Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Amendment to Schedule 3 (maximum authorised axle weights)

7.—(1) Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In paragraph 1(1) for “paragraph 2” there shall be substituted “paragraphs 2 to 4”.

(3) After paragraph 2 there shall be added—

“Requirements relating to retractable and loadable axles

3.— (1) This paragraph applies to a vehicle which—

(a) is fitted with one or more retractable axles or with one or more loadable axles; and

(b) is first used on or after 28th February 2002.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), under all driving conditions other than those described in sub-paragraph (3), the maximum authorised weight on any axle shall be the weight specified in column (3) of Table V or in column (5) of Table VI (as may be appropriate) and the retractable axle or the loadable axle shall lower to the ground automatically if—

(a) the front axle on the vehicle is laden to that maximum authorised weight; or

(b) in the case of a vehicle having a group of axles, the nearest axle or axles is or are laden to that maximum authorised weight;

and in head (a), “axle” is a reference to an axle described in column (2) of items 1 or 2 of Table V and in head (b), “group of axles” is a reference to an axle described in column (2) of items 3 to 6 of that Table.

(3) The driving conditions referred to in sub-paragraph (2) exist where a vehicle is on a slippery surface and, accordingly, in order to help vehicles or vehicle combinations to move off on slippery ground, and to increase the traction of their tyres on slippery surfaces, the axle-lift device may also actuate the retractable axle or the loadable axle of the vehicle or semi-trailer to increase the weight on the driving axle of the vehicle, subject as follows—

(a) the weight corresponding to the load on each axle may exceed the relevant maximum authorised weight by up to 30 per cent so long as it does not exceed the value stated by the manufacturer for this special purpose;

(b) the weight corresponding to the remaining load on the front axle shall remain above zero;

(c) the retractable axle or the loadable axle shall be actuated only by a special control device; and

(d) after the vehicle has moved off and reached a speed of 30 kilometres per hour, the axle shall automatically lower again to the ground or be reloaded.

4.   Every retractable axle or loadable axle fitted to a vehicle to which these Regulations apply, and any system for its operation, shall be designed and installed in such a manner as to protect it against improper use or tampering.”.