The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations in consequence of the making of the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998 and other matters.

Regulation 4 amends regulation 7 of the 1986 Regulations in relation to vehicles having more than one king-pin. Regulation 23 of the 1986 Regulations (wheel loads) is amended by regulation 5 so as to increase the scope of the exclusion from the requirement of regulation 23(3) for vehicles to be fitted with a compensating arrangement which will ensure that every wheel remains in contact with the road and is not subject to abnormal variations of load.

Regulation 6 amends regulation 66 of the 1986 Regulations so as to enable plates fitted in accordance with that regulation, to motor vehicles first used after 31st December 1998 or trailers manufactured after that date, to show particulars of the maximum authorised weight and maximum authorised axle weights under the 1998 Regulations as alternatives to the weights at present required to be shown on such plates. Regulation 70 is amended to similar effect by regulation 7 of these Regulations in relation to Ministry plates.

Regulation 8 amends regulation 75 of the 1986 Regulations so as to increase to 44,000 kilograms the maximum total weight of all trailers, laden or unladen, drawn at any one time by a locomotive and regulation 9 contains a general saving for the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998.

Consequential amendments are made by regulation 10 to regulation 80 of the 1986 Regulations, which imposes overall limits on vehicle weights, but a new paragraph (4) is inserted to provide for a transitional exemption, ceasing at the end of 1999, allowing plated weights to be exceeded in specified circumstances. Regulation 11 amends Schedule 11A relating to combined transport in accordance with Council Directive 96/53 EC.

Copies of that Directive may be obtained from the Stationery Office.

This Regulation has been notified to the European Commission pursuant to Directive 83/189/EEC of 28th March 1983 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (OJ 1983 L109, p.9) as amended by Council Directive 88/182/EEC of 22nd March 1988 (OJ 1988 L81, p.75) and European Parliament and Council Directive 94/10/EEC of 23rd March 1994 (OJ 1994 L100, p.30).