The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

A E+W+S DIMENSIONS AND MANOEUVRABILITY

Length E+W+S

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).

TABLE

(regulation 7(1))

1	2	3
Item	Class of vehicle	Maximum length (metres)
	Vehicle Combinations
1	[F1 A motor vehicle drawing one trailer, where the combination of vehicles does not meet the requirements of paragraph (5A) and the trailer is not a semi-trailer.]	18
[F2 1A	A motor vehicle drawing one trailer where the combination meets the requirements of paragraph (5A) and the trailer is not a semi-trailer.	18.35]
2	An articulated bus.	18
3	An articulated vehicle [F3 the semi-trailer of which does not meet the requirements of paragraph (6) and is not a low loader.]	15.5
	Motor vehicles
[F4 3A	An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which meets the requirements of paragraph (6) and is not a low loader.	16.5]
[F4 3B	An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which is a low loader.	18]
4	A wheeled motor vehicle.	12
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 [F5 which does not meet the requirements of paragraph (6) and is not a low loader].	12.2
[F6 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 [F7 (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 [F8 and item 1A in the Table does not apply].

[F9 (3) Items 1 [F10 ,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, [F11 or

(c) an articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which is a low loader manufactured before 1st April 1991.]

(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.]

(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.

[F12 (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 16m;

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

[F13 (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 F14 ... to the rear of the semi-trailer does not exceed–

(i) 12.5m in the case of a car transporter, 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 F14 ... 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.

[F15 (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 [F16 the rear of the semi-trailer].

[F17 (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 as the distance from the rearmost king-pin or, as the case may be, the rearmost king-pin position.]

[F18 (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.]

[F19 (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.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 7(1) Table substituted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(2)(a)

F2 Words in reg. 7(1) Table inserted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(2)(b)

F3 Words in reg. 7(1) Table inserted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 4(2)(a)

F4 Words in reg. 7(1) Table inserted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 4(2)(b)

F5 Words in reg. 7(1) Table inserted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 4(2)(c)

F6 Reg. 7(1) Table inserted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 4(2)(d)

F7 Words in reg. 7(1) Table inserted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 4(2)(e)

F8 Words in reg. 7(2) added (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(3)

F9 Reg. 7(3)-(3B) substituted for reg. 7(3) (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 4(3)

F10 Word in reg. 7(3) inserted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(4)

F11 Reg. 7(3)(c) and word added (29.6.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/1163), regs. 1, 3(2) (with reg. 2(2))

F12 Reg. 7(5A) inserted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(5)

F13 Reg. 7(6)-(8) substituted for reg. 7(6) (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 4(4)

F14 Words in reg. 7(6)(a)(b) omitted (29.6.1990) by virtue of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/1163), regs. 1, 3(3) (with reg. 2(2))

F15 Reg. 7(6A) inserted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(6)

F16 Words in reg. 7(7) substituted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(7)

F17 Reg. 7(7A) inserted (29.6.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/1163), regs. 1, 3(4) (with reg. 2(2))

F18 Reg. 7(7B) inserted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(8)

F19 Reg. 7(9) inserted (17.10.1991) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2125), regs. 1, 4(9)

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 7 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

Width E+W+S

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.

TABLE

(regulation 8(1))

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	[F20 2·60]
3	Any other motor vehicle.	2.5
4	A trailer drawn by a motor vehicle having a maximum gross weight (determined as provided in Part I of Schedule 8 to these Regulations) exceeding 3500 kg.	2.5
5	An agricultural trailer.	2.5
6	An agricultural trailed appliance.	2.5
7	Any other trailer drawn by a vehicle other than a motor cycle.	2.3
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 2.5 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.

Textual Amendments

F20 Word in reg. 8(1) Table substituted (1.1.1989) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/1871), regs. 1, 3 (with reg. 2(2))

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 8 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

Height E+W+S

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

(2) Save as provided in paragraph (3), no person shall use or cause or permit to be used on a road any semi-trailer if—

(a) any part of the structure of the vehicle is more than 4.2 m from the ground when the vehicle is on level ground; and

(b) the total laden weight of the semi-trailer and the vehicle by which it is drawn exceeds 32,520 kg.

(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2) the structure of a vehicle includes any detachable structure attached to the vehicle for the purpose of containing any load, but does not include any load which is not a detachable structure or any sheeting or other readily flexible means of covering or securing a load.

The provisions of paragraph (2) do not apply in respect of any vehicle while it is being loaded or unloaded.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 9 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

Indication of overall travelling height E+W+S

10.—(1) This regulation applies to every motor vehicle which is—

(a) constructed or adapted so as to be capable of hoisting and carrying a skip;

(b) carrying a container;

(c) drawing a trailer or semi-trailer carrying a container;

(d) engineering plant;

(e) carrying engineering equipment; or

(f) drawing a trailer or semi-trailer carrying engineering equipment.

(2) No person shall use or cause or permit to be used on a road a vehicle to which this regulation applies if the overall travelling height exceeds 3.66 m unless there is carried in the vehicle in the manner specified in paragraph (3) a notice clearly indicating in feet and inches and in figures not less than 40 mm tall, the overall travelling height.

(3) The notice referred to in paragraph (2) shall be attached to the vehicle in such a manner that it can be read by the driver when in the driving position.

(4) In this regulation—

F21 ...

“overall travelling height” means not less than and not above 25 mm more than the distance between the ground and the point on the motor vehicle, or on any trailer drawn by it, or on any load which is being carried by or any equipment which is fitted to the said motor vehicle or trailer, which is farthest from the ground, and for the purpose of determining the overall travelling height—

(a)

the tyres of the motor vehicle and of any trailer which it is drawing shall be suitably inflated for the use to which the vehicle or combination of vehicles is being put; and

(b)

the surface under the motor vehicle and any trailer which it is drawing and any load which is being carried on and any equipment which is fitted to any part of the said vehicle or combination of vehicles and which projects beyond any part of the said vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be reasonably flat; and

(c)

any equipment which is fitted to the motor vehicle or any trailer which it is drawing shall be stowed in the position in which it is to proceed on the road;

“skip” means an article of equipment designed and constructed to be carried on a road vehicle and to be placed on a road or other land for the storage of materials, or for the removal and disposal of rubble, waste, household or other rubbish or earth.

Textual Amendments

F21 Words in reg. 10(4) omitted (19.3.1990) by virtue of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 6

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 10 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

Overhang E+W+S

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.

TABLE

(regulation 11(1))

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) a bus (b) a refuse vehicle (c) a works truck (d) a track-laying vehicle (e) an agricultural motor vehicle (f) a motor car which is an ambulance (g) a vehicle designed to dispose of its load to the rear, if the overhang does not exceed 1.15 m (h) a vehicle first used before 2nd January 1933 (i) a vehicle first used before 1st January 1966 if— (i) the distance between the centres of the rearmost and foremost axles does not exceed 2.29 m, and (ii) the distance specified in column 3 is not exceeded by more than 76 mm (j) heating 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.

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 11 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

Minimum ground clearance E+W+S

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—

(a)

in the case of a semi-trailer, the distance between the point of support of the semi-trailer at its forward end and, if it has only one axle, the centre of that axle or, if it has more than one axle, the point halfway between the centres of the foremost and rearmost of those axles; and

(b)

in the case of any other trailer, the distance between the centre of its front axle or, if it has more than one axle at the front, the point 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—

(a)

is fitted with suitable tyres which are inflated to a pressure recommended by the manufacturer, and

(b)

is reasonably horizontal and standing on ground which is reasonably flat.

Commencement Information

I6 Reg. 12 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

[F22 Turning circle—buses] E+W+S

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 no part of it projects outside the area contained between concentric circles with radii of 12 m and 5.3 m.

(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 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; or

(b) 1.2 m if it is 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.

Textual Amendments

F22 Reg. 13 heading substituted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 5(1) (with reg. 2(a))

Commencement Information

I7 Reg. 13 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

[F23 Turning circle—articulated vehicles other than those incorporating a car transporter E+W+S

13A— (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), this regulation applies to an articulated vehicle having an overall length exceeding 15.

5m.

(2) This regulation does not apply to an articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which–

(a) was manufactured before the 1st April 1990, [F24 and]

F25 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) has an overall length that does not exceed the overall length it had on that date.

(3) This regulation does not apply to an articulated vehicle the semi-trailer of which is–

(a) a car transporter,

(b) a low loader,

(c) a stepframe low loader, or

(d) constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length.

(4) Every vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be able to move on either lock so that, disregarding the things set out in paragraph (i)(a) to (m) in the definition of “overall width” in the Table in regulation 3(2), no part of it projects outside the area contained between concentric circles with radii of 12.5m and 5.3m.

Textual Amendments

F23 Regs. 13A, 13B inserted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 5(2) (with reg. 2(a))

F24 Word in reg. 13A(2)(a) inserted (29.6.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/1163), regs. 1, 4

F25 Reg. 13A(2)(b) omitted (29.6.1990) by virtue of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/1163), regs. 1, 4

Turning circle—articulated vehicles incorporating a car transporter E+W+S

13B— (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) this regulation applies to an articulated vehicle having an overall length exceeding 15.

5m, the semi-trailer of which is a car transporter.

(2) This regulation does not apply to an articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which satisfied the following conditions–

(a) it was manufactured before the 1st April 1990, and

(b) the distance from the front of the trailer to the rearmost axle is no greater than it was on that date.

(3) This regulation does not apply to an articulated vehicle the semi-trailer of which is–

(a) a low loader, or

(b) a stepframe low loader.

(4) Every articulated vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be able to move on either lock so that, disregarding the things set out in paragraph (i)(a) to (m) in the definition of “overall width” in the Table in regulation 3(2), no part of–

(a) the motor vehicle drawing the car transporter, or

(b) the car transporter to the rear of the transverse plane passing through the king pin,

projects outside the area between concentric circles with radii of 12.5m and 5.3m.]

Textual Amendments

F23 Regs. 13A, 13B inserted (19.3.1990) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/317), regs. 1, 5(2) (with reg. 2(a))

Connecting sections and direction-holding of articulated buses E+W+S

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.

Commencement Information

I8 Reg. 14 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1