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NEW LAW ON LIFT AXLES
Page 39
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• I have heard that some new rules on lift axles come Into operation in January 2002. Can you tell me what they are?
• The Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 state that a vehicle first used on or after 1 January 2002 fitted with one or more retractable axles or one or more loadable axles will have to comply with new rules on the use of the axles from that date.
A retractable axle is an axle on which the wheels are raised clear of the ground or lowered to the ground by an axle lift device. A loadable axle is an axle on which the load can be varied without the wheels being raised off the ground.
Except for specified driving conditions, a retractable axle must lower to the ground automatically if (a) the front axle of the vehicle is laden to its maximum authorised weight; or (b) in the case of a group of axles (eg non-driving tandem axles or a triaxle), the nearest axle or axles to the retractable axle is, or are, loaded to their maximum authorised weight.
The specified driving conditions exist when the vehicle is on a slippery surface. To help the vehicle move off by increasing traction on the tyres, the retractable axle or loadable axle may be actuated to increase the weight on the driving axle of the vehicle if (a) the weight on an axle does not exceed its authorised maximum by more than 30% or the maker's design weight for this purpose; (b) the weight on the front axle exceeds zero; (c) the retractable or loadable axle is operated only by a special control; and (d) after the vehicle has moved off and reached a speed of 30km/h, the axle is automatically lowered to the ground or reloaded.
Every retractable axle or loadable axle fitted to a vehicle to which these rules apply must he designed and installed to protect it against improper use or tampering.
These rules do not apply to vehicles first used before January 2002.