The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003

PART 3 SPECIAL VEHICLES FOR AGRICULTURE

Agricultural vehicles: recognised categories and defined terms

19.—(1) The following are recognised categories of special vehicles—

(a) agricultural motor vehicles;

(b) agricultural trailers;

(c) agricultural trailed appliances.

(2) A vehicle that falls within any recognised category of special vehicles mentioned in paragraph (1) is referred to in this Order as a special type agricultural vehicle.

(3) In this Order—

“agricultural motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle (not being a dual purpose vehicle) which—

(a)

is constructed or adapted for use off-road for the purpose of agriculture, horticulture or forestry; and

(b)

is primarily used for one or more of those purposes;

“agricultural trailer” has the same meaning as in the Construction and Use Regulations; and

“agricultural trailed appliance” has the same meaning as in the Construction and Use Regulations.

(4) In the definition of “agricultural motor vehicle” in paragraph (3), “dual purpose vehicle” has the same meaning as in the Construction and Use Regulations.

Agricultural vehicles: authorisation requirements

20.  The authorisation requirements applicable to special type agricultural vehicles are—

(a) the requirements specified in articles 21 to 27;

(b) the Construction and Use Regulations, apart from—

(i) regulation 8 (width);

(ii) paragraph (1) of regulation 75, in so far as that paragraph relates to item 13 or 15 of the Table referred to in it (maximum permitted laden weight of track-laying motor vehicles); and

(iii) regulation 82 (restrictions on vehicles carrying wide or long loads or having fixed appliance or apparatus);

(c) the Authorised Weight Regulations; and

(d) the Lighting Regulations.

General requirements as to construction and use

21.—(1) A special type agricultural vehicle that is a track-laying motor vehicle may be used on roads only if the tracks operate on rubber or an alternative composite material that does not damage the road surface.

(2) The overall width of a special type agricultural vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of any load carried on it must not exceed 4.3 metres.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)—

(a) the overall width of a special type agricultural vehicle that is a motor vehicle towing an agricultural trailer or agricultural trailed appliance in an offset manner, is to be taken as the overall width of the motor vehicle and trailer (or trailed appliance) measured as if they were one vehicle; and

(b) where any agricultural implement is rigidly (but not permanently) mounted on a special type agricultural vehicle, any part of the implement that extends beyond a side of the vehicle is to be treated as a lateral projection, regardless of whether any part of the weight of the implement is transmitted to the surface of the road otherwise than by the wheels or tracks of the vehicle.

(4) The gross weight of a special type agricultural motor vehicle that is a track-laying vehicle, together with the weight of any load carried on it, must not exceed 30,000 kilograms.

(5) All spikes, cutting blades or other protruding sharp appliances that are fitted to or mounted on a special type agricultural vehicle must be removed or effectively guarded so that no danger is caused (or likely to be caused) to any person.

(6) A special type agricultural vehicle must not at any time travel at speeds exceeding—

(a) 20 miles per hour in any case where the overall width of the vehicle is more than 2.55 metres but less than 3.5 metres;

(b) 12 miles per hour in any case where the overall width is 3.5 metres or more.

Restrictions on towing of trailers

22.—(1) This article applies in any of the following cases to a special type agricultural vehicle that is a motor vehicle:

• CASE 1

  Where the special type agricultural vehicle has an overall width exceeding 3 metres.

• CASE 2

  Where a special type agricultural vehicle is towing an agricultural trailer, or agricultural trailed appliance, in an offset manner and the overall width of the two vehicles (measured as if they were one) exceeds 3 metres.

• CASE 3

  Where a special type agricultural vehicle is towing an agricultural trailer, or agricultural trailed appliance, otherwise than in an offset manner and the overall width of either (or both) of the vehicles exceeds 3 metres.

(2) The special type agricultural vehicle must not either tow any trailer (where the vehicle falls within Case 1) or tow any other trailer (where the vehicle falls within Case 2 or 3), apart from a trailer that is of a description permitted by paragraph (3).

(3) The trailers permitted by this paragraph are—

(a) a two wheeled trailer used solely for the carriage of equipment for use on the towing vehicle;

(b) an agricultural trailed appliance; or

(c) an unladen trailer specially designed for use with the towing vehicle when it is harvesting.

Forward and rearward projections: police notification, Secretary of State notification and attendants

23.—(1) Paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) apply cumulatively.

(2) Where a special type agricultural vehicle is to carry a load and the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load exceeds 4 metres, the user of the vehicle must—

(a) before the start of any journey, notify in accordance with Schedule 5 the chief officer of police for each area in which the special type agricultural vehicle is to be used; and

(b) ensure that the vehicle is used in accordance with the requirements of that Schedule.

(3) Where a special type agricultural vehicle is carrying a load and the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load exceeds 6 metres, the user of the vehicle must ensure that the vehicle is accompanied during any journey by one or more attendants employed in accordance with Schedule 6.

(4) Where the length of any rearward projection of a load exceeds 12 metres, the user of the vehicle must—

(a) before the start of any journey, obtain in accordance with Schedule 7 the written consent of the Secretary of State; and

(b) ensure that the vehicle is used in accordance with the requirements of that Schedule.

(5) Where any agricultural implement is rigidly (but not permanently) mounted on a special type agricultural vehicle—

(a) any part of the implement that extends forwards beyond the foremost point of the vehicle is to be treated as a forward projection; and

(b) any part of the implement that extends rearwards beyond the rearmost point of the vehicle is to be treated as a rearward projection;

regardless of whether any part of the weight of the implement is transmitted to the surface of the road otherwise than by the wheels or tracks of the vehicle.

(6) In determining for the purposes of paragraph (5) the foremost or rearmost point of a special type agricultural vehicle, any part of the agricultural implement is to be disregarded.

Width: police notification and attendants

24.—(1) “ Width”, in relation to a special type agricultural vehicle, means whichever is the greater of—

(a) the overall width of the vehicle; and

(b) the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of a load carried on it.

(2) Paragraphs (4) and (5) apply cumulatively.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies where the width of a special type agricultural vehicle exceeds 3 metres and—

(a) there is a speed limit of 40 miles per hour or less on any road on which the vehicle is to be used; or

(b) the length of the journey to be made by the vehicle exceeds 5 miles.

(4) The user of the vehicle must—

(a) before the start of any journey, notify in accordance with Schedule 5 the chief officer of police for each area in which the special type agricultural vehicle is to be used; and

(b) ensure that the vehicle is used in accordance with the requirements of that Schedule.

(5) Where the width of the vehicle exceeds 3.5 metres, the user of the vehicle must ensure that the vehicle is accompanied during any journey by one or more attendants employed in accordance with Schedule 6.

Visibility and marking of forward, rearward and lateral projections

25.  Schedule 8 (which makes provision as to the visibility and marking of projections exceeding a certain length or width) applies in relation to loads carried on a special type agricultural vehicle.

Track-laying agricultural motor vehicles: road and bridge authority notification and indemnity

26.—(1) This article applies to a special type agricultural vehicle that is a track-laying motor vehicle that does not comply with paragraph (1) of regulation 75 of the Construction and Use Regulations, in so far as that paragraph relates to item 13 or 15 of the Table referred to in it (maximum permitted laden weight of track-laying motor vehicles).

(2) Before the start of any journey, the user of the vehicle must—

(a) notify in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 9 the authority (within the meaning of that Schedule) for each road or bridge on which vehicle is to be used; and

(b) give to each authority an indemnity in the form specified in Part 2 of that Schedule.

Track-laying agricultural motor vehicles: use on bridges

27.—(1) This article applies to a special type agricultural vehicle to which article 26 applies.

(2) If the special type agricultural vehicle is caused to stop on a bridge for any reason, the driver of the vehicle must ensure—

(a) that the vehicle is moved clear of the bridge as soon as practicable; and

(b) that no concentrated load is applied to the surface on that part of the road carried by the bridge.

(3) But where the action described in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) is not practicable and it becomes necessary to apply any concentrated load to the road surface by means of jacks, rollers or other similar means, the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle must—

(a) before the load is applied to the road surface, seek advice from the authority (within the meaning of Schedule 9) responsible for the maintenance of the bridge about the use of spreader plates to reduce the possibility of damage caused by the application of the load; and

(b) ensure that no concentrated load is applied without using spreader plates in accordance with any advice received.