PART IIREGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES
ADIMENSIONS AND MANOEUVRABILITY
LengthI17
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).
(regulation 7(1))
1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|
Item | Class of vehicle | Maximum length (metres) |
Vehicle Combinations | ||
F11 | A motor vehicle (other than a motor vehicle such as is mentioned in item 1A) drawing one trailer which is not a semi-trailer. | 18.75 |
1A | Subject to paragraph (3C), a motor vehicle manufactured before 1st June 1998 and drawing one trailer, where the combination does not meet the requirements of paragraph (5A) and the trailer is not a semi-trailer. | 18 |
2 | An articulated bus. | F2618.75 |
F272A | A bus drawing a trailer | 18.75 |
3 | An articulated vehicle F22the semi-trailer of which does not meet the requirements of F12para-graph (6) paragraph (6) and is not a low loader. | 15.5 |
Motor vehicles | ||
F173A | An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which meets the requirements of paragraph (6) and is not a low loader. | 16.5 |
F173B | An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which is a low loader. | 18 |
F303C | An articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which meets the requirements of paragraph (6), is not a low loader and is carrying one or more containers or swap bodies up to a total maximum length of 45 feet as part of an intermodal transport operation. | 16.65 |
4 | A wheeled motor vehicle F25other than a bus. | 12 |
F284A | A bus with two axles | 13.5 |
F294B | A bus with more than two axles | 15 |
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 F23which does not meet the requirements of paragraph (6) and is not a low loader. | 12.2 |
F47A | 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 F20(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 F21and item 1A in the Table does not apply.
F143
Items 1 F9,1A, 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, F35...
F16c
an articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which is a low loader manufactured before 1st April 1991F36, or
d
a vehicle combination which includes—
i
a motor vehicle of category N2, or
ii
a motor vehicle of category N3,
with an elongated cab.
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.
F113C
Item 1A and the words “(other than a motor vehicle such as is mentioned in item 1A)” in item 1 of the Table shall cease to have effect after 31st December 2006.
F333D
Item 4 of the Table does not apply to—
a
a motor vehicle of category N2, or
b
a motor vehicle of category N3,
with an elongated cab type approved in accordance with point 1.4 of Part C of Annex I of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations, point 1.4 of Part C of Annex I of The Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations (Northern Ireland), or point 1.4 of Part C of Annex I of The (European Union) Type Approval Masses and Dimensions Regulations.
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.
F85XA
A motor vehicle drawing a trailer which is not a semi-trailer shall (unless it is a vehicle such as is mentioned in item 1A of the Table in paragraph (1)) comply with the requirements of paragraph (5A).
The words in parenthesis in this paragraph shall cease to have effect after 31st December 2006.
F245A
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 F316.4 m;
but sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply if both vehicles in the combination are car transporters.
F26
The requirements of this paragraph, in relation to a semi-trailer, are that–
a
the longitudinal distance from the axis of the king pin F15... to the rear of the semi-trailer does not exceed–
i
12.5m in the case of a car transporter, F31...
F32ia
12.15m when carrying one or more containers or swap bodies up to a total maximum length of 45 feet as part of an intermodal transport operation, 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 F15... 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.
F66A
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 F5the rear of the semi-trailer.
F77A
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
F13a
in relation to a vehicle which was manufactured after F191st January 1999, as a reference to the foremost king-pin or, as the case may be, the foremost king-pin position; and
b
in relation to any other vehicle, as a reference to the rearmost king-pin or, as the case may be, the rearmost king-pin position.
F187B
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.
F109
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.
F3410
For the purposes of this regulation—
a
“a motor vehicle of category N2” means a vehicle of the type described in point (b)(ii) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC,
b
“a motor vehicle of category N3” means a vehicle of the type described in point (b)(iii) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC.