Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

A. DEFINITION OF VEHICLE CATEGORY U.K.

Vehicle categories are defined according to the following classification: (Where reference is made to ‘maximum mass’ in the following definitions, this means ‘technically permissible maximum laden mass’ as specified in item 2.8 of Annex I.) U.K.

1.

Category M:	Motor vehicles with at least four wheels designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers.
Category M1:	Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat.
Category M2:	Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass not exceeding 5 tonnes.
Category M3:	Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass exceeding 5 tonnes.

The types of bodywork and codifications pertinent to the vehicles of category M are defined in Part C of this Annex paragraph 1 (vehicles of category M₁) and paragraph 2 (vehicles of categories M₂ and M₃) to be used for the purpose specified in that Part.

2.

Category N:	Motor vehicles with at least four wheels designed and constructed for the carriage of goods.
Category N1:	Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3,5 tonnes.
Category N2:	Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes.
Category N3:	Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes.

In the case of a towing vehicle designed to be coupled to a semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer, the mass to be considered for classifying the vehicle is the mass of the tractor vehicle in running order, increased by the mass corresponding to the maximum static vertical load transferred to the tractor vehicle by the semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer and, where applicable, by the maximum mass of the tractor vehicles own load.

The types of bodywork and codifications pertinent to the vehicles of category N are defined in Part C of this Annex paragraph 3 to be used for the purpose specified in that Part.

3.

Category O:	Trailers (including semi-trailers).
Category O1:	Trailers with a maximum mass not exceeding 0,75 tonnes
Category O2:	Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 0,75 tonnes but not exceeding 3,5 tonnes.
Category O3:	Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes but not exceeding 10 tonnes.
Category O4:	Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 10 tonnes.

In the case of a semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer, the maximum mass to be considered for classifying the trailer corresponds to the static vertical load transmitted to the ground by the axle or axles of the semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer when coupled to the towing vehicle and carrying its maximum load.

The types of bodywork and codifications pertinent to the vehicles of category O are defined in Part C of this Annex paragraph 4 to be used for the purpose specified in that Part.

4.

Off-road vehicles (symbol G) U.K.

4.1. Vehicles in category N₁ with a maximum mass not exceeding two tonnes and vehicles in category M₁ are considered to be off-road vehicles if they have: U.K.

• at least one front axle and at least one rear axle designed to be driven simultaneously including vehicles where the drive to one axle can be disengaged,

• at least one differential locking mechanism or at least one mechanism having a similar effect and if they can climb a 30 % gradient calculated for a solo vehicle.

In addition, they must satisfy at least five of the following six requirements:

• the approach angle must be at least 25 degrees,

• the departure angle must be at least 20 degrees,

• the ramp angle must be at least 20 degrees,

• the ground clearance under the front axle must be at least 180 mm,

• the ground clearance under the rear axle must be at least 180 mm,

• the ground clearance between the axles must be at least 200 mm.

4.2. Vehicles in category N₁ with a maximum mass exceeding two tonnes or in category N₂, M₂ or M₃ with a maximum mass not exceeding 12 tonnes are considered to be off-road vehicles either if all their wheels are designed to be driven simultaneously, including vehicles where the drive to one axle can be disengaged, or if the following three requirements are satisfied: U.K.

• at least one front and at least one rear axle are designed to be driven simultaneously, including vehicles where the drive to one axle can be disengaged,

• there is at least one differential locking mechanism or at least one mechanism having a similar effect,

• they can climb a 25 % gradient calculated for a solo vehicle.

4.3. Vehicles in category M₃ with a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes or in category N₃ are to be considered to be off-road vehicles either if the wheels are designed to be driven simultaneously, including vehicles where the drive to one axle can be disengaged, or if the following requirements are satisfied: U.K.

• at least half the wheels are driven,

• there is at least one differential locking mechanism or at least one mechanism having a similar effect,

• they can climb a 25 % gradient calculated for a solo vehicle,

• at least four of the following six requirements are satisfied:

  • the approach angle must be at least 25 degrees,

  • the departure angle must be at least 25 degrees,

  • the ramp angle must be at least 25 degrees,

  • the ground clearance under the front axle must be at least 250 mm,

  • the ground clearance between the axles must be at least 300 mm,

  • the ground clearance under the rear axle must be at least 250 mm.

4.4.

Load and checking conditions. U.K.

4.4.1. Vehicles in category N₁ with a maximum mass not exceeding two tonnes and vehicles in category M₁ must be in running order, namely with coolant fluid, lubricants, fuel, tools, spare-wheel and driver (see footnote (^o) in Annex I). U.K.

4.4.2. Motor vehicles other than those referred to in 4.4.1 must be loaded to the technically permissible maximum mass stated by the manufacturer. U.K.

4.4.3. The ability to climb the required gradients (25 % and 30 %) is verified by simple calculation. In exceptional cases, however, the technical services may ask for a vehicle of the type concerned to be submitted to it for an actual test. U.K.

4.4.4. When measuring approach and departure angles and ramp angles, no account is taken of underrun protective devices. U.K.

4.5.

Definitions and sketches of ground clearance. (For definitions of approach angle, departure angle, ramp angle, see Annex I, footnotes (^na), (^nb) and (^nc)). U.K.

4.5.1. ‘Ground clearance between the axles’ means the shortest distance between the ground plane and the lowest fixed point of the vehicle. Multi-axled bogies are considered to be a single axle. U.K.

4.5.2. ‘Ground clearance beneath one axle’ means the distance beneath the highest point of the arc of a circle passing through the centre of the tyre footprint of the wheels on one axle (the inner wheels in the case of twin tyres) and touching the lowest fixed point of the vehicle between the wheels. U.K.

No rigid part of the vehicle may project to the shaded area of the diagram. Where appropriate, the ground clearance of several axles is indicated in accordance with their arrangement, for example 280/250/250.

4.6. Combined designation U.K.

Symbol ‘G’ shall be combined with either symbol ‘M’ or ‘N’. For example, a vehicle of category N₁ which is suited for off-road use shall be designated as N₁G.

5.

‘Special purpose vehicle’ means a vehicle intended to perform a function which requires special body arrangements and/or equipment. This category shall include wheel-chair accessible vehicles. U.K.

5.1. ‘Motor Caravan’ means a special purpose M category vehicle constructed to include living accommodation which contains at least the following equipment: U.K.

• seats and table,

• sleeping accommodation which may be converted from the seats,

• cooking facilities, and

• storage facilities.

This equipment shall be rigidly fixed to the living compartment; however, the table may be designed to be easily removable.

5.2. ‘Armoured vehicles’ means vehicles intended for the protection of conveyed passengers and/or goods and complying with armour plating anti-bullet requirements. U.K.

5.3. ‘Ambulances’ means motor vehicles of category M intended for the transport of sick or injured people and having special equipment for such purpose. U.K.

5.4. ‘Hearses’ means motor vehicles of category M intended for the transport of deceased people and having special equipment for such purpose. U.K.

5.5. ‘Wheelchair accessible vehicle’ means vehicles of category M₁ constructed or converted specifically so that they accommodate one or more person(s) seated in their wheelchair(s) when travelling on the road. U.K.

5.6. ‘Trailer caravans’ see ISO Standard 3833-77, term No 3.2.1.3. U.K.

5.7. ‘Mobile cranes’ means a special purpose vehicle of category N₃, not fitted for the carriage of goods, provided with a crane whose lifting moment is equal to or higher than 400 kNm. U.K.

5.8. ‘Other special purpose vehicles’ means vehicles as defined in item 5 above, with the exception of those mentioned in items 5.1 to 5.6. U.K.

The codifications pertinent to ‘special purpose vehicles’ are defined in Part C of this Annex, paragraph 5 to be used for the purpose specified in that Part.