S.I. No. 139/1996 - Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations, 1996


S.I. No. 139 of 1996.

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) REGULATIONS, 1996

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 Citation

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations, 1996.

(2) The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1996 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 1996.

2 Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

"appropriate articulated vehicle" means a combination of an appropriate mechanically propelled vehicle and a three axle semi-trailer, which semi-trailer is fitted with:—

(a) a brake system approved in accordance with the requirements of the EU Type Approval Directives listed in item 1 of the Schedule to these Regulations, which includes antilock devices in addition to any other devices necessary for the satisfactory operation of the service brakes under all conditions of loading, and

(b) a plate complying with the requirements of the EU Type Approval Directives listed in item 2 of the Schedule to these Regulations;

"appropriate combination of vehicles" means a combination of an appropriate mechanically propelled vehicle and a three axle trailer, which trailer is fitted with:—

(a) a brake system approved in accordance with the requirements of the EU Type Approval Directives listed in item 1 of the Schedule to these Regulations, which includes antilock devices in addition to any other devices necessary for the satisfactory operation of the service brakes under all conditions of loading, and

(b) a plate complying with the requirements of the EU Type Approval Directives listed in item 2 of the Schedule to these Regulations;

"appropriate mechanically propelled vehicle" means a mechanically propelled vehicle having at least 3 axles which is fitted with:—

(a) a brake system approved in accordance with the requirements of the EU Type Approval Directives listed in item 1 of the Schedule to these Regulations, which includes antilock devices in addition to any other devices necessary for the satisfactory operation of the service brakes under all conditions of loading,

(b) a plate complying with the requirements of the EU Type Approval Directives listed in item 2 of the Schedule to these Regulations, and

(c) twin tyres and an air suspension system or an equivalent system on the driving axle or driving axles;

"relevant journey" means an international journey or an intermodal journey, in either case with a load which consists of one or two removable receptacles or containers designed and constructed for repeated use for the carriage of goods;

"intermodal journey" means a journey to or from a rail terminal or a sea-port in the State for onward transfer of goods, such that the goods themselves are not handled in changing modes.

3 Maximum Weights

3. The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 ( S.I. No. 190 of 1963 ) 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) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) 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;

(b) 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.

(3) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this sub-article, the weight transmitted to the surface of a road by tandem axles of a vehicle or of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed the maximum weight 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

COLUMN 2

Where the distance between the axles is —

Maximum Weight

less than 1. 0 metre

11,500 kilograms

not less than 1.0 metre

17,280 kilograms

not less than 1.2 metres

18,300 kilograms

not less than 1.35 metres

18,800 kilograms

not less than 1.5 metres

19,320 kilograms

not less than 1.8 metres

20,000 kilograms

not less than 1.85 metres

20,340 kilograms

(b) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by tandem axles of a vehicle, where the distance between the axles is not less than 1. 3 metres and less than 1.5 metres, may exceed 18,300 kilograms but shall not exceed 19,000 kilograms if:—

(i) the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and an air suspension system or an equivalent system, or

(ii) the tandem axles consist of two driving axles both of which are fitted with twin tyres and neither of which transmits a weight in excess of 9,500 kilograms to the surface of a road.

(4) (a) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by a triaxle conforming with the description given in Column 1 of the following Table shall not exceed that shown in Column 2 of the Table in relation to that description.

TABLE

COLUMN 1

COLUMN 2

Description of the triaxle

Maximum Weight

Where the distance between the two closest adjacent axles is less than 1.3 metres.

21,000 kilograms

Where the distance between the two closest adjacent axles is 1.3 metres or more and at least one of the axles does not have an air suspension system or an equivalent system.

22,500 kilograms

Where the distance between the two closest adjacent axles is 1.3 metres or more and each of the three axles is fitted with an air suspension system or an equivalent system.

24,000 kilograms

(b) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by a four axle bogie shall not exceed 24,000 kilograms.

(5) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this sub-article, 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;

not less than 3. 0 metres

— 18,000 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

— 22,360 kilograms;

not less than 4.6 metres

— 25,000 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

— 25,410 kilograms;

not less than 5.6 metres

— 26,420 kilograms;

not less than 5. 9 metres

— 28,450 kilograms;

not less than 6.3 metres

— 30,500 kilograms.

(b) (i) The weight laden of a vehicle, not being an articulated vehicle, which is equipped with twin tyres and an air suspension system or an equivalent system on each driving axle shall not exceed the maximum weight laden shown in Column 3 of the following Table in relation to a vehicle having the number of axles shown in Column 1 of the Table with a distance between the extreme front and rear axles shown in Column 2 of the Table.

(ii) The weight laden of a vehicle, not being an articulated vehicle, having two driving axles neither of which transmits to the surface of a road a weight in excess of 9,500 kilograms and equipped with twin tyres on each driving axle, shall not exceed the maximum weight laden shown in Column 3 of the following Table in relation to a vehicle having the number of axles shown in Column 1 of the Table with a distance between the extreme front and rear axles shown in Column 2 of the Table.

TABLE

COLUMN 1

COLUMN 2

COLUMN 3

The number of axles on the vehicle.

The distance between the extreme front and rear axles.

Maximum Weight Laden.

3 axles

not less than 4.9 metres

26,000 kilograms

4 axles or more

not less than 5.2 metres not less than 5.4 metres not less than 5.6 metres not less than 5.8 metres not less than 6.0 metres not less than 6.2 metres not less than 6.4 metres

26,000 kilograms 27,000 kilograms 28,000 kilograms 29,000 kilograms 30,000 kilograms 31,000 kilograms 32,000 kilograms

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

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

(i) less than 2.7 metres

— 16,260 kilograms;

(ii) not less than 2.7 metres

— 17,000 kilograms;

(b) 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:—

(i) less than 4.3 metres

— 22,360 kilograms;

(ii) not less than 4.3 metres

— 25,000 kilograms;

(c) 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:—

(i) less than 4.0 metres

— 20,340 kilograms;

(ii) not less than 4.0 metres and less than 4.9 metres

— 22,360 kilograms;

(iii) not less than 4.9 metres

— 25,000 kilograms;

(7) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) or this sub-article, the weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of three axles shall not exceed the maximum weight laden 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

The distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the axle of the semi-trailer.

Maximum Weight Laden.

less than 2.6 metres

22,360 kilograms

not less than 2.6 metres

23,370 kilograms

not less than 2.9 metres

25,000 kilograms

(b) The weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of three axles, which is equipped with twin tyres and an air suspension system or an equivalent system on the driving axle may, if the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the axle of the semi-trailer is not less than 3.5 metres, exceed 25,000 kilograms but shall not exceed 26,000 kilograms.

(c) 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

The distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer.

Maximum Weight Laden.

less than 3.5 metres

25,410 kilograms

not less than 3.5 metres

26,420 kilograms

not less than 3.8 metres

27,440 kilograms

not less than 4.1 metres

28,540 kilograms

not less than 4.4 metres

29,470 kilograms

not less than 4.7 metres

30,490 kilograms

not less than 5.0 metres

31,500 kilograms

not less than 5.3 metres

32,520 kilograms

not less than 5.4 metres

33,000 kilograms

not less than 5.7 metres

34,000 kilograms

not less than 6.0 metres

35,000 kilograms

(d) (i) 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 3 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown in Column 1 of the Table, as regards drawing components having 2 axles, subject to the proviso that the limits of 39,000 kilograms and 40,000 kilograms shall not apply unless each of the axles of the semi-trailer is fitted with an air suspension system or an equivalent system.

(ii) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (e) of this sub-article, 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 3 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown in Column 2 of the Table, as regards drawing components having 3 axles.

TABLE

COLUMN 1

COLUMN 2

COLUMN 3

The distance between the rearmost axle of a 2 axle drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer.

The distance between the rearmost axle of a 3 axle drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer.

Maximum Weight Laden

less than 3.5 metres

less than 3.5 metres

25,410 kilograms

not less than 3.5 metres

not less than 3.5 metres

26,420 kilograms

not less than 3.8 metres

not less than 3.8 metres

27,440 kilograms

not less than 4.1 metres

not less than 4. 1 metres

28,450 kilograms

not less than 4.4 metres

not less than 4.4 metres

29,470 kilograms

not less than 4.7 metres

not less than 4.7 metres

30,490 kilograms

not less than 5.0 metres

not less than 5.0 metres

31,500 kilograms

not less than 5.3 metres

not less than 5.3 metres

32,520 kilograms

not less than 5.5 metres

not less than 5.4 metres

33,000 kilograms

not less than 5.8 metres

not less than 5.6 metres

34,000 kilograms

not less than 6.2 metres

not less than 5.8 metres

35,000 kilograms

not less than 6.5 metres

not less than 6.0 metres

36,000 kilograms

not less than 6.7 metres

not less than 6.2 metres

37,000 kilograms

not less than 6.9 metres

not less than 6.3 metres

38,000 kilograms

not less than 7.1 metres

not less than 6.5 metres

39,000 kilograms

not less than 7.3 metres

not less than 6.7 metres

40,000 kilograms

(e) The weight laden of an appropriate articulated vehicle, may, while undertaking a relevant journey, exceed 40,000 kilograms but shall not exceed the relevant maximum weight laden shown in Column 2 of the following Table in relation to the corresponding distances between axles shown in Column 1 of the Table.

TABLE

COLUMN 1

COLUMN 2

The distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer.

Maximum Weight Laden.

not less than 7.4 metres

41,000 kilograms

not less than 7.6 metres

42,000 kilograms

not less than 7.8 metres

43,000 kilograms

not less than 8.0 metres

44,000 kilograms

(8) (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.

(9) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) 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 35,000 kilograms but shall not exceed 40,000 kilograms.

(c) The weight laden of an appropriate combination of vehicles may, while undertaking a relevant journey, exceed 35,000 kilograms but shall not exceed 44,000 kilograms, provided the distance between the rearmost axle of the vehicle and the foremost axle of the trailer is 3.9 metres or more.

(10) In calculating, for the purpose of this 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.".

Article 3

SCHEDULE

List of Type Approval Directives Applicable

Item

Subject Matter

Reference Number

Date

1

The approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and of their trailers (with particular reference to anti-lock devices).

71/320/EEC as amended by 88/194/EEC

26. 7. 197124. 3. 1988

2

The approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to statutory plates and inscriptions for motor vehicles and their trailers, and their location and method of attachment.

76/114/EEC as amended by 78/507/EEC (87/354/EEC)

18. 12. 1975 19. 5. 1978

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for the Environment

this 23rd day of May, 1996.

Brendan Howlin

______________________

Minister for the Environment

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations allow for the use of certain vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a laden weight not exceeding 44,000 kilograms on international journeys or journeys to or from an intermodal rail terminal or a sea-port in the State, subject to certain technical requirements in relation to the vehicles or combinations of vehicles.