The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003

PART 3 PLATES AND SIGNS

Plates

13.—(1) An AILV falling within Category 2 or 3 must be equipped with a plate that is—

(a) securely fixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous and readily accessible position;

(b) marked clearly with the words “SPECIAL TYPES USE”; and

(c) indelibly marked with letters and figures, not less than 4 millimetres high, containing the information specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) For each of the speeds listed in paragraph (a) to (e), the plate must indicate each of the relevant maximum weights at which, in the opinion of the manufacturer of the vehicle, the AILV may be used when travelling on roads at or below the speed in question—

(a) 20 miles per hour;

(b) 25 miles per hour;

(c) 30 miles per hour;

(d) 35 miles per hour;

(e) 40 miles per hour.

(3) The relevant maximum weights are—

(a) in the case of an AILV that is a motor vehicle—

(i) the maximum axle weight for each axle (within the meaning of the note to item 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 8 to the Construction and Use Regulations);

(ii) the maximum gross weight (within the meaning of the note to item 7 of that Part of that Schedule); and

(iii) the maximum train weight (within the meaning of the note to item 8 of that Part of that Schedule);

(b) in the case of an AILV that is a trailer—

(i) the maximum weight for each axle (within the meaning of the note to item 4 of Part 2 of Schedule 8 to the Construction and Use Regulations);

(ii) the maximum load to be imposed on the towing vehicle (within the meaning of the note to item 5 of that Part of that Schedule); and

(iii) the maximum gross weight (within the meaning of the note to item 6 of that Part of that Schedule).

(4) This paragraph does not apply to any vehicle that was manufactured before 29th July 1983(1).

14.  Where an AlLV-combination consists of two or more modules, each module may be fitted with a separate plate if the information required from the plate in relation to the AILV as a whole can be readily determined from the individual plates.

Signs

15.—(1) Each AILV or AILV-combination must be fitted with—

(a) a sign that indicates which of Categories 1, 2 or 3 the AILV or AILV-combination falls into; or

(b) a sign that is approved in connection with vehicles carrying loads of exceptional dimensions by the appropriate authority in another EEA State or in any other country which is a member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

(2) A sign falling within sub-paragraph (1)(a) must—

(a) be mounted in a clearly visible position on the front of the vehicle (or, in the case of an AILV-combination, on the front of the foremost motor vehicle);

(b) face forwards;

(c) be as near to the vertical plane as possible;

(d) be kept clean and unobscured at all times; and

(e) except as stated in sub-paragraph (3), consist of white letters on a black background in the following format (specifying Category 1, 2 or 3, as appropriate to the vehicle in question)—

(3) The dimensions of the sign specified for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(e) may vary up or down by a margin of 5 per cent.

(1)

This is the date on which the Road Vehicles (Marking of Special Weights) Regulations 1983 (S.I. 1983/910) came into force.