Statutory Instruments
ROAD TRAFFIC
Made
2nd February 2003
Laid before Parliament
10th February 2003
Coming into force
1st April 2003
The Secretary of State for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 41(1), (2) and (5) of the Road Traffic Act 1988(1) and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, and after consultation with representative organisations in accordance with section 195(2) of that Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 1st April 2003.
2. In regulation 3 (interpretation) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986(2), in the Table, sub-paragraph (j) of paragraph (i) of the meaning of the expression “overall length” shall be deleted.
3. In regulation 7 of those Regulations (length of vehicles), in the Table,
(a)in item 2, column 3, the maximum length of 18.75 shall be substituted;
(b)in item 4, column 2, the words “other than a bus” shall be added after the word “vehicle”;
(c)items 2A, 4A and 4B shall be inserted at the appropriate place together with the description of the class of vehicle and maximum length specified in the table below.
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Item | Class of vehicle | Maximum length (metres) |
| Vehicle Combinations | ||
| 2A | A bus drawing a trailer | 18.75 |
| Motor vehicles | ||
| 4A | A bus with two axles | 13.5 |
| 4B | A bus with more than two axles | 15 |
4.—(1) In paragraph (3), sub-paragraph (a) of regulation 13 of those Regulations (turning circle - buses), shall be inserted the words “of 12m or less in overall length”, after the word “vehicle”;
(2) In sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph, after the word“is” shall be inserted the words “a rigid bus of over 12m in overall length or”.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
David Jamieson
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,
Department for Transport
2nd February 2003
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations further amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 in order to implement the provisions of European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/7, amending Council Directive 96/53/EC, and laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic.
In particular, the maximum length of a bus with two axles, an articulated bus, and a bus with more than two axles, have each been increased in accordance with Article 1.7 of Directive 2002/7. Consequential amendments to the turning circle requirements of buses in regulation 13 of the 1986 regulations have also been made to take account of these changes.
A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and copies of it may be obtained from the Department for Transport, Zone 2/01, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR (telephone: 020 7944-2065). Copies are being placed in the libraries of each House of Parliament.
No separate transposition note has been provided since all the relevant information is contained within this Explanatory Note.
Copies of the relevant EC Directives can be obtained from the Stationery Office.
1988 c. 52; section 41 was amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40), Schedule 4, paragraph 50 and Schedule 8.