S.I. No. 442/1986 - Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986.

S.I. No. 442 of 1986.

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1986.

The Minister for the Environment in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 5 , 11 and 12 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 , (No. 24 of 1961) hereby makes the following Regulations:—

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986.

(2) These Regulations and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1985 shall be construed as one and may be cited together as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1986.

2. In these Regulations—

"the Principal Regulations" means the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 ( S.I. No. 190 of 1963 ).

3. The Principal Regulations are hereby amended by the insertion in article 3 of the following definitions—

"international journey" means a journey involving the crossing of one or more national frontiers;

"refrigerated vehicle" means any vehicle specially designed and constructed for the carriage of goods at a temperature below the ambient temperature;

"tandem axles" means two successive axles, not being part of a tri-axle, on a trailer or semi-trailer;

"tri-axle" means an arrangement of three successive axles on a semi-trailer.

4. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1987.

5. The Principal Regulations are hereby amended by the substitution for article 7 of the following article—

"7.(1) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any wheel of a vehicle or any wheel of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed—

(a) where the wheel is fitted with a pneumatic tyre, 5250 kilograms;

(b) where the wheel is fitted with a soft tyre, 16 kilograms for each millimetre width of the tyre measured at the point of contact of the tyre with the ground;

(c) where the wheel is not fitted with a pneumatic or soft tyre, 10 kilograms for each millimetre width of the wheel or its tyre measured at the point of contact of the wheel or tyre with the ground.

(2) (a) (i) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (ii) of this subarticle, the weight transmitted to the surface of a road by a single axle of a vehicle or of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed 10170 kilograms.

(ii) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by a single axle which is the sole driving axle of a vehicle may, where the distance between the sole driving axle and the closest adjacent axle is 1.2 metres or more, exceed 10170 kilograms but shall not exceed 10500 kilograms.

(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this sub-article, the weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any two adjacent axles of a vehicle or of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed that shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between the axles shown in column 1 of the Table.

Table

Column 1	Column2
Where the distance between the axles is—	Maximum Weight
Less than 1.0 metres	11180 kilograms
not less than 1.0 metres and less the 1.2 metres	17230 kilograms
not less than 1.2 metres and less than 1.35 metres	18300 kilograms
not less than 1.35 metres and less than 1.5 metres	18800 kilograms
not less than 1.5 metres and less than 1.8 metres	19320 kilograms
not less than 1.8 metres and less than 1.85 metres	20000 kilograms
1.85 metres or more	20340 kilograms

(c) (i) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by three or more successive axles of a semi-trailer shall not exceed 22890 kilograms.

(ii) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any one of three or more successive axles of a semitrailer shall not exceed that shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown in column 1 of the Table.

Table

Column 1	Column 2
Where the distance between the two closest adjacent axles is—	Maximum Weight
less than 0.7 metres	3560 kilograms
not less than 0.7 metres and less than 0.8 metres	6000 kilograms
not less than 0.8 metres and less than 0.9 metres	6200 kilograms
not less than 0.9 metres and less than 1.0 metres	6400 kilograms
not less than 1.0 metres and less than 1.1 metres	6600 kilograms
not less than 1.1 metres and less than 1.2 metres	6900 kilograms
not less than 1.2 metres and less than 1.3 metres	7100 kilograms
not less than 1.3 metres and less than 1.5 metres	7500 kilograms
not less than 1.5 metres and less than 1.7 metres	8030 kilograms
not less than 1.7 metres and less than 1.9 metres	8640 kilograms
1.9 metres or more	9150 kilograms

(3) (a) The weight laden of a vehicle, not being an articulated vehicle, or of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed—

(i) where the vehicle has two axles, 17000 kilograms;

(ii) where the trailer has two axles and the distance between the axles is:—

less than 3.0 metres — 16260 kilograms;

3.0 metres or more — 18000 kilograms;

(iii) where the vehicle or trailer has three axles and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

less than 4.6 metres — 22360 kilograms;

4.6 metres or more — 24390 kilograms;

(iv) where the vehicle or trailer has four or more axles and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

less than 5.6 metres — 25410 kilograms;

not less than 5.6 metres and less than 5.9 metres — 26420 kilograms;

not less than 5.9 metres and less than 6.3 metres — 28450 kilograms;

6.3 metres or more — 30490 kilograms;

(b) The weight laden of a mechanically propelled vehicle which forms part of an articulated vehicle shall not exceed—

(i) where the mechanically propelled vehicle has two axles and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

less than 2.7 metres — 16260 kilograms;

2.7 metres or more — 17000 kilograms;

(ii) where the mechanically propelled vehicle has three or more axles none of which transmits a weight in excess of 10170 kilograms to the surface of a road and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

less than 4.3 metres — 22360 kilograms;

4.3 metres or more — 24390 kilograms;

(iii) where the mechanically propelled vehicle has three or more axles and the weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any of these axles exceeds 10170 kilograms and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

less than 4.0 metres — 20340 kilograms;

not less than 4.0 metres and less than 4.9 metres —22360;

4.9 metres or more — 24390 kilograms;

(c) The weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of three axles shall not exceed the maximum laden weight shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances shown in column 1 of the Table.

Table

Column 1	Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the axle of the semi-trailer is—	Maximum Weight Laden
less than 2.6 metres	22360 kilograms
not less than 2.6 metres and less than 2.9 metres	23370 kilograms
2.9 metres or more	24390 kilograms

(d) the weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of four axles shall not exceed the maximum weight laden shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown in column 1 of the Table.

Table.

Column 1	Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer is—	Maximum Weight Laden

less than 3.5 metres	25410 kilograms
not less than 3.5 metres and less than 3.8 metres	26420 kilograms
not less than 3.8 metres and less than 4.1 metres	27440 kilograms
not less than 4.1 metres and less than 4.4 metres	28540 kilograms
not less than 4.4 metres and less than 4.7 metres	29470 kilograms
not less than 4.7 metres and less than 5.0 metres	30490 kilograms
not less than 5.0 metres and less than 5.3 metres	31500 kilograms
not less than 5.3 metres and less than 5.4 metres	32520 kilograms
not less than 5.4 metres and less than 5.7 metres	33000 kilograms
not less than 5.7 metres and less than 6.0 metres	34000 kilograms
6.0 metres or more	35000 kilograms

(e) The weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of five or more axles shall not exceed the maximum weight laden shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown as regards drawing components having (a) 2 axles and (b) 3 axles in column 1 of the

Table.

Column 1		Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer is—		Maximum Weight Laden
(a) in the case of a drawing component having 2 axles	(b) in the case of a drawing component having 3 axles
less than 3.5 metres	less than 3.5 metres	25410 kilograms
not less than 3.5 metres	not less than 3.5 metres	26420 kilograms
and less than 3.8 metres	and less than 3.8 metres
not less than 3.8 metres	not less than 3.8 metres	27440 kilograms
and less than 4.1 metres	and less than 4.1 metres

Column 1		Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer is—		Maximum Weight Laden
(a) in the case of a drawing component having 2 axles	(b) in the case of a drawing component having 3 axles
not less than 4.1 metres	not less than 4.1 metres	28450 kilograms
and less than 4.4 metres	and less than 4.4 metres
not less than 4.4 metres	not less than 4.4 metres	29470 kilograms
and less than 4.7 metres	and less than 4.7 metres
not less than 4.7 metres	not less than 4.7 metres	30490 kilograms
and less than 5.0 metres	and less than 5.0 metres
not less than 5.0 metres	not less than 5.0 metres	31500 kilograms
and less than 5.3 metres	and less than 5.3 metres
not less than 5.3 metres	not less than 5.3 metres	32520 kilograms
and less than 5.5 metres	and less than 5.4 metres
not less than 5.5 metres	not less than 5.4 metres	33000 kilograms
and less than 5.8 metres	and less than 5.6 metres
not less than 5.8 metres	not less than 5.6 metres	34000 kilograms
and less than 6.2 metres	and less than 5.8 metres
not less than 6.2 metres	not less than 5.8 metres	35000 kilograms
and less than 6.5 metres	and less than 6.0 metres
not less than 6.5 metres	not less than 6.0 metres	36000 kilograms
and less than 6.7 metres	and less than 6.2 metres
not less than 6.7 metres	not less than 6.2 metres	37000 kilograms
and less than 6.9 metres	and less than 6.3 metres
6.9 metres or more	6.3 metres or more	38000 kilograms

(4) (a) The weight laden of a track-laying vehicle shall not, subject to paragraph (c) of this sub-article, exceed 7400 kilograms.

(b) The weight transmitted to any strip of the surface of a road upon which a track-laying vehicle rests, contained between any two parallel lines drawn 600 millimetres apart on that surface at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, shall not exceed 10170 kilograms.

(c) Paragraph (a) of this sub-article shall not apply to a track-laying vehicle while it is being loaded on to or unloaded from a conveying vehicle or while it is travelling for a distance not exceeding 100 metres between such vehicle and a place off the road.

(5) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this sub-article, the weight laden of a combination of vehicles comprising a vehicle and one trailer shall not exceed 35000 kilograms.

(b) The weight laden of a combination of vehicles comprising a vehicle and one trailer, having five or more axles where the distance between the rearmost axle of the vehicle and the foremost axle of the trailer is 3.7 metres or more may exceed 35000 kilograms but shall not exceed 38000 kilograms.

(6) In calculating, for the purposes of this article, the weight laden of a large public service vehicle or the weight transmitted by an axle or wheel thereof, the vehicle shall be deemed to be carrying its full complement of standing and sitting passengers, and weights of 63.5 kilograms each shall be placed in the correct relative positions for the driver, the conductor and each passenger."

6. Article 10 of the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution for sub-articles (1) and (2) of the following sub-articles——

"(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (2) and (3) of this article, the overall width of a vehicle or trailer shall not exceed 2.5 metres.

(2) (a) The overall width of a large tractor shall not exceed 2.75 metres;

(b) The overall width of a refrigerated vehicle shall not exceed 2.6 metres."

7. A vehicle or a combination of a mechanically propelled vehicle and one trailer which complies with the maximum weights, maximum dimensions and related characteristics set out as respects the vehicle or combination in the Schedule to these Regulations shall, when undertaking an international journey, be taken to comply with the provisions of articles 7, 8, 10 and 11 of the Principal Regulations.

SCHEDULE

Maximum weights, maximum dimensions and related characteristics of vehicles referred to in article 7.

Maximum length

(1) a mechanically propelled vehicle, 12 metres.

(2) a trailer, 12 metres.

(3) an articulated vehicle, 15.5 metres.

(4) a combination of vehicles comprising a mechanically propelled vehicle and one trailer, 18 metres.

Maximum width

(1) a refrigerated vehicle, 2.6 metres.

(2) any other vehicle, 2.5 metres.

Maximum weight laden

(a) Trailers

(1) two-axle trailer, 18,000 kilograms.

(2) three-axle trailer, 24,000 kilograms.

(b) Combination of Vehicles

(1) two-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with three-axle trailer, 38,000 kilograms.

(2) three-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with two-axle or three-axle trailer, 38,000 kilograms.

(1) two-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with three-axle semi-trailer, 38,000 kilograms.

(2) three-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with two-axle or three-axle semi-trailer, 38,000 kilograms.

Maximum weight transmitted to the surface of a road by axles

(a) Single axles of all vehicles

(1) sole driving axle, 10,500 kilograms.

(2) each other single axle, 10,000 kilograms.

(b) Tandem axles of trailers and semi-trailers

The sum of the axle weights of a tandem axle shall not exceed, where the distance between the axles is;

— less than 1 metre, 11,000 kilograms

— not less than 1 metre and less than 1.3 metres, 16,000 kilograms.

— not less than 1.3 metres and less than 1.8 metres. 18,000 kilograms.

— 1.8 metres or more, 20,000 kilograms.

The sum of the axle weights of a tri-axle shall not exceed, where the distance between adjacent axles is;

— 1.3 metres or less, 21,000 kilograms.

— more than 1.3 metres, 22,500 kilograms.

Related characteristics

(a) All vehicles

The weight borne by the driving axle, or driving axles, of a vehicle shall not be less than 25% of the total weight laden of the vehicle and of any trailer attached to the vehicle.

(b) Combination of vehicles

The distance between the rearmost axle of a mechanically propelled vehicle and the foremost axle of a trailer shall not be less than 3 metres.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for the Environment this

19th day of December, 1986.

JOHN BOLAND,

Minister for the Environment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations also provide for implementation of Council Directive 85/3/EEC* on the maximum weights, maximum dimensions and related characteristics of goods vehicles engaged in international traffic, with the exception of the EEC gross vehicle weight limits of 40t for 5 & 6 axle combined vehicles and 24t for the triaxle of a semi-trailer. Ireland has a derogation allowing the retention of the corresponding national weight limits of 38t and 22.89t respectively, pending the strengthening of roads and bridges to carry the heavier weights. The duration of this derogation will be determined by the EEC Council of Transport Ministers by 28th February, 1987. These Regulations extend the national drive axle limit of 10.5t to vehicles generally; increase the national gross vehicle weight limit for a 2 axle rigid vehicle (e.g. a lorry) from 16.26t to 17t; reduce the axle spacing required to qualify a 3 axle rigid vehicle for a gross vehicle weight limit of 24.39t from 4.9m to 4.6m; increase the maximum weight of 4 axle combined vehicles (articulated trucks and truck/trailer combinations) from 32.5t to 35t; make other minor amendments of national axle spacing controls designed to protect roads and bridges from excessive damage; and introduce a new width limit for 2.6m for refrigerated vehicles (the basic national width is 2.5m).

*Council Directive of 19th December 1984 on the weights, dimensions and certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehicles (85/3/EEC) —O.J. No. L2/14 dated 3.1.1985.