S.I. No. 319/1990 - Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1990.

S.I. No. 319 of 1990.

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1990.

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

1 Citation.

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1990.

(2) The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1986 and these Regulations shall be construed as one and may be cited together as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1990.

2 Interpretation.

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 );

"articulated bus" means 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;

"vehicle transported" means a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry two or more vehicles.

3 Commencement.

3. (1) These Regulations, shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1991.

4 Maximum weights.

4. 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, 5,250 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 sub-article, 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 10,170 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 10,170 kilograms but shall not exceed 10,500 kilograms.

( a ) 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

( c ) (i) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by two adjacent axles one of which is a driven axle fitted with an air suspension system shall not exceed 19,000 kilograms where the distance between the axles is not less than 1.3 metres or greater than 1.5 metres.

(ii) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by three or more successive axles of a semi-trailer shall not exceed 24,000 kilograms where the axles are fitted with an air suspension system or 22,890 kilograms in other cases.

(iii) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any one of three or more successive axles of a semi-trailer not fitted with an air suspension system 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.

(iv) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any one of three or more successive axles of a semi-trailer fitted with an air suspension system shall not exceed that shown in column 3 of the following table in relation to the distance between the axles shown in column 1.

TABLE

(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, 17,000 kilograms;

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

less than 3.0 metres — 16,260 kilograms;

3.0 metres or more — 18,000 kilograms;

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

less than 4.6 metres — 22,360 kilograms;

4.6 metres or more and the driving axle is not fitted with air suspension and twin

tyres — 25,000 kilograms;

4.9 metres or more, and the drive axle is fitted with an air suspension system and twin tyres — 26,000 kilograms;

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

less than 4.6 metres— 22,360 kilograms;

4.6 metres or more — 25,000 kilograms;

(v) 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 — 25,410 kilograms;

not less than 5.6 metres and less than 5.9 metres — 26,420 kilograms;

not less than 5.9 metres and less than 6.3 metres — 28,450 kilograms;

6.3 metres or more — 30,500 kilograms;

(vi) where the vehicle has four or more axles and the drive axle is fitted with an air suspension system and twin tyres and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

6.7 metres or more — 32,000 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 — 16,260 kilograms;

2.7 metres or more — 17,000 kilograms;

(ii) where the mechanically propelled vehicle has three or more axles none of which transmits a weight in excess of 10,170 kilograms to the surface of a road and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

less than 4.3 metres — 22,360 kilograms;

4.3 metres or more — 25,000 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 10,170 kilograms and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—

less than 4.0 metres — 20,340 kilograms;

not less than 4.0 metres and less than 4.9 metres — 22,360 kilograms;

4.9 metres or more — 25,000 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

( 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

( 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, subject to the proviso that the limits of 39,000 kilograms and 40,000 kilograms shall only apply to two-axle drawing components where any three-axle semi-trailer is fitted with an air suspension system.

TABLE

(4) ( a ) The weight laden of a track-laying vehicle shall not, subject to paragraph (c) of this sub-article, exceed 7,400 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 10,170 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 35,000 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—

(i) not less than 3.7 metres but less than 3.9 metres, may exceed 35,000 kilograms but shall not exceed 38,000 kilograms

(ii) 3.9 metres or more, may exceed 38,000 kilograms but shall not exceed 40,000 kilograms.

(6) In calculating, for the purposes of the article, the weight laden of 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 65 kilograms each shall be placed in the correct relative positions for the driver, the conductor and each passenger."

5 Maximum dimensions.

5. The following Article is substituted for Article 11 of the Principal Regulations—

"11. (1) Subject to sub-articles (2), (3), (4) and (6) of this article, the overall length of a vehicle shall not exceed 12 metres.

(2) The overall length of a trailer shall not exceed 12 metres.

(3) The overall length of an articulated vehicle, other than an articulated bus, shall not exceed 16.5 metres.

(4) The distance between the axis of the semi-trailer king pin and the rear of the semi-trailer shall not exceed 12 metres, or 12.5 metres in the case of a vehicle transporter and the distance measured horizontally between the axis of the semi-trailer king pin and any point to the front of the semi-trailer shall not exceed 2.04 metres or 4.19 metres in the case of a vehicle transporter.

(5) The provisions of subparagraph (4) shall not apply to an articulated vehicle first registered before 1st January 1991 provided the overall length of such articulated vehicle does not exceed 15.5 metres.

(6) Subject to sub-article (7), the overall length of a combination of vehicles or an articulated bus shall not exceed 18 metres.

(7) Sub-article (6) of this article shall not apply to a large tractor where—

( a ) such tractor is drawing two trailers outside a county or other borough or an urban district the population of which, as ascertained by the census of population which for the time being is the last published census of population, exceeds 10,000 persons, and

( b ) the overall length of the combination of vehicles comprising the tractor and trailers does not exceed 22 metres.

(8) ( a ) The overall length of a vehicle or trailer shall be the distance between vertical planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle or trailer and passing through the extreme projecting points at the front and rear of the vehicle or trailer, and for that purpose—

(i) in calculating the overall length of a trailer, the drawbar shall be included;

(ii) in calculating the overall length of a vehicle, any ladder permanently attached to the vehicle for the purpose of affording access to the roof and not projecting backwards more than 230 millimetres beyond the rear of the vehcle shall be disregarded;

(iii) in calculating the overall length of an articulated vehicle—

I. any load on the vehicle shall be deemed to form part of the vehicle save where the vehicle is carrying poles for use in connection with the provision of telephone or electricity services,

II. the longitudinal axis of the drawing and drawn components shall be in the same vertical plane.

( b ) The overall length of a combination of vehicles shall be the distance between vertical planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the drawing and drawn components comprised in such combination (which such axis are in the same vertical plane) and passing through the extreme projecting points at the front and rear of the combination.

(9) The provisions of this article relating to the overall length of a combination of vehicles shall not operate so as to prohibit the towing of a broken down vehicle which is being towed, in consequence of the breakdown, to the nearest convenient place of safety or repair.

(10) A load, other than poles intended for use in connection with telephone or electricity services, on a vehicle which is not drawing a trailer, or on the rearmost trailer in a combination of vehicles, shall not project more than 3 metres to the rear beyond the rearmost point of such vehicle or trailer.

(11) Where a load (including an implement carried by a tractor) projects more than 1 metre to the rear beyond the rearmost point of a vehicle or the rearmost trailer in a combination of vehicles, a warning device (being either a red flag or cloth at least 300 millimetres square, or a rigid device having a surface of a similar area coloured red or in two colours, one in which is red and the other of which is lighter than red) shall be carried at the rear of the load during the day time."

(12) ( a ) The maximum overall height of a vehicle, including load, shall not exceed—

(i) 4.57 metres in the case of a double deck large public service vehicle,

(ii) 4.25 metres in the case of any other vehicle.

( b ) The provisions of sub-article (12) (a) of this article shall not apply to a vehicle registered on or before the 31st day of March 1991 until the 31st day of March 1996.

(13) Article 55 of the Principal Regulations is hereby repealed."

6 Articulated bus.

6. (1) The following sub-article is hereby substituted for sub-article (5) of Article 12 of the Principal Regulations:

"(5) A trailer or articulated vehicle, other than an articulated bus, shall not be used for the carriage of passengers for reward.".

7 Vehicle on international journey.

7. The Schedule hereto is hereby substituted for the Schedule to the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986 ( S.I. No. 442 of 1986 ).

SCHEDULE

Maximum weights, maximum dimensions and related characteristics of vehicles referred to in Article 7 of S.I. No. 442 of 1986 .

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for the Environment this 19th day of December, 1990.

PADRAIG FLYNN,

Minister for the Environment

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations provide for the implementation of certain EC limits on the weights and dimensions of heavy goods vehicles/buses circulating internationally — as laid down in Directive 85/3/EEC of 19th December, 1984¹, amended by Directive 89/338/EEC of 27th April, 1989² and Directive 89/461/EEC of 18th July, 1989³.

¹OJ No. L 2/14 of 3 January, 1985.

²OJ No. L 142/3 of 25 May, 1989.

³OJ No. L 226/7 of 3 August, 1989

The Regulations provide for increases in the maximum weight limits for certain categories of vehicles circulating internationally and for slightly higher maximum weight limits to some vehicles circulating in domestic traffic — subject, however, to detailed national axle spacing controls designed to protect bridges from excessive damage by heavy goods vehicles. Higher weight limits are also fixed, in certain circumstances, for vehicles fitted with air suspension systems/twin tyres.

The Regulations increase the maximum length of articulated trucks from 15.5m to 16.5m, subject to detailed length controls on the semi-trailer.

The Regulations authorise the use of articulated buses in this country, for the first time, as required by Directive 89/338/EEC. The Regulations fix the maximum length of an articulated bus at 18m and a gross vehicle weight limit of 27t for this category of bus.

The Regulations introduce a maximum height limit of 4.57 metres for double deck buses/coaches (including loads) and 4.25 metres for other vehicles (including loads).