Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Meaning of “heavy commercial vehicle” E+W+S

8 (1) The following are the provisions referred to in subsection (7) of section 138 of this Act which, by virtue of that subsection, are to have effect for the purpose specified in that subsection during a transitional period; and the transitional period referred to in that section is the period beginning with 28th October 1982 and ending with 31st December 1989.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) to (6) below, for the purpose and during the transitional period referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above “heavy commercial vehicle” means any vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, which is constructed or adapted for the carriage of goods and has an unladen weight exceeding 3 tons.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend sub-paragraph (2) above in either or both of the following ways, that is to say—

(a) by substituting, for the reference to unladen weight, a reference to such other description of weight as may be specified in the regulations;

(b) by substituting, for the reference to 3 tons, a reference to such other weight as may be so specified.

(4) Different regulations may be made under sub-paragraph (3) above for the purposes of different provisions of this Act and as respects different classes of vehicles or as respects the same class of vehicles in different circumstances and as regards different times of the day or night and as respects roads in different localities.

(5) Regulations under sub-paragraph (3) above shall not so amend sub-paragraph (2) above that there is any case in which a vehicle whose unladen weight does not exceed 3 tons is, by virtue of this paragraph, a heavy commercial vehicle for the purposes of any of the provisions of this Act.

(6) In the application of sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) above to a vehicle drawing one or more trailers, the drawing vehicle and the trailer or trailers shall be treated as one vehicle.