16. An AILV must not be used on roads for, or in connection with, the carriage of any load that may safely be carried on a vehicle (or vehicle-combination) that complies in all respects with the Construction and Use Regulations and the Authorised Weight Regulations.
17.—(1) Except as stated in paragraph 19, an AILV that falls within paragraph 3(a) or (b) may be used on roads only for, or in connection with—
(a)the carriage of an abnormal indivisible load; or
(b)the carriage of a load of exceptional width.
(2) Where the overall width of such an AILV exceeds 3 metres, it must not be used for, or in connection with, the carriage of any load except one that can only safely be carried on an AILV with an overall width exceeding 3 metres.
(3) The reference to the carriage of a load of exceptional width is to be construed in accordance with article 28(2).
18.—(1) Except as stated in paragraph 19, an AILV that falls within paragraph 3(c) or (d) may be used on roads only for, or in connection with, the towing of another AILV which is a trailer.
(2) Where the overall width of such a towing vehicle exceeds 3 metres, it must not be used unless—
(a)the trailer it is towing has an overall width exceeding 3 metres; and
(b)the load can only safely be carried on such a trailer.
19. At any time when an AILV-combination consisting of two or more modules—
(a)is being used on roads in connection with the carriage of an abnormal indivisible load; but
(b)is not at that time carrying such a load;
the modules may be disassembled into two or more parts so that one part may carry any other.
20.—(1) An AILV or AILV-combination may carry only one abnormal indivisible load at any one time.
(2) But that is subject to paragraphs 21 to 23.
21.—(1) If the conditions specified in sub-paragraph (2) are satisfied, an AILV or AlLV-combination which falls within Category 1 may carry—
(a)two or more abnormal indivisible loads which are of the same character; or
(b)an abnormal indivisible load together with articles of a character similar to the load.
(2) The conditions are that—
(a)the abnormal indivisible load or loads to be carried cannot, if they were carried separately, safely be carried on a vehicle (or vehicle-combination) that complies in all respects with the Construction and Use Regulations and the Authorised Weight Regulations; and
(b)the AILV or AILV-combination carrying items specified in sub-paragraph (1) does not exceed any of the restrictions on weight specified in paragraph 28 or 29.
(3) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to an AILV-combination that falls within Category 1 only by virtue of paragraph 28(3).
22.—(1) If the conditions specified in sub-paragraph (2) are satisfied, an AILV or AILV-combination which falls within Category 1 or 2 may carry two or more abnormal indivisible loads if each load is of the same character, loaded at the same place and carried to the same destination.
(2) The conditions are that—
(a)each of the abnormal indivisible loads to be carried cannot, if they were carried separately, safely be carried on a vehicle (or vehicle-combination) that complies in all respects with the Construction and Use Regulations and the Authorised Weight Regulations;
(b)the overall width of any vehicle used does not exceed the width of vehicle necessary to carry the widest single load;
(c)the overall length of the AILV or the AILV-combination does not exceed the length necessary to carry the longest single load;
(d)the AILV or AILV-combination carrying the loads specified in sub-paragraph (1) does not exceed—
(i)for a Category 1 AILV or AILV-combination, any of the restrictions on weight specified in paragraph 28 or 29;
(ii)for a Category 2 AILV or AILV-combination, any of the restrictions on weight specified in paragraph 30 or 31; and
(e)the loads carried by virtue of this paragraph are not in addition to any items permitted to be carried by paragraph 21.
23. An AILV, or AILV-combination, that falls within Category 1 or 2 may carry an abnormal indivisible load consisting of engineering plant, together with constituent parts detached from the plant, if—
(a)the engineering plant and its detached parts are loaded at the same place and carried to the same destination; and
(b)the detached parts do not constitute any lateral, forward or rearward projection of the load that exceeds any projection that there would be without those parts.
24.—(1) An AILV or AILV-combination must not exceed the maximum overall width.
(2) The maximum overall width is exceeded in any case where the overall width of the AILV (or of any AILV in the combination), together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of any load carried on it, exceeds 6.1 metres.
25.—(1) The maximum length of an AILV or AILV-combination used to carry an abnormal indivisible load must not exceed 30 metres.
(2) The maximum length of an AILV or AILV-combination falling within any of sub-paragraphs (3) to (6) is to be determined in accordance with the sub-paragraph in question.
(3) Where the weight of the load rests wholly on an AILV that is a motor vehicle of category N3, the maximum length of the AILV is the overall length of the motor vehicle together with the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load.
(4) In the case of an AILV-combination that is configured so that the weight of the load rests wholly on a trailer of category O4, the maximum length of the AILV-combination is the overall length of the trailer together with the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load.
(5) In the case of an AILV-combination consisting only of a motor vehicle and a trailer, and which is configured so that the weight of the load rests on both vehicles (whether or not they form an articulated vehicle), the maximum length is the overall length of the trailer together with—
(a)the length of any projection of the load in front of the foremost part of the trailer; and
(b)the length of any rearward projection of the load.
(6) In the case of an AILV-combination (other than one falling within sub-paragraph (4) or (5)) which is configured so that that the weight of the load rests on at least two vehicles, the maximum length is the overall length of all the vehicles that bear the weight of the load together with—
(a)the length of any distance between them; and
(b)the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load.
26. No AILV or AILV-combination may exceed the restrictions as to weight that apply to a Category 3 AILV or AILV-combination.
27.—(1) An AILV falling within Category 1 must not exceed any of the maximum weights specified on any plate required to be fitted to it by regulation 66 of the Construction and Use Regulations.
(2) An AILV falling within Category 2 or 3 must not exceed any of the maximum weights (for the speed at which it is travelling) specified on the plate required to be fitted to it by paragraph 13.
(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to any trailer first used before 29th July 1983(1).
28.—(1) The total weight of any Category 1 AILV carrying a load must not exceed the maximum authorised weight for a vehicle of that description determined in accordance with Schedule 1 to the Authorised Weight Regulations.
(2) The total weight of such of the vehicles comprised in a Category 1 AILV-combination as are carrying a load must not exceed 46,000 kilograms.
(3) But the weight restrictions imposed by sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) may be exceeded by a Category 1 AILV-combination if—
(a)the combination has at least 6 axles;
(b)the total weight of the vehicle or vehicles carrying the load does not exceed 50,000 kilograms; and
(c)the combination complies in all other respects with the Authorised Weight Regulations, as those Regulations apply to a vehicle or vehicle-combination of 44,000 kilograms.
(4) Where a Category 1 AILV or AILV-combination is one to which the Authorised Weight Regulations do not apply, references to provisions of those Regulations are to be taken as references to the equivalent provisions of the Construction and Use Regulations.
29.—(1) The total weight of—
(a)any Category 1 AILV carrying a load; or
(b)such of the vehicles comprised in a Category 1 AILV-combination as are carrying a load;
must be transmitted to the road through 5 or more axles.
(2) In relation to any Category 1 AILV or AILV-combination (including one falling within paragraph 28(3)), the axle weight for an axle of any description must not exceed the maximum authorised weight for an axle of that description determined in accordance with Schedule 3 to the Authorised Weight Regulations.
(3) Where a Category 1 AILV or AILV-combination is one to which the Authorised Weight Regulations do not apply, the reference to Schedule 3 of those Regulations is to be taken as a reference to the equivalent provisions of the Construction and Use Regulations.
30.—(1) The total weight of—
(a)any Category 2 AILV carrying a load; or
(b)such of the vehicles comprised in a Category 2 AILV-combination as are carrying a load;
must not exceed 80,000 kilograms.
(2) Where the weight calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (3), in relation to any Category 2 AILV or AILV-combination, is less than 80,000 kilograms, the total weight of the vehicle or vehicles described in sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b) must not exceed that lesser weight.
(3) The weight calculated in accordance with this sub-paragraph is the number (expressed in kilograms) equal to the product of the following equation and then rounded up to the nearest 10 kilograms—
D × 7,500
(4) In sub-paragraph (3), D is the distance (measured in metres) between—
(a)in the case of an AILV, the foremost axle and the rearmost axle of the AILV carrying the load;
(b)in the case of an AILV-combination that is an articulated vehicle, the kingpin and the rearmost axle on the semi-trailer; or
(c)in the case of any other description of AILV-combination, the foremost axle and the rearmost axle of the group comprising all those vehicles in the combination that are carrying a load.
31.—(1) The total weight of—
(a)any Category 2 AILV carrying a load; or
(b)such of the vehicles comprised in a Category 2 AILV-combination as are carrying a load;
must be transmitted to the road through 6 or more axles.
(2) In sub-paragraphs (3) to (5) “load-bearing vehicle” means a vehicle mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b).
(3) The distance between any two adjacent axles of a load-bearing vehicle must not be less than 1 metre.
(4) Where the distance between two adjacent axles of a load-bearing vehicle is the distance specified in column 1 of Table 1, the axle weight must not exceed the weight specified in column 2 and the wheel weight must not exceed the weight specified in column 3.
| Distance between adjacent axles | Axle weight | Wheel weight |
|---|---|---|
| (Column 1) | (Column 2) | (Column 3) |
| Less than 1.35 metres | 12,000 kilograms | 6,000 kilograms |
| 1.35 metres or more | 12,500 kilograms | 6,250 kilograms |
(5) But where—
(a)a load-bearing vehicle has axles in two or more groups of axles;
(b)the distance between the adjacent axles in each group is less than 2 metres; and
(c)the distance between the adjacent axles in different groups is more than 2 metres;
the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels in any group must not exceed 50,000 kilograms.
32.—(1) The total weight of—
(a)any Category 3 AILV carrying a load; or
(b)such of the vehicles comprised in a Category 3 AILV-combination as are carrying a load;
must not exceed 150,000 kilograms.
(2) Where the weight calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (3), in relation to any Category 3 AILV or AILV-combination, is less than 150,000 kilograms, the total weight of the vehicle or vehicles described in sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b) must not exceed that lesser weight.
(3) The weight calculated in accordance with this sub-paragraph is the number (expressed in kilograms) equal to the product of the following equation and then rounded up to the nearest 10 kilograms—
D × 12,500
(4) In sub-paragraph (3), D is the distance (measured in metres) between—
(a)in the case of an AILV, the foremost axle and the rearmost axle of the AILV carrying the load;
(b)in the case of an AILV-combination that is an articulated vehicle, the kingpin and the rearmost axle on the semi-trailer; or
(c)in the case of any other description of AILV-combination, the foremost axle and the rearmost axle of the group comprising all those vehicles in the combination that are carrying a load.
33.—(1) The total weight of—
(a)any Category 3 AILV carrying a load; or
(b)such of the vehicles comprised in a Category 3 AILV-combination as are carrying a load;
must be transmitted to the road through 6 or more axles.
(2) In sub-paragraphs (3) to (5) “load-bearing vehicle” means a vehicle mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b).
(3) The distance between any two adjacent axles of a load-bearing vehicle must not be less than 1 metre.
(4) Where the distance between two adjacent axles of a load-bearing vehicle is the distance specified in column 1 of Table 2, the axle weight must not exceed the weight specified in column 2 and the wheel weight must not exceed the weight specified in column 3.
| Distance between adjacent axles | Axle weight | Wheel weight |
|---|---|---|
| (Column 1) | (Column 2) | (Column 3) |
| Less than 1.35 metres | 15,000 kilograms | 7,500 kilograms |
| 1.35 metres or more | 16,500 kilograms | 8,250 kilograms |
(5) But where—
(a)a load-bearing vehicle has axles in two or more groups of axles;
(b)the distance between the adjacent axles in each group is less than 1.5 metres; and
(c)the distance between the adjacent axles in different groups is more than 1.5 metres;
the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels in any group must not exceed the overall maximum weight.
(6) The overall maximum weight is—
(a)90,000 kilograms if the distance specified in sub-paragraph (5)(b) is less than 1.35 metres; and
(b)100,000 kilograms in any other case.
34.—(1) An AILV falling within Category 2 or 3 must not exceed any speed specified on the plate required by paragraph 13.
(2) An AILV, or AILV-combination, falling within Category 1, 2 or 3 must not travel on a motorway, dual carriageway or other description of road at speeds exceeding the speed specified in Table 3 for that Category in respect of the description of road in question.
| AILV or AILV-combination | Motorway | Dual carriageway | Other roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 60 mph | 50 mph | 40 mph |
| Category 2 or 3 | 40 mph | 35 mph | 30 mph |
(3) Nothing in this Schedule is to be taken to authorise travel at any speed in excess of any speed restriction imposed by or under any other enactment.
This is the date on which the Road Vehicles (Marking of Special Weights) Regulations 1983 (S.I. 1983/910) came into force.