Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

A — Laden Weight

Maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicle

87.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the laden weight of a vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the maximum permitted laden weight specified in that item in column 3.

(2) The maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicle first used before 1st June 1973 which falls in item 1 or 2 shall not be less than would be the case if the vehicle fell in item 9.

TABLE

(regulation 87(1))

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Class of vehicle	Maximum permitted laden weight (kg)
1.	A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car which does not fall in items 2, 3, 5 or 6 and which complies with the relevant braking requirement (see regulation 90(3) to (6) in relation to buses).	The weight determined in accordance with Part I of Schedule 13
2.	A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car which does not fall in items 3, 5 or 6, which complies with the relevant braking requirement and in which— (a) every driving axle not being a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres; and (b) either every driving axle is fitted with road friendly suspension or no axle has an axle weight exceeding 9,500 kg.	The weight determined in accordance with Part II of Schedule 13
3.	A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car (not being an agricultural motor vehicle) which forms part of an articulated vehicle and which complies with the relevant braking requirement.	The weight specified in column (5) in Part III of Schedule 13 in the item which is appropriate, having regard to columns (2), (3) and (4) in that Part
4.	A wheeled trailer, including a composite trailer but not including a semi-trailer, which is drawn by a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car which complies with the relevant braking requirement, other than a trailer which falls in items 7, 8, 9 or 12.	As in item 1
5.	An articulated bus (see regulation 90(3) to (5)).	27,000
6.	A wheeled agricultural motor vehicle.	As in item 1, but subject to a maximum of 24,390
7.	A balanced agricultural trailer, as defined in paragraph (5), which does not fall in items 9, 12 or 17.	As in item 1, but subject to a maximum of 18,290
8.	An unbalanced agricultural trailer, as defined in paragraph (5) which does not fall in items 9, 12 or 17.	18,290 inclusive of the weight imposed by the trailer on the drawing vehicle
9.	A wheeled trailer manufactured on or after 27th February 1977 and fitted with brakes which automatically come into operation on the overrun of the trailer (whether or not it is fitted with any other brake), except an agricultural trailer which is being drawn by an agricultural motor vehicle, which complies with the requirements specified in items 3, 14 and 17 in the Table in Schedule 2 and the brakes of which can be applied either by the driver of the drawing vehicle or by some other person on that vehicle or on the trailer.	3,500
10.	A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car which does not fall in items 1, 3, 5 or 6— (a) with not more than 4 wheels,	14,230
	(b) with more than 4 but not more than 6 wheels,	20,330
	(c) with more than 6 wheels.	24,390
11.	A wheeled trailer which does not fall in items 4, 7, 8, 9 or 12 having less than 6 wheels, and not forming part of an articulated vehicle; and an agricultural trailed appliance.	14,230
12.	A trailer manufactured before 27th February 1977 and having no brakes other than— (i) a parking brake, and (ii) brakes which come into operation on the overrun of the trailer.	3,560
13.	A wheeled locomotive, which does not fall in item 6, which is equipped with suitable and sufficient springs between each wheel and the vehicle’s frame and with a pneumatic tyre or a tyre of soft or elastic material fitted to each wheel— (a) if having less than 6 wheels;	22,360
	(b) if having 6 wheels;	26,420
	(c) if having more than 6 wheels.	30,490
14.	A track-laying locomotive with resilient material interposed between the rims of the weight-carrying rollers and the road so that the weight of the vehicle (other than that borne by any wheels and the portion of the track in contact with the road) is supported by the resilient material.	22,360
15.	A locomotive which does not fall in items 6, 13 or 14.	20,830
16.	A track-laying heavy motor car or motor car.	22,360
17.	A track-laying trailer	13,210

(3) The maximum total weight of all trailers, whether laden or unladen, drawn at any one time by a locomotive shall not exceed 44,000 kg.

(4) Nothing in items 1 or 2 of the Table shall prevent a vehicle being used on a road if—

(a) that vehicle, on or before 31st December 1992, is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 79; and

(b) the laden weight of the vehicle does not exceed the weight shown on that plate.

(5) In this Part and in Schedule 13—

“air spring” means a spring operated by means of air or other compressible fluid under pressure;

“air suspension” means a suspension system in which at least 75 per cent of the spring effect is caused by an air spring;

“balanced agricultural trailer” means an agricultural trailer the whole of the weight of which is borne by its own wheels; and

“unbalanced agricultural trailer” means an agricultural trailer of which some, but not more than 35%, of the weight is borne by the drawing vehicle and the rest of the weight is borne by its own wheels.

(6) For the purposes of this Part and Schedule 13, an axle shall be regarded as fitted with a road friendly suspension if its suspension is——

(a) an air suspension, or

(b) a suspension, not being an air suspension, which is regarded as being equivalent to an air suspension for the purposes of Community Directive 92/7.

(7) For the purposes of this Part and Schedule 13, an axle shall be regarded as fitted with twin tyres if it would be regarded as fitted with twin tyres for the purposes of Community Directive 92/7.

Maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicle and trailer, other than an articulated vehicle

88.—(1) The total laden weight of a motor vehicle and the trailers (other than semi-trailers) drawn by it shall not, in a case specified in an item in column 2 of the Table, exceed the maximum permitted train weight specified in that item in column 3.

(2) This regulation is subject to Schedule 14 (exemptions relating to combined transport operations).

(3) In this regulation, the expressions “road friendly suspension”, “twin tyres” and “unbalanced agricultural trailer” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 85(5), (6) and (7).

TABLE

(regulation 88(1))

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Vehicle combination	Maximum permitted train weight (kg)
1.	A wheeled trailer which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where— (a) the combination has a total of 4 or more axles and is being used for international transport; and (b) the drawing vehicle is a vehicle which was first used on or after 1st April 1973 and complies with the relevant braking requirement.	35,000
2.	A wheeled trailer which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where the combination has a total of 4 axles and the following conditions are satisfied in relation to the drawing vehicle, namely— (a) it was first used on or after 1st April 1973; (b) it complies with the relevant braking requirement; (c) every driving axle not being a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres; and (d) every driving axle is fitted with road friendly suspension.	35,000
3.	A wheeled trailer which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where the combination has a total of 5 or more axles and the following conditions are satisfied in relation to the drawing vehicle, namely— (a) it was first used on or after 1st April 1973; (b) it complies with the relevant braking requirement; (c) every driving axle not being a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres; and (d) either every driving axle is fitted with road friendly suspension or no axle has an axle weight exceeding 8,500 kg.	38,000
4.	A wheeled trailer, not being part of a combination described in items 1, 2 or 3, which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where— (a) the trailer is fitted with power-assisted brakes which can be operated by the driver of the drawing vehicle and are not rendered ineffective by the non-rotation of its engine; and (b) the drawing vehicle is equipped with a warning device so placed as to be readily visible to the driver of the vehicle and which is capable of indicating any impending failure of, or deficiency in, the vacuum or pressure system.	32,520
5.	A wheeled trailer which is of a description specified in item 8 in the Table of regulation 87 drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), the drawing vehicle being a vehicle which— (a) was first used on or after 1st April 1973; and (b) complies with the relevant braking requirement.	29,500
6.	A wheeled agricultural motor vehicle drawing a wheeled unbalanced agricultural trailer, if the distance between the rearmost axle of the trailer and the rearmost axle of the drawing vehicle does not exceed 2.9 m.	20,000
7.	A wheeled trailer or trailers drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy moto rcar, motor car or agricultural motor vehicle, not being a combination of vehicles mentioned in items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.	24,390
8.	A track-laying trailer drawn by a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car whether wheeled or track-laying and a wheeled trailer, drawn by a track-laying vehicle being a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car.	22,360

Maximum permitted laden weight of an articulated vehicle

89.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the laden weight of an articulated vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the weight specified in column 3 in that item.

TABLE

(regulation 89(1))

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Class of vehicle	Maximum permitted laden weight (kg)
1.	An articulated vehicle which complies with the relevant braking requirement.	Whichever is the lower of— (a) the weight specified in column (3) of Part IV of Schedule 13 in the item in which the spacing between the rearmost axles of the motor vehicle and the semi-trailer is specified in column (2); and (b) if the vehicle is of a type specified in an item in column (2) of Part V of Schedule 13, the weight specified in column (3) of that item.
2.	An articulated vehicle which does not comply with the relevant braking requirement if the trailer has— (a) less than 4 wheels,	20,330
	(b) 4 wheels or more.	24,390

(2) This regulation does not apply to an agricultural motor vehicle, an agricultural trailer or an agricultural trailed appliance.

(3) This regulation is subject to Schedule 14 (exemptions relating to combined transport operations).

(4) In Part V of Schedule 13, “road friendly suspension” and “twin tyres” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 87(6) and (7).

Maximum permitted wheel and axle weights

90.—(1) The weight transmitted to the road surface by one or more wheels of a vehicle in the manner indicated in an item to which column 2 of the Table applies shall not exceed the maximum permitted weight specified in that item in column 3.

(2) The Parts of the Table have the following application—

(a) Part I applies to wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers which comply with the relevant braking requirement and to wheeled agricultural motor vehicles, agricultural trailers and agricultural trailed appliances; items 1(b) and 2 also apply to buses;

(b) Part II applies to wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers which do not fall in Part I;

(c) Part III applies to wheeled locomotives; and

(d) Part IV applies to track-laying vehicles.

Part I

(wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers which comply with the relevant braking requirement and wheeled agricultural motor vehicles, agricultural trailers and agricultural trailed appliances; and, in respect of items 1(b) and 2, buses)

TABLE

(regulation 90(1))

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Manner in which wheels transmit weight to road	Maximum permitted weight (kg)
1.	Two wheels in line transversely each of which is fitted with a wide tyre or with two pneumatic tyres having the centres of their areas of contact with the road not less than 300 mm apart, measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle— (a) if the wheels are on the sole driving axle of a motor vehicle not being a bus;	10,500
	(b) if the vehicle is a bus which has 2 axles and of which the weight transmitted to the road surface by its wheels is calculated in accordance with regulation 90(5); and	10,500
	(c) in any other case.	10,170
2.	Two wheels in line transversely otherwise than as mentioned in item 1.	9,200
3.	More than two wheels in line transversely— (a) in the case of a vehicle manufactured before 1st May 1983 where the wheels are on one axle of a group of closely spaced axles;	10,170
	(b) in the case of a vehicle manufactured on or after 1st May 1983; and	10,170
	(c) in any other case.	11,180
4.	One wheel not transversely in line with any other wheel— (a) if the wheel is fitted as described in item 1; and	5,090
	(b) in any other case.	4,600

Part II

(wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers not falling in Part I)

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Manner in which wheels transmit weight to road	Maximum permitted weight (kg)
5.	More than two wheels transmitting weight to a strip of the road surface on which the vehicle rests contained between two parallel lines at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle— (a) less than 1.02 m apart;	11,180
	(b) 1.02 m or more apart but less than 1.22 m apart; or	16,260
	(c) 1.22 m or more apart but less than 2.13 m apart.	18,300
6.	Two wheels in line transversely.	9,200
7.	One wheel, where no other wheel is in the same line transversely.	4,600

Part III

(wheeled locomotives)

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Manner in which wheels transmit weight to road	Maximum permitted weight (kg)
8.	Two wheels in line transversely (except in the case of a road roller, or a vehicle with not more than four wheels first used before lst June 1955).	11,180
9.	Any two wheels in the case of a wheeled locomotive having not more than four wheels first used before 1st June 1955 (not being a road roller or an agricultural motor vehicle which is not driven at more than 20 mph).	Three quarters of the total weight of the locomotive.

Part IV

(track-laying vehicles)

(1)	(2)	(3)
Item	Manner in which wheels transmit weight to road	Maximum permitted weight (kg)
10.	The weight of a heavy motor car, motor car or trailer transmitted to any strip of the road surface on which the vehicle rests contained between two parallel lines 0.6 m apart at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.	10,170
11.	Two wheels in line— (a) heavy motor cars or motor cars with 2 wheels,	8,130
	(b) heavy motor cars or motor cars with more than 2 wheels.	7,630
12.	One wheel, where no other wheel is in the same line transversely, on a heavy motor car or a motor car.	4,070

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), in the case of a bus first used before 1st October 1991, the laden weight, for the purposes of regulation 87, and the weight transmitted to the road surface by wheels of the vehicle, for the purposes of items 1 and 2 of the Table in this regulation, shall be calculated with reference to the vehicle when it is complete and fully equipped for service with—

(a) a full supply of water, oil and fuel; and

(b) weights of 63.5 kg for each person (including crew)—

(i) for whom a seat is provided, in the position in which he may be seated; and

(ii) who may under any enactment be carried standing, the total of such weights being reasonably distributed in the space in which such persons may be carried, save that, in the case of a bus, only the number of such persons exceeding 8 shall be taken into account.

(4) The weights for the purposes referred to in paragraph (3) may, in the case of a bus to which that paragraph applies, be calculated in accordance with paragraph (5) instead of paragraph (3).

(5) In the case of a bus first used on or after 1st October 1991, the weights for the purposes referred to in paragraph (3) shall be calculated with reference to the vehicle when it is complete and fully equipped for service with—

(a) a full supply of water, oil and fuel;

(b) a weight of 65 kg for each person (including crew)—

(i) for whom a seat is provided, in the position in which he may be seated; and

(ii) who may under any enactment be carried standing, the total of such weights being reasonably distributed in the space in which such persons may be so carried, save that, in the case of a bus, only the number of such persons exceeding 4 shall be taken into account;

(c) all luggage space within the vehicle but not within the passenger compartment loaded at the rate of 100 kg per m³ or 10 kg per person mentioned in sub-paragraph (b), whichever is the less; and

(d) any area of the roof of the vehicle constructed or adapted for the storage of luggage loaded with a uniformly distributed load at the rate of 75 kg per m².

(6) Regulation 87 shall not apply to a two axle bus if—

(a) its laden weight as calculated in accordance with paragraph (5) does not exceed 17,000 kg; and

(b) the distance between the two axles is at least 3.0 m.

Maximum permitted weights for certain closely-spaced axles, etc.

91.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) a wheeled motor vehicle which complies with the relevant braking requirement;

(b) a wheeled trailer which is drawn by such a vehicle; and

(c) an agricultural motor vehicle, an agricultural trailer and an agricultural trailed appliance.

(2) Subject to paragraph (5), where a vehicle to which this regulation applies is of a description specified in an item in column 2 of Part VI of Schedule 13 and has two closely-spaced axles, the total weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed the maximum permitted weight specified in column 3 of that item.

(3) Subject to paragraph (5), where a vehicle to which this regulation applies is of a description specified in an item in column 2 of Part VII of Schedule 13 and has three closely-spaced axles, the total weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed the weight specified in column 3.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), where a vehicle is fitted with four or more closely-spaced axles, the weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed 24,000 kg.

(5) The prohibition in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply to a vehicle, first used before 1st June 1973, being used on a road at a weight at which as respects those axles it could be used if it fell within item 5 in the Table in regulation 90 and nothing in those paragraphs shall prevent a vehicle being used on a road if—

(a) that vehicle, on or before 31st December 1992, is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 79; and

(b) the laden weight of the vehicle does not exceed the weight shown on that plate.

(6) In Parts VI and VII of Schedule 13, “air-suspension”, “road friendly suspension” and “twin tyres” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 87(5), (6) and (7).

Saving for the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

92.  Nothing in regulations 87 to 91 shall be taken to prohibit the use of a vehicle in circumstances where the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle, for any vehicle combination of which the vehicle forms part and for any axle of the vehicle, as determined in accordance with the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999(1), is not exceeded.

Over-riding weight restrictions

93.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (4), a person shall not use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle—

(a) fitted with a plate in accordance with regulation 79, if any of the weights shown on the plate is exceeded; or

(b) required by regulation 81 to be fitted with a plate, if the maximum gross weight referred to in paragraph (2)(c) of that regulation is exceeded.

(2) Where any two or more axles are fitted with a compensating arrangement in accordance with regulation 28(3) the sum of the weights shall not be exceeded.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), nothing in regulations 87 to 91 or in the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 shall permit any weight referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) to be exceeded and nothing in this regulation shall permit any weight prescribed by regulations 87 to 91 or in the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 in relation to a vehicle to be exceeded.

(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where a vehicle is used on a road before 20th July 2000 if—

(a) the vehicle is fitted with a plate in accordance with regulation 79(2) and the maximumgross weight, train weight and the maximum weight for any axle are not exceeded; and

(b) the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle, maximum authorised weight for a combination of which the vehicle forms part and maximum authorised weight for any axle of the vehicle, determined in accordance with the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and the maximum gross weight are not exceeded.

(5) Paragraph (3) shall not apply in respect of item 11 in Part I of Schedule 11 to a vehicle being used in a combined transport operation and the requirements set out in Part II or Part III, as the case may be, of Schedule 14 are fulfilled.

(1)

S.R. 1999 No. 258