Breakdown on bridges of vehicles of excessive weight or carrying excessive loads
31.—(1) This Article applies where—
(a)a vehicle (including an articulated vehicle) laden or unladen has a gross weight of more than 38,000 kilograms, and
(b)the use on roads of a vehicle or of a trailer forming part of an articulated vehicle is authorised by Article 4(1)(b), 5, 9, 15, 16, 19 or 21.
(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3), where a vehicle or trailer is caused to stop for any reason while it is on a bridge it shall, as soon as practicable, be moved clear of the bridge by appropriate action by the person in charge of the vehicle, without applying any concentrated load to the surface on that part of the road carried by the bridge.
(3) If the action described in paragraph (2) is not practicable and it becomes necessary to apply any concentrated load to the said surface by means of jacks, rollers or other similar means, then the person in charge of the vehicle shall—
(a)before any such load is applied to that surface, seek the advice of the bridge authority for that bridge or any other person responsible for the maintenance and repair of the bridge pursuant to an agreement with that authority about the use of spreader plates to reduce the possibility of any damage caused by the application of such a load; and
(b)arrange that no such load shall be applied without using such spreader plates as the bridge authority or such other person may have advised.