The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Regulation of construction, weight, equipment and use of vehicles

55.—(1) The Department may make regulations generally as to the use of motor vehicles and trailers on roads, their construction and equipment and the conditions under which they may be so used.

• Paragraphs (2) to (4) do not affect the generality of this paragraph.

(2) In particular, the regulations may make provision with respect to any of the following matters—

(a) the width, height and length of motor vehicles and trailers and the load carried by them, the diameter of wheels, and the width, nature and condition of tyres, of motor vehicles and trailers;

(b) the emission or consumption of smoke, fumes or vapour and the emission of sparks, ashes and grit;

(c) noise

(d) the maximum weight unladen of heavy locomotives and heavy motor cars, and the maximum weight laden of motor vehicles and trailers, and the maximum weight to be transmitted to the road or any specified area of the road by a motor vehicle or trailer of any class or by any part of or parts of such a vehicle or trailer in contact with the road, and the conditions under which the weights may be required to be tested;

(e) the particulars to be marked on motor vehicles and trailers (by means of the fixing of plates or otherwise) and the circumstances in which they are to be marked;

(f) the towing of or drawing of vehicles by motor vehicles;

(g) the number and nature of brakes, and for securing that brakes, silencers and steering gear are efficient and kept in proper working order;

(h) lighting equipment and reflectors;

(i) the testing and inspection, by persons authorised by or under the regulations, of the brakes, silencers, steering gear, tyres, lighting equipment and reflectors of motor vehicles and trailers on any premises where they are (if the owner of the premises consents);

(j) speed limiters;

(k) the appliances to be fitted for—

(i) signalling the approach of a motor vehicle, or

(ii) enabling the driver of a motor vehicle to become aware of the approach of another vehicle from the rear, or

(iii) intimating any intended change of speed or direction of a motor vehicle,

and the use of any such appliance, and for securing that any such appliance is efficient and kept in proper working order;

(l) for prohibiting the use of appliances fitted to motor vehicles for signalling their approach, being appliances for signalling by sound, at any times, or on or in any roads or localities, specified in the regulations.

(3) The Department may, as respects goods vehicles, make regulations under this Article—

(a) prescribing other descriptions of weight which are not to be exceeded in the case of such vehicles;

(b) providing that weights of any description or other particulars which are to be marked on particular goods vehicles may be determined in accordance with regulations under Article 65.

(4) Regulations under this Article with respect to lighting equipment and reflectors

(a) may require that lamps be kept lit at such times and in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations; and

(b) may extend, in like manner as to motor vehicles and trailers, to vehicles of any description used on roads, whether or not they are mechanically propelled.

(5) Regulations under this Article with respect to speed limiters may include provision—

(a) as to the checking and sealing of speed limiters by persons authorised in accordance with the regulations and the making of charges by them;

(b) imposing or providing for the imposition of conditions to be complied with by authorised persons;

(c) as to the withdrawal of authorisations.

(6) Different regulations may be made under this Article as respects different classes of vehicles or as respects the same class of vehicles in different circumstances and as respects different times of the day or night and as respects roads in different localities.