The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Length

7.—(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).

TABLE

(regulation 7(1))

1	2	3
Item	Class of vehicle	Maximum length (metres)
	Vehicle Combinations
1	A motor vehicle drawing one trailer not being a semi-trailer.	18
2	An articulated bus.	18
3	An articulated vehicle.	15.5
	Motor vehicles
4	A wheeled motor vehicle.	12
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.	12.2
8	A 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.

(3) The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply to—

(a) a vehicle combination or trailer which is constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length;

(b) a wheeled semi-trailer which is constructed and normally used for the purpose of carrying at least two other wheeled vehicles;

(c) a broken down vehicle which is being drawn by a motor vehicle in consequence of a breakdown; or

(d) a trailer being 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.

(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.

(6) Item 7 in the Table does not apply to a semi-trailer which is normally used on international journeys any part of which takes place outside the United Kingdom.