The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Braking systems of certain vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1983 E+W+S

[F1 15.— (1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), the braking system of every wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table which, in the case of a motor vehicle, is first used on or after 1st April 1983 or which, in the case of a trailer, is manufactured on or after 1st October 1982 shall comply with the construction, fitting and performance requirements specified in Annexes I, II and VII to Community Directive 79/489, and if relevant, Annexes III, IV, V, VI and VIII to that Directive in relation to the category of vehicles specified in that item in column 3.

Provided that it shall be lawful for any vehicle of such a class which, in the case of a motor vehicle, was first used before 1st April 1983 or which, in the case of a trailer, was manufactured before 1st October 1982 to comply with the said requirements instead of complying with regulations 16 and 17.

(1A) Save as provided in paragraphs (2),(3), (3A) and (5), the braking system of every wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table which, in the case of a motor vehicle, is first used on or after the relevant date or which, in the case of a trailer, is manufactured on or after the relevant date shall comply with the construction, fitting and performance requirements specified in Annexes I, II and VII to Community Directive 85/647, and if relevant, Annexes III, IV, V, VI, VIII, X, XI and XII to that Directive in relation to the category of vehicles specified in that item in column 3.

Provided that it shall be lawful for any vehicle of such a class which, in the case of a motor vehicle, was first used before the relevant date or which, in the case of a trailer, was manufactured before the relevant date to comply with the said requirements instead of complying with paragraph (1) or with regulations 16 and 17.

(1B) In paragraph (1A), the relevant date in relation to a vehicle of a class specified in item 1 or 2 of the Table is 1st April 1990, in relation to a vehicle specified in item 4 of that Table is 1st April 1992, in relation to a vehicle in items 7, 8, 9 or 10 of that Table is 1st October 1988 and in relation to a vehicle of any other class is 1st April 1989.

(1C) Save as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), (3A) and (5A), the braking system of every wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table which, in the case of a motor vehicle, is first used on or after 1st April 1992 or which, in the case of a trailer, is manufactured on or after 1st October 1991 shall comply with the construction, fitting and performance requirements specified in Annexes I, II and VII to Community Directive 88/194, and if relevant, Annexes III, IV, V, VI, VIII, X, XI and XII to that Directive in relation to the category of vehicles specified in that item in column 3.

Provided that it shall be lawful for any vehicle of such a class which, in the case of a motor vehicle, was first used before 1st April 1992 or which, in the case of a trailer, was manufactured before 1st October 1991 to comply with the said requirements instead of complying with paragraph (1) or (1A) or with regulations 16 and 17.

(1D) Save as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), (3A) and (5A), the braking system of every wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table which, in the case of a motor vehicle, is first used on or after 1st April 1995 or which, in the case of a trailer, is manufactured on or after that date shall comply with the construction, fitting and performance requirements specified in Annexes I, II, and VII to Community Directive 91/422, and if relevant, Annexes III, IV, V, VI, VIII, X, XI and XII to that Directive in relation to the category of vehicles specified in that item in column 3.

Provided that it shall be lawful for any vehicle of such a class which, in the case of a motor vehicle, was first used before 1st April 1995 or which, in the case of a trailer, was manufactured before that date to comply with the said requirements instead of complying with paragraph (1), (1A) or (1C) or with regulations 16 and 17.

[F2 (1E) Save as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), (3A), (5A) and (5B) the braking system of every wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table which, in the case of a motor vehicle, is first used on or after 1st May 2002 or which, in the case of a trailer, is manufactured on or after 1st May 2002 shall comply with the construction, fitting and performance requirements of Annexes I, II and VII to Community Directive 98/12/EC and if relevant, Annexes III, IV, V, VI, VIII, X, XI, XII, XIII and XIV to that Directive in relation to the category of vehicles specified in that item in column 3.

Provided that it shall be lawful for any vehicle of such a class which, in the case of a motor vehicle, was first used before 1st May 2002 or which, in the case of a trailer, was manufactured before 1st [F3 May] 2002 to comply with the said requirements instead of complying with paragraphs (1), (1A), (1C) or (1D) or with regulations 16 and 17.]

(2) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1), (1A), [F4 (1C), (1D) and (1E)] do not apply to—

(a) [F5 an agricultural trailer that is not drawn at a speed exceeding 40 km/h];

[F6 (aa) an agricultural trailed appliance that is not drawn at a speed exceeding 20 mph;]

(b) a locomotive;

(c) a motor tractor;

(d) an agricultural motor vehicle [F7 , not being a category T tractor,] unless it is first used after 1st June 1986 and is driven at more than 20 mph;

[F8 (da) a category T tractor unless it is first used after 1st June 1986 and is driven at more than 40 km/h;]

(e) a vehicle which has a maximum speed not exceeding 25 km/h;

(f) a works trailer;

(g) a works truck;

(h) a public works vehicle;

(i) a trailer designed and constructed, or adapted, to be drawn exclusively by a vehicle to which sub–paragraph (b), (c), (e), (g) or (h) of this paragraph applies;

[F9 (j) a trailer falling within regulation 16(3)(b), (bb), (bc), (d), (e), (f) or (g);

(ja) a trailer which is manufactured before 1st January 1997 and has a maximum total design axle weight that does not exceed 750 kg; or]

(k) a vehicle manufactured by Leyland Vehicles Limited and known as the Atlantean Bus, if first used before 1st October 1984.

(3) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1), (1A), [F10 (1C), (1D) and (1E)] shall apply to the classes of vehicles specified in the Table so that—

(a) in item 3, the testing requirement specified in paragraph 1.5.1 and 1.5.2 of Annex II to Community Directives 79/489, 85/647, [F11 88/194, 91/422 and 98/12] shall apply to every vehicle specified in that item other than—

(i) a double–decked vehicle first used before 1st October 1983, or

(ii) a vehicle of a type in respect of which a member state of the European Economic Community has issued a type approval certificate in accordance with Community Directive 79/489, 85/647, [F12 88/194, 91/422 or 98/12];

(b) in items 2 and 3—

(i) the requirements specified in paragraph 1.1.4.2 of Annex II to Community Directive 79/489, 85/647, [F13 88/194, 91/422 and 98/12] shall not apply in relation to any vehicle first used before 1st April 1996;

(ii) those requirements shall not apply in relation to any relevant bus first used on or after that date;

(iii) sub–note (2) to paragraph 1.17.2 of Annex I to Community Directive 85/647, [F14 88/194, 91/422 and 98/12] shall not apply in relation to any vehicle,

and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph “relevant bus” means a bus that is not a coach;

(c) in items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, in the case of vehicles constructed or adapted for use by physically handicapped drivers, the requirement in paragraph 2.1.2.1 of Annex I to Community Directive 79/489 that the driver must be able to achieve the braking action mentioned in that paragraph from his driving seat without removing his hands from the steering control shall be modified so as to require that the driver is able to achieve that action while continuing to steer the vehicle; and

(d) in items 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the requirement specified in paragraph 1.1.4.2 of Annex II to Community Directive 79/489 shall not apply to a vehicle first used (in the case of a motor vehicle) or manufactured (in the case of a trailer) before the relevant date as defined in paragraph (1B) if either—

(i) following a test in respect of which the fee numbered 26024/26250 to 26257, prescribed in Schedule 1 to the Motor Vehicles (Type Approval and Approval Marks) (Fees) Regulations 1990, or the corresponding fee prescribed under any corresponding previous enactment is payable, a document is issued by the Secretary of State indicating that, at the date of manufacture of the vehicle, the type to which it belonged complied with the requirements specified in Annex 13 to ECE Regulation 13.03, 13.04, [F15 13.05, 13.06, 13.07, 13.08 or 13.09]; or

(ii) as a result of a notifiable alteration to the vehicle within the meaning of regulation 3 of the Plating and Testing Regulations, a fitment has been approved as complying with the requirements mentioned in sub–paragraph (i).

(3A) The requirements specified in paragraphs (1A), [F16 (1C), (1D) and (1E)] shall apply to a road tanker subject to the exclusion of paragraph 4.3 of Annex X to Community Directive 85/647.

(3B) No motor vehicle to which [F17 paragraph (1D) or (1E)] applies and which is first used on or after 1st April 1996 shall be fitted with an integrated retarder unless either—

(a) the motor vehicle is fitted with an anti–lock device which acts on the retarder and which complies with the requirements specified in Annex X to Community Directive 91/422 [F18 or Community Directive 98/12]; or

(b) the retarder is fitted with a cut–out device which allows the combined control to apply the service braking system alone and which can be operated by the driver from the driving seat;

and expressions (other than the word “vehicle”) used in this paragraph which are also used in Annex I to Community Directive 85/647 shall, for the purposes of this paragraph, have the same meanings as in that Annex save that “retarder” shall not in any circumstances include a regenerative braking system.

(4) Instead of complying with paragraph (1) of this regulation, a vehicle to which this regulation applies may comply with ECE Regulation 13.03, 13.04, [F19 13.05, 13.06, 13.07, 13.08 or 13.09].

(5) Instead of complying with paragraph (1A) of this regulation, a vehicle to which this regulation applies may comply with ECE Regulation [F20 13.05, 13.06, 13.07, 13.08 or 13.09].

(5A) Instead of complying with paragraph (1C) or (1D) of this regulation, a vehicle to which this regulation applies may comply—

(a) in the case of a trailer manufactured before 1st April 1992, with ECE Regulation 13.05 or 13.06; or

(b) in the case of any vehicle not falling within sub–paragraph (a), with ECE Regulation 13.06 [F21 13.07, 13.08 or 13.09].

[F22 (5B) Instead of complying with paragraph (1E) of this regulation, a vehicle to which this regulation applies may comply with ECE Regulation 13.09.]

(6) In paragraph (3A), the expression “road tanker” means any vehicle or trailer which carries liquid fuel in a tank forming part of the vehicle or trailer other than that containing the fuel which is used to propel the vehicle, and also includes any tank with a capacity exceeding 3m3 carried on a vehicle.

(7) In this regulation, and in relation to the application to any vehicle of any provision of Community Directive 85/647, [F23 88/194, 91/422 or 98/12], the definitions of “semi–trailer”, “full trailer” and “centre–axle trailer” set out in that Directive shall apply and the meaning of “semi–trailer” in column 2 of the Table in regulation 3(2) shall not apply.

[F24 (8) For the purposes of the preceding provisions of this regulation the date on which a trailer was manufactured shall be taken to be the date on which its manufacture was completed except that, in the case of a trailer whose manufacture has been completed for more than 8 years and which has been the subject of a notifiable alteration under regulation 30 of the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988, it shall be taken to be the date on which the notifiable alteration was completed.

(9) A trailer, whose manufacture has been completed for more than eight years and which has been the subject of a notifiable alteration under regulation 30 of the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988, shall comply with all requirements of Community Directives relating to braking systems which applied to the trailer at the date when the notifiable alteration was completed.]

TABLE

(regulation 15(1))

1	2	3
Item	Class of Vehicle	Vehicle Category in the Community Directive
1	Passenger vehicles and dual–purpose vehicles which have 3 or more wheels except— (a) dual–purpose vehicles constructed or adapted to carry not more than 2 passengers exclusive of the driver; (b) motor cycles with sidecar attached; (c) vehicles with three wheels, an unladen weight not exceeding 410kg, a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h and an engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc; (d) buses.	M1
2	Buses having a maximum gross weight which does not exceed 5000 kg.	M2
3	Buses having a maximum gross weight which exceeds 5000 kg.	M3
4	Dual–purpose vehicles not within item 1; and goods vehicles, having a maximum gross weight which does not exceed 3500 kg, and not being motor cycles with a sidecar attached.	N1
	Goods vehicles with a maximum gross weight which—
5	exceeds 3500 kg but does not exceed 12,000 kg;	N2
6	exceeds 12,000 kg.	N3
	Trailers with a maximum total design axle weight which—
7	does not exceed 750 kg;	01
8	exceeds 750 kg but does not exceed 3500 kg;	02
9	exceeds 3500 kg but does not exceed 10,000 kg;	03
10	exceeds 10,000 kg.	04]

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 15 set out as amended by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/551), reg. 3 and previous regulations with minor adjustments to the punctuation and spelling, see S.I. 1995/551, reg. 3(13), Sch.

F2 Reg. 15(1E) inserted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(2)

F3 Word in reg. 15(1E) substituted (1.7.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1474), regs. 1, 5

F4 Words in reg. 15(2) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(3)

F5 Words in reg. 15(2)(a) substituted (9.3.2015) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/142), regs. 1(2), 4(1)

F6 Reg. 15(2)(aa) inserted (9.3.2015) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/142), regs. 1(2), 4(2)

F7 Words in reg. 15(2)(d) inserted (9.3.2015) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/142), regs. 1(2), 4(3)

F8 Reg. 15(2)(da) inserted (9.3.2015) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/142), regs. 1(2), 4(4)

F9 Reg. 15(2)(j)(ja) substituted for reg. 15(2)(j) (1.1.1997) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/3033), regs. 1, 3

F10 Words in reg. 15(3) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(4)

F11 Words in reg. 15(3)(a) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(5)

F12 Words in reg. 15(3)(a)(ii) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(6)

F13 Words in reg. 15(3)(b)(i) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(7)

F14 Words in reg. 15(3)(b)(iii) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(8)

F15 Words in reg. 15(3)(d)(i) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(9)

F16 Words in reg. 15(3A) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(10)

F17 Words in reg. 15(3B) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(11)

F18 Words in reg. 15(3B)(a) inserted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(12)

F19 Words in reg. 15(4) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(13)

F20 Words in reg. 15(5) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(14)

F21 Words in reg. 15(5A)(b) inserted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(15)

F22 Reg. 15(5B) inserted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(16)

F23 Words in reg. 15(7) substituted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(17)

F24 Reg. 15(8)(9) inserted (1.5.2002) by The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3208), regs. 1(2), 5(18)

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 15 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1