16.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), this regulation applies to an articulated vehicle having an overall length exceeding 15.5m.
(2) This regulation does not apply to an articulated vehicle, the semi-trailer of which—
(a)was manufactured before the 1st April 1990, and
(b)has an overall length that does not exceed the overall length it had on that date.
(3) This regulation does not apply to an articulated vehicle the semi-trailer of which is—
(a)a car transporter,
(b)a low loader,
(c)stepframe low loader, or
(d)constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length.
(4) Every vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be able to move on either lock so that, both with and without all its wheels in contact with the surface of the road and disregarding the things set out in paragraphs (a) to (m) in the definition of “overall width” and in sub-paragraph (i)(a) to (o) in the definition of “overall length” in regulation 2(1), no part of it projects outside the area contained between concentric circles with radii of 12.5m and 5.3m.
(5) In relation to a vehicle manufactured before 20th April 1999 paragraph (4) shall have effect as if the words “both with and without all its wheels in contact with the surface of the road and” were omitted.
(6) An articulated vehicle shall be taken to comply with paragraph (4) if the semi-trailer comprised in it is, by virtue of paragraph 7.6.1.2 of Annex I of Community Directive 97/27/EC, deemed to comply with paragraph 7.6.1 of that Annex.