Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Articles 11, 12 and 13

SCHEDULE 2 Conditions relating to the width of Agricultural Vehicles

1.  If the overall width of the vehicle, or in the case of a combination of vehicles mentioned in Article 12(1), the overall width of the combination exceeds the width specified in an item in column 2 of the Table, the vehicle, or in the case of a combination of vehicles, the drawing vehicle, shall not be drawn at a speed exceeding that specified in column 3:

TABLE

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Overall Width	Maximum Speed
1	3.5 metres	12 miles per hour
2	2.55 metres	20 miles per hour

2.  If—

(a) the overall width of—

(i) an agricultural motor vehicle,

(ii) an agricultural trailer,

(iii) an agricultural trailed appliance, or

(b) the width specified in Article 12(2) of a combination of vehicles exceeds 3 metres and the whole or part of the journey to be made by the vehicle or combination will be on a road on which there is a speed limit of 40 miles per hour or less or will cover a distance exceeding 5 miles, the operator of the vehicle shall—

(A) before using the vehicle or combination on a road, give at least 24 hours notice of the intended use to the Chief Constable and the notice shall contain the following particulars:—

(i) the time, date and route of the proposed journey,

(ii) information about the vehicle or combination of vehicles including the overall width; and

(B) use the vehicle or combination only in accordance with the particulars given in the notice mentioned in head (A) subject to any variation in the time, date or route as may be directed by the Chief Constable,

so that the Chief Constable may dispense with the said requirements as to length of notice and information about the vehicle or combination.

3.  In a case where—

(a) the width of an agricultural motor vehicle exceeds 3 metres, or

(b) an agricultural motor vehicle is towing an agricultural trailer or agricultural trailer appliance in the manner described in Article 12(1) and the width specified in Article 12(2) exceeds 3 metres, or

(c) an agricultural motor vehicle is towing an agricultural trailer or an agricultural trailed appliance in a manner not described in Article 12(1) and the overall width of either the motor vehicle or the trailer or trailed appliance, or both, exceeds 3 metres,

the vehicle or the combination of vehicles shall not draw any trailer or, as the case may be, any other trailer, except—

(i) a two-wheeled trailer used solely for the carriage of equipment for use on the drawing vehicle,

(ii) an agricultural trailed appliance, or

(iii) an unladen trailer specifically designed for use with the drawing vehicle when it is harvesting.

4.  If the overall width of an agricultural motor vehicle, an agricultural trailer on which an implement is mounted as mentioned in Article 13, or an agricultural trailed appliance, or the width specified in Article 12(2) of a combination of vehicles, exceeds 3.5 metres—

(a) at least one person, other than the driver of the vehicle or, in the case of a combination of vehicles the driver of the drawing vehicle, shall be employed to warn any other person (including the driver of the vehicle or the drawing vehicle) of any danger likely to be caused to that other person by the presence of the vehicle or the combination of vehicles on the road; and

(b) the extremities of the vehicle or implement (including any blade or spike) shall be clearly visible at a reasonable distance to any person on the road (other than the driver of the vehicle or, in the case of a combination of vehicles, the driver of the drawing vehicle) and during the hours of darkness or in seriously reduced visibility between sunrise and sunset this condition shall be satisfied by such means as may be required by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(1).

5.  The overall width of a vehicle, or the width specified in Article 12(2) of a combination of vehicles, shall not exceed 4.3 metres.

(1)

S.R. 1995 No. 449