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Special types regulations,
Page 54
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f Les Oldridge, T Eng (CEO, 11141 OST goods vehicles have to mply with the law concerning e maximum weight, width and -igth of vehicles as laid down r the Construction and Use )gulations and with the other quirements of these regulams concerning such things as ngs and springs.
For some special jobs a hicle cannot comply with ese conditions. Loads Imetimes have to be moved rich brings a lorry way above e 32 ton gross weight — the aximum permitted under ornary circumstances.
To deal with this problem, ction 42 of the Road Traffic ▪ 1972 authorises the Secre ry of State to make regulations irmitting the use on roads of lecial motor vehicles or trailers special types of motor ihides or trailers which are instructed either for special gooses or for tests or trials; of !hides or trailers constructed r use outside the UK; of new or iproved types of motor :hides or trailers and of ihicles and trailers carrying ads of exceptional dimen3ns Under this Section, the Minter has made the Motor ?.hicles (Authorisation of Decial Types) General Order 979 a consolidating Order hich made minor changes in e law and which came into )eration on November 1, 379, Part 1 of the Order gives iris definitions and will be refred to in this series of articles , the need arises.
Part 2 is concerned with pious agricultural vehicles, raddle carriers, vehicles for oving excavated material, )val, military, air force and riation vehicles, vehicles con structed for use outside the UK and vehicles which are of an improved type constructed for test or trial.
Part 3 deals with the carriage of abnormal indivisible loads, engineering plant and other vehicles carrying wide loads.
Regulation 16 in Part 2 covers the use of vehicles manufactured for export or experimental vehicles which a manufacturer is developing. It permits the use of motor vehicles or trailers constructed for use outside the UK or which are of a new or improved type, constructed for test or trial notwithstanding that they do not comply with the Construction and Use Regulations.
Their use is subject to stringent restrictions. They must not be used except for testing or demonstration of the vehicle or in the course of delivery or sale or for travelling to or returning from a manufacturer or repairer for the purpose of construction, repair or overhaul.
These vehicles must comply with some part of the C and U Regulations which are concerned with safety — for instance, a horn and parking brake are required. The full list of the regulations which must be complied with are contained in
Regulation 16 (2)(b).
Only the necessary gear or equipment, apparatus or ballast necessary for carrying out the test may be carried. If the vehicle is wider than 2.9m (91t 61n) or longer than permitted by the C and U Regulations, then the police must be told of the movement of the vehicle at least two clear days before the journey is started.
Where the C and U Regulations limits concerning weights are exceeded, the Highway Authority over whose road the vehicle is going, to pass must also be informed.
Regulation 15 authorises the use on roads of heavy motor cars, trailers or artics especially designed and constructed for use in private premises for the primary purpose of . moving excavated materials and fitted with tipping body, moving platform or other similar device for discharging its load and which cannot comply in all respects with the C and U Regulations.
These vehicles can only be used in travelling to and from private premises or between private premises and a port in either direction. No load except the necessary gear or equipment must be carried. They are limited to 12 mph except on motorways.
Vehicles in the heavy motor car category must not draw a trailer unless it is part of an attic. If the vehicle's overall width exceeds 4.3m (14.1ft) the Minister's permission must be obtained before it is moved.
The overall length of a trailer must not exceed 8.54m (28.01ft) and the overall length of an artic must not exceed 13.4m (43.9ft). Their overall weight must not exceed 50,800kg (60 tons) and the axle weight must not exceed 22,860kg (221/2 tons).
Where the overall width exceeds 3.5m (lift 6in), an attendant in addition to the driver must be carried; but where three or more vehicles are travelling in convoy it is sufficient if an attendant is carried in the foremost and rearmost vehicles.
Regulation 17 makes special concession for vehicles fitted with moveable platforms. Presumably the type of vehicle used in the maintenance of street lighting falls within this class as "moveable platform" is defined in the regulations as "a platform attached to and which may be moved by an extensible boom".
When this type of vehicle is being used for overhead working, it need not comply with the C and U Regulations concerned with overall length, width and overhang. If it has more than four wheels it need not comply with the requirements of a compensating type bogie at any time.
The vehicle must not be used on a load unless its special equipment is fully retracted except when the vehicle is being used to facilitate overhead working. Any jacks used for stabilising it when the movable platform is in use and which project from the sides of the vehicle must be rendered clearly visible to other road users.