Few Changes in C. and U. Regulations
Page 45
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DETAILS of the Draft Construction and Use Regulations were published in our issue dated June 5, 1936.
The Regulations come into force on May 31, and replace those of 1931. We advise those who require full details to purchase a copy from H.M. Stationery Office (price 8d.). The title is " The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1937.
Every vehicle registered before the expiration of one year from the making of any regulation varying the requireinents as regards the construction or weight is exempt for a period of five years, provided that it complies with the requirements. . of the . previous regulations.
Construction, Weight and Equipment.
Motor vehicles and trailers: Maxis mum overall length of four-wheeler, 27 ft 6 ins.; more than four wheels, 30 ft.; articulated, 33 ft.; eight_ wheeled articulated registered before January I, 1931, 36 ft. Regulation not to apply to articulated vehicle for conveying long indivisible loads if on pneumatic tyres or not driven at more than 12 m.p.h.
Vehicles. and trailers with more than • four wheels, and every articulated :trailer With more than two wheels, 'must have compensating arrangement to ensure even road contact and no abnormal variations Of load. -This not to apply to a steerable wheel loaded to 21tons or under. • Servo-braking systems with reservoirs must have warning devices to indicate sin:Tending . failure • or de fieiency:' • • • • Every vehicle re,giStered after October 1, 1937, Mileas limited to 12 nep.le; must have a speed indicator
at least po per cent. accurate. ' ::Wheel.pf a vehicle or, li-ailer, if 'not ftheureaticstyred; rrniSt have. a miiii mum din •dianieter of 670 rnms this not to 'apply .until janaary. .1, 1940, to. thciSe registered by January 2 1933;• to any trailer constructed,, before jailup.ty 1 of that year; to any motorcar registered by Julyi. 1, 1936, if the nummum inclusive diameter is 670 inin.; to arty motor vehicle or trailer not exceeding 30 cwt. unladen used on roads only in passing from one premises to another in the neighbourhood: to any vehicle or trailer used by a local authority for street cleansing or refuse disposal; to any mobile crane or to any land implement.
. Vehicles exceeding 8 cwt.. must be Capable of reversing. Every vehicle other than a motorcycle must be equipped internally or externally with a mirror. This does not apply to land locomotives and tractors or vehicles drawing trailers if a person be on the trailer, who can see to the rear and signal to the driver.
Windiereens and outside windows facing to the front, except in Hie upper-deck of double-deckers', must be safety glass. From October 1 an automatic Windsereen wiper is required, unless the driver can open the windscreen or obtain an adequate view without looking through the windscreen. No warning instrument may consist of a gong, except when used solely for firebrigade, ambulance, salvage-corps or police purposes ; or a siren, except for fire-brigade, salvage-corps or police purposes.
Locomotives: Maximum overall width, 9 ft. ; maximum unladen weight, 15-6 tons; on soft tyres, .17i tons.; May be exceeded by 1 ton if. carrying Per-. manent jib crane, dynamo or extra winding drum. In the' case of cableploughing engines, windlass gear not 'included in weight. . Not more than three-quarters of weight may be born.: by any two wheels. . •
Motor tractors: Maximum overall width, 7 ft. 6 ins.; maximum over hang, 6 ft.
Heavy motorcars: Maximum width, 7 ft. 6 ins.; with vehicle registered by July 1, 1992, width 8 ft., Where necessitated by conversion to PneninatiCS; overhang 50 per cent. of .wheelbase., except if registered by October 1, 1:93$, when it may be seven-twenty-fourths of overall length. This does not apply to those registered before August 15, :1928, or used for street cleansing.
All' wheels 'mist be on-pneumatics. Not to apply uritil;Jannary 1;,.1940, if registered by ._January 2, • 1933, to vehicles exceeding 4 tops, unladen and mainly used on rough ground or used 'solely for street eleansingsor refuse disposal. Turntable escapes and tower wagons also eXempted.
Motorcars: Maximum width of p.s. vehicle, 7 ft. 6 ins.; otherwisey7 ft. 2. ins.;maximum overhang 50 per cent., or ,Seyenstwenty-fourths if registered by October I, 1938. This does not applyif registered by January 2, 1933, or to Vehicles used for street cleansing, etc., as above. If not exceeding 20 ft. overall, overhang may be increased by 9 ins., , but in no case may exceedseven-twenty-fourths.
Trailer Requirements.
Trailers: Maximumlength (excluding drawbar) 22 ft. Not to apply when used for conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length, to land implements, to trailers forming part of articulated vehicles, or to vehicles hauled in consequence of breakdown. Maximum overall width, 7 ft. 6 ins.; tot travelling showmen, 8 ft. 9 ins. If constructed before January 1, 1933, and converted to pneumatics, maximum width may be 8 ft. if no part exceeds 7 ft. 6 ins, except where increase is necessitated by conversion.
Trailers exceeding 2 cwt unladen must have efficient braking system. f1 drawn by motor vehicle, pneumatic tyres required if constructed after January 1, 1933. Such tyres stipulated from January 1, 1940, unless only passing from works, used solely in connection with street cleansing, etc., or drawn by heavy motorcars not required to be equipped with pneumatics. From October 1, 1938, rear wheels, except where trailer, is drawn by locomotive, must have wings. This does not apply to land implements, living vans, water carts, trailers used for round timber or drawn by vehicle with maximum speed of 12 in.ptlf. or less.
• Use of' Motor Vehicles and Trailers.
Locomotives require unladen weight marked on either .side, and as from October I, 1938; on the near side.
Pvibtor tractors: Weight of vehicle unladen and maximum speed when not drawing 'trailer Marked on either sida; a_s. from October .1, 1938, on near side and 'words "without trailer." _
I Teavy motorcars : Weight -unladen and-ruaximurn speed when riof drawing trailer inarkecl on either side; later, on near, 6i0p --af above date.
Trailer' with overrun brakes requires unladen weight marked on near side. Speed-limit discs, 8 ins, diameter, required, on every vehicle restricted, when not drawing a trailer, to 20 m.p.h., and on every trailer (not for round timber) attached by partial superimposition and restricted to 20 m.p.h.
Each wheel of a heavy ,motorcar registered by October 1, 1938, to bear plate indicating maximum section of tyre.
As from October. 1, 1937, back of trailer must bear distinguishing T mark with reflex lenses. Not applicable to articulated vehicle or trailer drawn by seven-passenger motorcar, those for carriage of round timber, land imple.. meats (except living vans) and agricultural trailers.
-Maximum .total weight of trailers (laden or unladen) drawn by locomotive, 40 tons. Maximum weight of single trailer and its motor tractor, heavy motorcar or motorcar, 28 tons. Laden weights of heavy motorcar or motorcar are as before, except for steam wagons.
General regulation against dangerous loading now extended to number of passengers carried on vehicles other than p.s.v. type.
Banning of warning instruments between 11.30 p.m. and 7 a.m. is extended to all roads treated as being in built-up areas, and lighted or not.
The regulations concerning brakti are extensive and complicated, and should be studied in detail.