall be the date of manufacture described in regulation 2(4)(a) of those Regulations.

(5) Save where otherwise provided in these Regulations a tyre shall not be deemed to be of soft or elastic material unless the said material is either—

(a) continuous round the circumference of the wheel; or

(b) fitted in sections so that so far as reasonably practicable no space is left between the ends thereof,

and is of such thickness and design as to minimise, so far as reasonably possible, vibration when the vehicle is in motion and so constructed as to be free from any defect which might in any way cause damage to the surface of a road.

(6) For the purpose of these Regulations a brake drum and a brake disc shall be deemed to form part of the wheel and not of the braking system.

(7) For the purpose of these Regulations other than regulations 26 and 27 any two wheels of a motor vehicle or trailer shall be regarded as one wheel if the distance between the centres of the areas of contact between such wheels and the road surface is less than 460 mm.

(8) For the purpose of these Regulations other than regulations 26 and 27 in counting the number of axles of, and in determining the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by any one axle of, a vehicle, all the wheels of which the centres of the areas of contact with the road surface can be included between any two transverse planes less than 0.5 m apart shall be treated as constituting one axle.

(8A) For the purposes of these Regulations, a reference to axles being closely-spaced is a reference to—

(a) two 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 2.5m;

(b) three 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 3.25m; or

the number of axles for the purposes of these paragraphs being determined in accordance with paragraph (8); and a reference to any particular number of closely-spaced axles shall be construed accordingly.

(9) The provisions of these Regulations relating to trailers do not apply to any part of an articulated bus.

(10) For the purpose of paragraph (8A) above, regulations 51, 76, 77 and 79 and Schedules 11 and 11A ..., the distance between any two 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.

(11) For the purpose of the following provisions only, a composite trailer shall be treated as one trailer (not being a semi-trailer or a converter dolly)—

(a) regulations 7, 76 and 83;

(b) paragraph (2) of, and items 3 and 10 in the Table in, regulation 75;

Application and Exemptions

4

(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 six 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 shall also apply to a motor vehicle first used on or after that date if it was manufactured at least six months before that date.

(4) Subject to paragraph (7), the regulations specified in an item in column 3 of the Table do not apply in respect of a vehicle of a class specified in that item in column 2.

1	2	3
Item	Class of Vehicle	Regulations which do not apply
1	A vehicle proceeding to a port for export.	The regulations in Part II insofar as they relate to construction and equipment, except regulations 16 (insofar as it concerns parking brakes) 20, 30, 34, 37 and 53. Regulations 66 to 69 and 71.
2	A vehicle brought temporarily into Great Britain by a person resident abroad, provided that the vehicle complies in every respect with the requirements relating to motor vehicles or trailers contained in— (a) article 21 and paragraph (1) of article 22 of the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 19th September 1949[^f00012] and Part I, Part II (so far as it relates to direction indicators and stop lights) and Part III of Annex 6 to that Convention; or (b) paragraphs I, III and VIII of article 3 of the International Convention relative to Motor Traffic concluded at Paris on 24th April 1926 [^f00013]	The regulations in Part II insofar as they relate to construction and equipment except regulations 7, 8, ... 10, 10A, 40 and 53 ; and additionally, in respect of any passenger vehicle with a maximum gross weight exceeding 10 tonnes registered in one or more member States, regulations 36A(2), 36A(7) and 36A(9);additionally, in respect of any goods vehicle with a maximum gross weight exceeding 12 tonnes registered in one or more member States, regulations 36(B)(2), 36B(9) and 36B(11).Regulations 66 to 69 and 71.
3	A vehicle manufactured in Great Britain which complies with the requirements referred to in item 2 above and contained in the Convention of 1949, or, as the case may be, 1926 referred to in that item as if the vehicle had been brought temporarily into Great Britain, and either— (a) is exempt from car tax by virtue of section 7(1), (2) and (3) of the Car Tax Act 1983, or (b) has been zero rated under regulation 56 or 57 of the Value Added Tax (General) Regulations 1985.	The regulations in Part II insofar as they relate to construction and equipment, except regulations 7, 8, ... 10, 10A, 40 and 53.Regulations 66 to 69 and 71.
4	A vehicle in the service of a visiting force or of a headquarters.	The regulations in Part II insofar as they relate to construction and equipment, except regulations ... 16 (insofar as it concerns parking brakes), 21, 53 ... and 61. Regulations 66 to 69, 71, 75 to 79 and 93A.
5	A vehicle which has been submitted for an examination under section 43 or section 45 of the 1972 Act while it is being used on a road in connection with the carrying out of that examination and is being so used by a person who is empowered under that section to carry out that examination, or by a person acting under the direction of a person so empowered.	The regulations in Part II .... Regulations 75 to 79 and 100.
6	A motor car or a motor cycle in respect of which a certificate has been issued by the Officer in Charge of the National Collections of Road Transport, the Science Museum, London SW7. that it was designed before 1st January 1905 and constructed before 31st December 1905.	Regulations 16 (except insofar as it applies requirements 3 and 6 in Schedule 3), 21, 37(4), 63 and 99(4).
7	A towing implement which is being drawn by a motor vehicle while it is not attached to any vehicle except the one drawing it if— the towing implement is not being so drawn during the hours of darkness, andthe vehicle by which it is being so drawn is not driven at a speed exceeding 20 mph; ora vehicle which is being drawn by a motor vehicle in the exercise of a statutory power of removal.	The regulations in Part II insofar as they relate to the construction and equipment of trailers, except regulation 20.
8	Tramcars	The regulations in Parts II, III and IV
9	A public works vehicle which has a maximum design weight of 7500kg and is specifically designed for use and used solely for the purpose of street cleansing.	Regulation 15(1E) and (5B) in respect of the requirements in Community Directive 98/12/EC and ECE Regulation 13.09 which require the fitting of ABS to goods vehicles over 3500kg in weight.
10	A vehicle being used by a Police Authority or local policing body which has been authorised by a Chief Constable to perform accident reconstruction duties.	Regulation 15(1E) and (5B) in respect of the requirements in Community Directive 98/12/EC and ECE Regulation 13.09 which prohibit the use of an isolation switch for the operation of ABS.
11	A vehicle being used on a road by a vehicle examiner, who has been authorised in writing by the Secretary of State for the purpose of—submitting the vehicle for an examination under section 45 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in order to ascertain whether the examination is carried out in accordance with regulations made under that section; orremoving the vehicle following that examination.	The regulations in Part 2. Regulations 67, 75 to 79 and 100.

(5) Any reference to a broken down vehicle shall include a reference to any towing implement which is being used for the drawing of any such vehicle.

(6) The Secretary of State is satisfied that it is requisite that the provisions of regulation 40(2) should apply, as from the date on which these Regulations come into operation, to track-laying vehicles registered before the expiration of one year from the making of these Regulations; and that, notwithstanding that those provisions will then apply to these vehicles, no undue hardship or inconvenience will be caused thereby.

(7) The exemption provided by item 11 in the Table in paragraph (4) shall only apply to the extent that the vehicle examiner using the vehicle in question reasonably believes that any defects in that vehicle do not give rise to a danger of injury to any person while it is being used by that person for a purpose mentioned in that item.

(8) In item 11 in the Table in paragraph (4) and paragraph (7), “vehicle examiner” means an examiner appointed under section 66A of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Trade Descriptions Act 1968

5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Compliance with Community Directives and ECE Regulations

6

(1) For the purpose of any regulation which requires or permits a vehicle to comply with the requirements of a Community Directive or an ECE Regulation, a vehicle shall be deemed so to have complied at the date of its first use only if—

(a) one of the certificates referred to in paragraph (2) has been issued in relation to it; or

(b) the marking referred to in paragraph (3) has been applied; or

(2) The certificates mentioned in paragraph (1) are—

(b) a certificate of conformity issued by the manufacturer of the vehicle under regulation 6 of either of those Regulations; ...

(c) a certificate issued under a provision of the law of any member state of the European Economic Community which corresponds to the said regulations 5 or 6 ; or

(d) a sound level measurement certificate issued by the Secretary of State under regulation 4 of the Motorcycles (Sound Level Measurement Certificates) Regulations 1980;

being in each case a certificate issued by reason of the vehicle's conforming to the requirements of the Community Directive in question.

(a) a type approval certificate issued by the Secretary of State under regulation 5 of the Type Approval Regulations or of the Type Approval for Agricultural Vehicles Regulations;

(3) The marking mentioned in paragraph (1) is a marking designated as an approval mark by regulation 4 of the Approval Marks Regulations, being in each case a mark shown in column 2 of an item in Schedule 2 to those Regulations which refers, in column 5, to the ECE Regulation in question, applied as indicated in column 4 in that item.

(4) A relevant type approval requirement is a requirement of the Type Approval (Great Britain) Regulations or the Type Approval for Goods Vehicles Regulations which appears—

(a) in column 4 of Table I in Schedule 2 in the item in which the Community Directive in question appears in column 3, or

(b) in column 4 of Table II in Schedule 2 in the item in which the ECE Regulation in question appears in column3.

PART II — REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES

A — DIMENSIONS AND MANOEUVRABILITY

Length

7

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6), the overall length of a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the maximum length specified in that item in column 3 of the Table, the overall length in the case of a combination of vehicles being calculated in accordance with regulation 81(g) and (h).

1	2	3
Item	Class of vehicle	Maximum length (metres)
	Vehicle Combinations
1	A motor vehicle (other than a motor vehicle such as is mentioned in item 1A) drawing one trailer which is not a semi-trailer.	18.75
1A	Subject to paragraph (3C), a motor vehicle manufactured before 1st June 1998 and drawing one trailer, where the combination does not meet the requirements of paragraph (5A) and the trailer is not a semi-trailer.	18
2	An articulated bus.	18.75
2A	A bus drawing a trailer	18.75
3	An articulated vehicle the semi-trailer of which does not meet the requirements of para-graph (6) paragraph (6) and is not a low loader.	15.5
	Motor vehicles
3A	An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which meets the requirements of paragraph (6) and is not a low loader.	16.5
3B	An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which is a low loader.	18
3C	An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which meets the requirements of paragraph (6), is not a low loader and is carrying one or more containers or swap bodies up to a total maximum length of 45 feet as part of an intermodal transport operation.	16.65
4	A wheeled motor vehicle other than a bus.	12
4A	A bus with two axles	13.5
4B	A bus with more than two axles	15
5	A track-laying motor vehicle.	9.2
	Trailers
6	An agricultural trailed appliance manufactured on or after 1st December 1985.	15
7	A semi-trailer manufactured on or after 1st May 1983 which does not meet the requirements of paragraph (6) and is not a low loader.	12.2
7A	A composite trailer drawn by– (a) a goods vehicle being a motor vehicle having a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500 kg; or (b) an agricultural motor vehicle	14.04
8	A trailer (not being a semi-trailer or composite trailer) with at least 4 wheels which is— (a) drawn by a goods vehicle being a motor vehicle having a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500 kg; or (b) an agricultural trailer.	12
9	Any other trailer not being an agricultural trailed appliance or a semi-trailer.	7

(2) In the case of a motor vehicle drawing one trailer where—

(a) the motor vehicle is a showman's vehicle as defined in paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the 1971 Act; and

(b) the trailer is used primarily as living accommodation by one or more persons and is not also used for the carriage of goods or burden which are not needed for the purpose of such residence in the vehicle,

item 1 in the Table applies with the substitution of 22 m for 18 m and item 1A in the Table does not apply.

(3) Items 1 ,1A, 3, 3A and 3B of the Table do not apply to–

(a) a vehicle combination which includes a trailer which is constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length, or

(b) a vehicle combination consisting of a broken down vehicle (including an articulated vehicle) being drawn by a motor vehicle in consequence of a breakdown, ...

(d) a vehicle combination which includes—

(i) a motor vehicle of category N2, or

(ii) a motor vehicle of category N3,

with an elongated cab.

(3A) Items 6, 7, 7A, 8 and 9 of the Table do not apply to–

(a) a trailer which is constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length,

(b) a broken down vehicle (including an articulated vehicle) which is being drawn by a motor vehicle in consequence of a breakdown, or

(c) a trailer being a drying or mixing plant designed for the production of asphalt or of bituminous or tar macadam and used mainly for the construction, repair or maintenance of roads, or a road planing machine so used.

(3B) Furthermore item 7 does not apply to–

(a) a semi-trailer which is a car transporter,

(b) a semi-trailer which is normally used on international journeys any part of which takes place outside the United Kingdom.

(3C) Item 1A and the words “(other than a motor vehicle such as is mentioned in item 1A)” in item 1 of the Table shall cease to have effect after 31st December 2006.

(3D) Item 4 of the Table does not apply to—

(a) a motor vehicle of category N2, or

(b) a motor vehicle of category N3,

with an elongated cab type approved in accordance with point 1.4 of Part C of Annex I of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations, point 1.4 of Part C of Annex I of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations (Northern Ireland), or point 1.4 of Part C of Annex I of The (European Union) Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations.

(4) Where a motor vehicle is drawing—

(a) two trailers, then only one of those trailers may exceed an overall length of 7 m;

(b) three trailers, then none of those trailers shall exceed an overall length of 7 m.

(5) Where a motor vehicle is drawing—

(a) two or more trailers; or

(b) one trailer constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length—

then—

(i) the overall length of that motor vehicle shall not exceed 9.2 m; and

(ii) the overall length of the combination of vehicles, calculated in accordance with regulation 81(g) and (h), shall not exceed 25.9 m, unless the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12 have been complied with.

(5XA) A motor vehicle drawing a trailer which is not a semi-trailer shall (unless it is a vehicle such as is mentioned in item 1A of the Table in paragraph (1)) comply with the requirements of paragraph (5A).

The words in parenthesis in this paragraph shall cease to have effect after 31st December 2006.

(5A) The requirements of this paragraph, in relation to a combination of vehicles, are that at least one of the vehicles in the combination is not a goods vehicle or, if both vehicles in the combination are goods vehicles that—

(a) the maximum distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the combination of vehicles from the foremost point of the loading area behind the driver’s cab to the rear of the trailer, less the distance between the rear of the motor vehicle and the front of the trailer, does not exceed 15.65m; and

(b) the maximum distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the combination of vehicles from the foremost point of the loading area behind the driver’s cab to the rear of the trailer does not exceed 16.4 m;

but sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply if both vehicles in the combination are car transporters.

(6) The requirements of this paragraph, in relation to a semi-trailer, are that–

(a) the longitudinal distance from the axis of the king pin ... to the rear of the semi-trailer does not exceed–

(i) 12.5m in the case of a car transporter, ...

(ia) 12.15m when carrying one or more containers or swap bodies up to a total maximum length of 45 feet as part of an intermodal transport operation, or

(ii) 12m in any other case; and

(b) no point in the semi-trailer forward of the transverse plane passing through the axis of the king pin ... is more than–

(i) 4.19m from the axis of the king pin, in the case of a car transporter, or

(ii) 2.04m from the axis of the king pin, in any other case.

(6A) For the purposes of paragraph (5A)—

(a) where the forward end of the loading area of a motor vehicle is bounded by a wall, the thickness of the wall shall be regarded as part of the loading area; and

(b) any part of a vehicle designed primarily for use as a means of attaching another vehicle to it and any fitting designed for use in connection with any such part shall be disregarded in determining the distance between the rear of a motor vehicle and the front of a trailer being drawn by it.

(7) For the purpose of paragraph (6) the longitudinal distance from the axis of the king pin to the rear of a semi-trailer is the distance between a transverse plane passing through the axis of the king pin and the rear of the semi-trailer.

(7A) Where a semi-trailer has more than one king-pin or is constructed so that it can be used with a king-pin in different positions, references in this regulation to a distance from the king-pin shall be construed

(a) in relation to a vehicle which was manufactured after 1st January 1999, as a reference to the foremost king-pin or, as the case may be, the foremost king-pin position; and

(b) in relation to any other vehicle, as a reference to the rearmost king-pin or, as the case may be, the rearmost king-pin position.

(7B) For the purposes of paragraphs (5A), (6) and (7)—

(a) a reference to the front of a vehicle is a reference to the transverse plane passing through the extreme forward projecting points of the vehicle; and

(b) a reference to the rear of a vehicle is a reference to the transverse plane passing through the extreme rearward projecting points of the vehicle,

inclusive (in each case) of all parts of the vehicle, of any receptacle which is of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough for repeated use, and any fitting on, or attached to the vehicle but exclusive of—

(i) the things set out in sub-paragraph (i) of the definition of “overall length” in the Table in regulation 3(2), and

(ii) in the case of a semi-trailer, the things set out in sub-paragraph (ii)(a) of that definition.

(8) Where a broken down articulated vehicle is being towed by a motor vehicle in consequence of a breakdown–

(a) paragraph (5) shall have effect in relation to the combination of vehicles as if sub-paragraph (b) were omitted, and

(b) for the purposes of paragraph (4) and of paragraph (5) as so modified, the articulated vehicle shall be regarded as a single trailer.

(9) No person shall use or cause or permit to be used on a road, a trailer with an overall length exceeding 18.65m unless the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12 are complied with.

(10) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) “a motor vehicle of category N2” means a vehicle of the type described in point (b)(ii) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC,

(b) “a motor vehicle of category N3” means a vehicle of the type described in point (b)(iii) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC.

Width

8

(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), the overall width of a vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the maximum width specified in column 3 in that item.

1	2	3
Item	Class of vehicle	Maximum width (metres)
1	A locomotive, other than an agricultural motor vehicle.	2.75
2	A refrigerated vehicle, conditioned container or swap body	2·60
3	Any other motor vehicle.	2.55
4	A trailer drawn by a motor vehicle other than a motor cycle.	2.55
. . .	. . .	. . .
. . .	. . .	. . .
. . .	. . .	. . .
8	A trailer drawn by a motor cycle.	1.5

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a broken down vehicle which is being drawn in consequence of the breakdown.

(3) No person shall use or cause or permit to be used 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 two vehicles, measured as if they were one vehicle, exceeds 2.55 metres.

(4) In this regulation—

“refrigerated vehicle” means any vehicle which is specially designed for the carriage of goods at low temperature and of which the thickness of each of the side walls inclusive of insulation, is at least 45 mm; and

“conditioned container or swap body” means a container or swap body used to carry goods at controlled temperatures on different modes of transport.

Height

9

(1) The overall height of a bus shall not exceed 4.57 m.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Indication of overall travelling height

10

(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, no person shall drive or cause or permit to be driven on a road a motor vehicle with an overall travelling height exceeding 3m unless a notice is displayed in the cab, in such a manner that it can easily be read by the driver, and the notice meets the requirements of paragraph (3).

(2) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, no person shall use or cause or permit to be used on a road a motor vehicle with an overall travelling height exceeding 3m if any letters or numbers are displayed in the cab, otherwise than in a notice which meets the requirements of paragraph (3)—

(a) where they could be read by the driver; and

(b) which could be understood as indicating a height associated with the vehicle or any trailer drawn by it.

(3) The requirements of this paragraph in respect of a notice are that—

(a) the notice gives an indication of vehicle height expressed in feet and inches, or in both feet and inches and in metres;

(b) the numbers giving the indication in feet and inches are at least 40mm tall;

(i) if the vehicle is a vehicle to which regulation 10A applies, not less than the predetermined height mentioned in regulation 10A (2)(a) or the overall travelling height (whichever is the greater), or

(ii) if the vehicle is not a vehicle to which regulation 10A applies, not less than the overall travelling height;

(d) if the vehicle is not a relevant vehicle, the height expressed in feet and inches does not exceed the overall travelling height by more than 150mm;

(e) if the vehicle is a relevant vehicle, the height expressed in feet and inches does not exceed the overall travelling height by more than 1m;

(f) if the height is expressed in both feet and inches and in metres, the height expressed in feet and inches and the height expressed in metres do not differ by more than 50mm; and

(g) no other letters or numbers which could be understood as being an indication of any height associated with the vehicle or any trailer drawn by it are displayed in the notice.

(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if, having regard to the lengths of road which the driver might drive along in the course of fulfilling the purpose of the journey taking into account any possibility of unforeseen diversions and the driver having difficulty in finding his way, it is highly unlikely that the driver would during the course of the journey encounter any bridge or other overhead structure which does not exceed by at least 1m—

(a) in the case of a vehicle to which regulation 10A applies, the maximum travelling height.; or

(b) in any other case, the overall travelling height.

(5) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a vehicle on a particular journey and at a particular time if—

(a) one or more documents are being carried in the vehicle which are within the easy reach of the driver and that or those documents describe a route or a choice of routes which the driver must take in order to fulfil the purpose of the journey without risk of the vehicle, its load or equipment or any trailer drawn by the vehicle, its load or equipment, colliding with any bridge or other overhead structure; and

(b) the vehicle is on such a route which is so described or is off that route by reason of a diversion that could not reasonably have been foreseen at the beginning of the journey.

(6) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a vehicle on a particular journey if—

(a) one or more documents are being carried in the vehicle which are within the easy reach of the driver and that or those documents contain information as to—

(i) the height of bridges and other overhead structures under which the vehicle and any trailer drawn by it could pass, and

(ii) the height of bridges and other overhead structures under which the vehicle and any trailer drawn by it could not pass,

without the vehicle, its load or equipment or any such trailer, its load or equipment, colliding with any bridge or other overhead structure; and

(b) the information is such that, having regard in particular to the matters referred to in paragraph (7), it would enable any driver to fulfil the purpose of the journey without there being any risk of the vehicle, its load or equipment or any trailer, its load or equipment, colliding with any bridge or other overhead structure while on the journey.

(7) The matters referred to in paragraph (6) are—

(a) the roads which the driver might drive along in the course of fulfilling the purpose of the journey taking into account any possibility of unforeseen diversions and of the driver having difficulty in finding his way;

(b) the height of bridges and other overhead structures that would be encountered were the vehicle to proceed along any of those roads; and

(8) Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to motor vehicle if it has an overall travelling height of not more than 4m and—

(a) it is a vehicle registered or put into circulation in an EEA State and is being used in international traffic; or

(b) it is a motor vehicle drawing a trailer registered or put into circulation in an EEA State and that trailer is being used in international traffic.

(9) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) “EEA State”, and “high level equipment” and “maximum travelling height” have the meanings given in regulation 10C;

(b) “overall travelling height” in relation to a motor vehicle means—

(i) if it is not drawing a trailer, the overall height for the time being of the vehicle, its equipment and load, or

(ii) if it is drawing one or more trailers, the overall height for the time being of the combination of vehicles, their equipment and loads.

(i) the vehicle or any trailer drawn by it is fitted with high level equipment with a maximum, height of more than 3m; and

(ii) the overall travelling height is less than the maximum travelling height.

(10) In paragraph (8), “international traffic” and “registered or put into circulation” have the same meanings as in article 3 of Community Directive 85/3.

Overhang

11

(1) The overhang of a wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not, subject to any exemption specified in that item in column 4, exceed the distance specified in that item in column 3.

1	2	3	4
Item	Class of vehicle	Maximum overhang	Exemptions
1	Motor tractor	1.83 m.	(a) a track-laying vehicle (b) an agricultural motor 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 foremost point from which the overhang is to be measured as provided in regulation 3(2).	a busa refuse vehiclea works trucka track-laying vehiclean agricultural motor vehiclea motor car which is an ambulancea vehicle designed to dispose of its load to the rear, if the overhang does not exceed 1.15 ma vehicle first used before 2nd January 1933a vehicle first used before 1st January 1966 if— the distance between the centres of the rearmost and foremost axles does not exceed 2.29 m, andthe distance specified in column 3 is not exceeded by more than 76 mmheating plant on a vehicle designed and mainly used to heat the surface of a road or other similar surface in the process of construction, repair or maintenance shall be disregarded.

(2) 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 the rearmost axle shall not exceed 3 m.

(3) A heavy motor car shall be taken to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) if it meets the requirements of paragraph 7.6.2 of Annex I of Community Directive 97/27.

Minimum ground clearance

12

(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), a wheeled trailer which is—

(a) a goods vehicle; and

(b) manufactured on or after 1st April 1984,

shall have a minimum ground clearance of not less than 160 mm if the trailer has an axle interspace of more than 6 m but less than 11.5 m, and a minimum ground clearance of not less than 190 mm if the trailer has an axle interspace of 11.5 m or more.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a trailer—

(a) which is fitted with a suspension system with which, by the operation of a control, the trailer may be lowered or raised, while that system is being operated to enable the trailer to pass under a bridge or other obstruction over a road provided that at such times the system is operated so that no part of the trailer (excluding any wheel) touches the ground or is likely to do so; or

(b) while it is being loaded or unloaded.

(3) In this regulation—

“axle interspace” means— 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 halfway between the centres of the foremost and rearmost of those axles; andin 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 halfway between the centres of the foremost and rearmost of those axles, and the centre of its rear axle or, if it has more than one axle at the rear, the point halfway between the centre of the foremost and rearmost of those axles; and

“ground clearance” means the shortest distance between the ground and the lowest part of that portion of the trailer (excluding any part of a suspension, steering or braking system attached to any axle, any wheel and any air skirt) which lies within the area formed by the overall width of the trailer and the middle 70% of the axle interspace, such distance being ascertained when the trailer— is fitted with suitable tyres which are inflated to a pressure recommended by the manufacturer, andis reasonably horizontal and standing on ground which is reasonably flat.

Turning circle

13

(1) This regulation applies to a bus first used on or after 1st April 1982.

(2) Every vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be able to move on either lock so that , both with and without all its wheels 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.

(2A) In relation to a vehicle manufactured before 1st June 1998 paragraph (2) shall have effect as if the words “, both with and without all its wheels in contact with the ground,” were omitted.

(3) When a vehicle to which this regulation applies 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 shall project 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 by more than—

(a) 0.8 m if it is a rigid vehicle of 12m or less in overall length; or

(b) 1.2 m if it is a rigid bus of over 12m in overall length or an articulated bus.

(4) For the purpose of paragraph (3) the two rigid portions of an articulated bus shall be in line at the beginning of the manoeuvre.

Connecting sections and direction-holding of articulated buses

14

(1) This regulation applies to every articulated bus first used on or after 1st April 1982.

(2) The connecting section of the two parts of every articulated bus to which this regulation applies shall be constructed so as to comply with the provisions relating to such a section specified in paragraph 5.9 in ECE Regulation 36 as regards vehicles within the scope of that Regulation.

(3) Every articulated bus to which this regulation applies shall be constructed so that when the vehicle is moving in a straight line the longitudinal median planes of its two parts coincide and form a continuous plane without any deflection.

B — BRAKES

Braking systems of certain vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1983

15

(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), the braking system of every wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table which, in the case of a motor vehicle, is first used on or after 1st April 1983 or which, in the case of a trailer, is manufactured on or after 1st October 1982 shall comply with the construction, fitting and performance requirements specified in Annexes I, II and VII to Community Directive 79/489, and if relevant, Annexes III, IV, V, VI and VIII to that Directive in relation to the category of vehicles specified in that item in column 3.

Provided that it shall be lawful for any vehicle of such a class which, in the case of a motor vehicle, was first used before 1st April 1983 or which, in the case of a trailer, was manufactured before 1st October 1982 to comply with the said requirements instead of complying with regulations 16 and 17.

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