I have often seen ques tions about forward and rearward
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projecting loads answered in CM but my problem concerns wide loads projecting about 2ft. Could you explain the law on this?
A Disregarding the opera tion of a vehicle with an indivisible lead under The Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1973, the carriage of sideways projecting loads is governed by Regulation 131 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1973.
Here it is stated that no load shall be carried on a vehicle where the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of its load exceed 4.3 metres (14ft 1.296in).
However, Subsection (2) provides that no load shall be carried on a vehicle where the load has a lateral projection exceeding 305 millimetres (12.008in) in width, neither must it carry a load where the overall width of the vehicle and load exceeds 2.9 metres (9ft 6.168in) unless it is an indivisible load about which certain requirements have been fulfilled or the load consists of loose agricultural products not baled or crated.
The requirements which must be met if the load is an indivisible load are, that notice of the movement has been given to the police and, where the overall width of the vehicle and load exceeds 3.5 metres (lift 5.796in), an attendant is provided.
In general, the term "lateral projection" is defined in Regulation 130 as the amount of the projection (measured between the nearest part of the vehicle and the furthest part of the load) measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.