KIOW T
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by Les Olding(CEI). MIMI, AMIRTE
Chges in C &U Reptions,
CONTINUING the 1978 Construction and Use Regulations, we now, that section of Part II which concerns specific types q and I propose to deal, in the main, with heavy motor catis clearly the subject of most interest to CM readers. The finon in this section, Regulation 57, decrees that the maximtl width of a heavy motor car is 2.5 metres (8 feet 2.4in), Regulation 5ith -overhang... but before discussing this section it is neOloOk at how overhang is to be measured. Regulation 3 at on a four-wheeled vehicle and on six-wheelers wit' on two axles (the Chinese six), oVerhang must be measu the rearmost part of the vehicle to the centre point of le.
On eight-wha six-wheelers with steering on only one axle, over-hang ,measured from a point 110 mm (4.33 inches) behind idway between the two rear axles. On heavy motor call-lei-1g must not exceed 60 per cent of the distance betweeht axle and the foremost point at which overhang is meabviously, on a four-wheel vehicle, this means overhang exceed 60 per cent of the wheelbase. This Regulatirgot apply to vehicles first used before August 15, 19-,'21-icles used for street cleansing, gully emptiers, refuse ' vehicles, works trucks or to tippers. In the case of tipperS-hang must not exceed 1.15 metres (just over 451/4in) if a is to be taken of this concession. On vehicles used for road surface during road construction operations, the hant may be ignored when calculating overhang.
Heavy motor c be fitted with wings or other similar fittings to catch, a=practicable, mud or water thrown up by the rotation of thr Wings need not be fitted if adequate protection is afford body of the vehicle (Fig 1). Vehicles in an unfinished concceeding to a works for completion (Fig 2) and works trucxemot from the requirements of this regulation. The re k of heavy motor cars and motor cars
forming part of an articulated vehicle used for carrying round timber are exempt from the need for wings, as are trailers used for the same purpose.
The 1978 C and U Regulations have tidied up the law concerning the use of -dollieswhich turn an artic semi-trailer into a rigid drawbar one. It was considered, prior to the new regulations, that a vehicle towing a trailer converted in this way was, in fact, towing two trailers, one the dolly and the other the semi-trailer. A heavy motor car and a motor car are only permitted to tow one trailer and although I have not heard of anyone being prosecuted for using vehicles in this way, it is reassuring to know that the practice has been legalised. A "converter dollyis defined in Regulation 3 as a trailer which is equipped with two or more wheels, and which is designed to enable a semi-trailer to move without any part of its weight being directly superimposed on the drawing vehicle and which itself is not a part of the semi-trader or the drawing vehicle.
The same regulation defines a "composite trailer" as a combination of a converter dolly and a semi-trailer.
Regulation 3 (6A) states that for the purposes of Regulations 73, 86(1) and (2), 87, 89(3), and 137 and for most of Regulation 101, a composite trailer shall be treated as one trailer. These regulations, inter alia, deal with overall length, laden weights and number of trailers permitted to be drawn.
Regulation 42 requires dollies manufactured after January 1, 1979, to be fitted with manufacturer's plates. Regulation 89(1) states that a composite trailer must comply with the maximum weight requirements set out in Schedule 7 to the Regulations for that particular type of trailer. Regulation 101(6) provides that in relation to the requirements as to the maintenance of brakes, that the date of manufacture of the semi-trailer shall be deemed to be the date of manufacture of the composite trailer,