S.I. No. 273/1991:

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1991.

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1991.

The Minister for the Environment in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 5 and 11 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (No. 24 of 1961) hereby makes the following Regulations.

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1991.

(2) The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1990 and these Regulations shall be construed as one and may be cited together as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1991.

2. In these Regulations, "the Principal Regulations" means the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 ( S.I. No. 190 of 1963 ).

3. (1) These Regulations, shall come into operation on the 1st day of November, 1991.

4. The following Article is substituted for Article 11 of the Principal Regulations--

"11. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (2), (3), (4) and (6) of this article, the overall length of a vehicle shall not exceed 12 metres.

(2) The overall length of a trailer shall not exceed 12 metres.

(3) The overall length of an articulated bus shall not exceed 18 metres.

(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (5) and (6), the overall length of an articulated vehicle, other than an articulated bus, shall not exceed 16.5 metres.

(5) The distance between the axis of the semi-trailer king pin and the rear of the semi-trailer shall not exceed 12 metres, or 12.5 metres in the case of a vehicle transporter, and the distance measured horizontally between the axis of the semi-trailer king pin and any point to the front of the semi-trailer shall not exceed 2.04 metres, or 4.19 metres in the case of a vehicle transporter.

(6) The provisions of sub-article (5) of this article shall not apply to an articulated vehicle first registered before 1st January 1991 provided the overall length of such articulated vehicle does not exceed 15.5 metres.

(7) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (8), (9) and (10) of this article the overall length of a combination of vehicles comprising a mechanically propelled vehicle and a trailer shall not exceed 18.35 metres.

(8) A combination of vehicles comprising a mechanical propelled vehicle and a trailer shall meet the following requirements:--

( a ) The distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the combination of vehicles, other than a vehicle transporter, from the foremost external point of the loading area behind the cabin to the rearmost point of the trailer of the combination, less the distance between the rear of the drawing vehicle and the front of the trailer, shall not exceed 15.65 metres;

( b ) The distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the combination of vehicles from the foremost external point of the loading area behind the cabin to the rearmost point of the trailer of the combination shall not exceed 16 metres.

(9) The provisions of sub-article (8) shall not apply to a combination of vehicles comprising a mechanically propelled vehicle and a trailer first registered before the 31st day of December, 1991 until the 31st day of December, 1998 provided the overall length of the combination does not exceed 18 metres.

(10) Sub-article (7) of this article shall not apply to a large tractor where--

( a ) such tractor is drawing two trailers outside a county or other borough or an urban district the population of which, as ascertained by the census of population which for the time being is the last published census of population, exceeds 10,000 persons, and

( b ) the overall length of the combination of vehicles comprising the tractor and trailers does not exceed 22 metres.

(11) ( a ) The overall length of a vehicle or trailer shall be the distance between vertical planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle or trailer and passing through the extreme projecting points at the front and rear of the vehicle or trailer, and for that purpose--

(i) in calculating the overall length of a trailer, the drawbar shall be included;

(ii) in calculating the overall length of a vehicle, any ladder permanently attached to the vehicle for the purpose of affording access to the roof and not projecting backwards more than 230 millimetres beyond the rear of the vehicle shall be disregarded;

(iii) in calculating the overall length of an articulated vehicle--

I. any load on the vehicle shall be deemed to form part of the vehicle save where the vehicle is carrying poles for use in connection with the provision of telephone or electricity services,

II. the longitudinal axis of the drawing and drawn components shall be in the same vertical plane.

( b ) The overall length of a combination of vehicles shall be the distance between vertical planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the drawing and drawn components comprised in such combination (which such axis are in the same vertical plane) and passing through the extreme projecting points at the front and rear of the combination.

(12) The provisions of this article relating to the overall length of a combination of vehicles shall not operate so as to prohibit the towing of a broken down vehicle which is being towed, in consequence of the breakdown, to the nearest convenient place of safety or repair.

(13) A load, other than poles intended for use in connection with telephone or electricity services, on a vehicle which is not drawing a trailer, or on the rearmost trailer in a combination of vehicles, shall not project more than 3 metres to the rear beyond the rearmost point of such vehicle or trailer.

(14) Where a load (including an implement carried by a tractor) projects more than 1 metre to the rear beyond the rearmost point of a vehicle or the rearmost trailer in a combination of vehicles, a warning device (being either a red flag or cloth at least 300 millimetres square, or a rigid device having a surface of a similar area coloured red or in two colours, one of which is red and the other of which is lighter than red) shall be carried at the rear of the load during the day time.

(15) ( a ) The maximum overall height of a vehicle, including load, shall not exceed--

(i) 4.57 metres in the case of a double deck large public service vehicle,

(ii) 4.25 metres in the case of any other vehicle.

( b ) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this sub-article shall not apply to a vehicle registered on or before the 31st day of March, 1991 until the 31st day of March, 1996.".

5. The Schedule hereto is hereby substituted for the Schedule to the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986 ( S.I. No. 442 of 1986 ).

"

SCHEDULE.

Maximum weights, maximum dimensions and related characteristics of vehicles referred to in Article 7 of S.I. No. 442 of 1986 .

Maximum length

(1) a mechanically propelled vehicle, 12 metres.

(2) a trailer, 12 metres.

(3) a semi-trailer

( a ) distance between the axis of the semi-trailer king pin and the rear of the semi-trailer, 12 metres.

( b ) distance measured horizontally between the semi-trailer king pin and any point to the front of the semi-trailer, 2.04 metres.

(4) an articulated vehicle, other than an articulated bus, 16.5 metres.

(5) an articulated bus, 18 metres.

(6) subject to paragraph (7) hereunder a combination of vehicles comprising a mechanically propelled vehicle and one trailer, 18.35 metres.

(7) a combination of vehicles comprising a mechanically propelled vehicle and one trailer

( a ) distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the combination of vehicles from the foremost external point of the loading area behind the cabin to the rearmost point of the trailer of the combination, less the distance between the rear of the drawing vehicle and the front of the trailer, shall not exceed 15.65 metres.

( b ) distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the combination of vehicles from the foremost point of the loading area behind the cabin to the rearmost point of the trailer of the combination shall not exceed 16 metres.

The provisions of paragraph (3) above shall not apply to an articulated vehicle first registered before the 1st day of January, 1991 provided the overall length of the articulated vehicle does not exceed 15.5 metres.

The provisions of paragraph (7) above shall not apply to a combination of vehicles first registered before the 31st day of December, 1991 until the 31st day of December, 1998 provided the overall length of the combination does not exceed 18 metres.

Maximum width

(1) a refrigerated vehicle, 2.6 metres.

(2) any other vehicle, 2.5 metres.

Maximum height

(1) vehicle (other than a double deck large public service vehicle), 4.25 metres.

(2) double deck large public service vehicle, 4.57 metres.

Maximum weight laden

( a ) Trailers

(1) two-axle trailer, 18,000 kilograms.

(2) three-axle trailer, 24,000 kilograms.

( b ) Mechanically propelled vehicle

(1) two-axle mechanically propelled vehicle, 17,000 kilograms.

(2) three-axle mechanically propelled vehicle

(i) with driving axle fitted with an air suspension system and twin tyres, 26,000 kilograms.

(ii) with driving axle not fitted as at (i) above, 25,000 kilograms.

(3) four-axle mechanically propelled vehicle

(i) With driving axle fitted with an air suspension system and twin tyres, 32,000 kilograms.

(ii) With driving axle not fitted as at (i) above, 30,000 kilograms.

A four axle mechanically propelled vehicle, with a maximum weight laden of 32,000 kilograms shall have a minimum distance of 6.4 metres between the foremost and rearmost axles of the vehicle.

( c ) Combination of vehicles

(1) two-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with two axle trailer, 35,000 kilograms.

(2) two-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with three-axle trailer, 40,000 kilograms.

(3) three-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with two-axle or three-axle trailer, 40,000 kilograms.

( d ) Articulated vehicle (other than articulated bus)

(1) two-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with two-axle semi-trailer, 35,000 kilograms.

(2) two-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with three-axle semi-trailer

(i) with an air suspension system, 40,000 kilograms.

(ii) with suspension system other than air suspension system, 38,000 kilograms.

(3) three-axle mechanically propelled vehicle with two-axle or three-axle semi-trailer, 40,000 Kilograms.

( e ) Articulated bus

three-axle articulated bus, 27,000 kilograms.

Maximum weight transmitted to the surface of a road by axles

( a ) Single axles of all vehicles

(1) sole driving axle, 10,500 kilograms.

(2) each other single axle, 10,000 kilograms.

( b ) Tandem axle of mechanically propelled vehicle

The sum of axle weights of a tandem axle must not exceed, where the distance between the axles is:

--less than 1 metre, 11,500 kilograms.

--1 metre or more but less than 1.3 metres, 16,000 kilograms.

--1.3 metres or more, 18,000 kilograms or 19,000 kilograms, where the drive axle is fitted with air suspension).

( c ) Tandem axle of trailer and semi-trailer

The sum of the axle weights of a tandem axle shall not exceed, where the distance between the axles is:

--less than 1 metre, 11,000 kilograms.

--not less than 1 metre and less than 1.3 metres, 16,000 kilograms.

--not less than 1.3 metres and less than 1.8 metres, 18,000 kilograms.

--1.8 metres or more, 20,000 kilograms.

( d ) Tri-axle of semi-trailer

The sum of the axle weights of a tri-axle shall not exceed, where the distance between adjacent axles is:

--1.3 metres or less, 21,000 kilograms.

--more than 1.3 metres

(i) tri-axle fitted with an air suspension system, 24,000 kilograms.

(ii) tri-axle not fitted as at (i) above 22,500 kilograms.

Related characteristics

( a ) All vehicles

The weight borne by the driving axle, or driving axles, of a vehicle shall not be less than 25 per cent of the total weight laden of the vehicle and of any trailer attached to the vehicle.

Any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in motion must be able to turn within a swept circle having an outer radius of 12.5 metres and an inner radius of 5.3 metres.

( b ) Combination of vehicles

The distance between the rearmost axle of a mechanically propelled vehicle and the foremost axle of a trailer shall not be less than 3 metres.".

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for the Environment, this

25th day of October, 1991.

PADRAIG FLYNN,

Minister for the Environment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations lay down revised maximum length(s) relating to truck and trailer combinations ("road trains") -- in implementation of Council Directive 91/60/EEC of 4th February, 1991.⁽¹⁾.

⁽¹⁾O.J No. L. 37/37 of 4.2.1991.