Dimensions of Vehicles and Drivers' Hours
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Are Dealt With in Answer to Readers' Queries. Other Replies Concern Insecure Loads and 12-seaters.
ASOUTH AUSTRALIAN reader asks for information about regulations applying in the United Kingdom as to the overall length, width and height of (a) prime movers with semi-trailers, and (b) rigid vehicles with " dog " trailers, with a further request as to the meaning of the term "train weight."
The maximum permitted legal length of a rigid goods vehicle (whether four-, sixor eight-wheeler) in this country is 30 ft., whilst articulated vehicles are allowed a length of 35 ft. A drawbar trailer—the equivalent of the " dog " trailer here—is limited to 22 ft. exclusive of the drawbar. There is, however, no specific overall combined length legally laid down for rigid vehicles with drawbar trailer& Regarding weight, goods vehicles (including tractor units forming part of an articulated vehicle) weighing not less than 4 tons unladen may be up to 8 ft. wide. Below that weight, with certain exceptions, the width is limited to'7 ft. 6 in.
A rigid four-wheeled goods vehicle is legally permitted a total laden weight of 14 tons, with 20 tons for a six-wheeler and 24 tons for an eight-wheeler. A drawbar trailer is allowed a total laden weight of 14 tons. An articulated vehicle employing a two-wheeled semi-trailer is limited to 20 tons, but where the semi-trailer has four or more wheels the limit is increased to 24 tons.
The total combined laden weight—sometimes referred to as the total train weight—of a rigid vehicle with drawbar trailer is legally limited to a maximum of 32 tons, provided it is fitted with power-assisted brakes.
Relative to laden weight limitations, there is a further stipulation that the maximum weight on any one two-wheeled axle shall not exceed 9 tons. Where there are more than two wheels in line across the vehicle or trailer chassis, the rate on all these wheels must not exceed It tons. There is a provision here that two wheels are to be counted as one if their centres of contact with the road are less than 18-in. apart.
Whilst there are a wide range of combinations of axle relative to articulated outfits employed overseas, the maximum permitted total laden weight for articulated goods vehicles in this country is 24 tons irrespective of any such axle variations.
UAV1NG passed his driving test immediately following his 17th birthday, a reader asks what type of goods vehicle he is allowed to drive.
To answer this query it is first necessary to set out the somewhat archaic definitions of four classifications of vehicle relative to the issue of driving licences. Goods vehicles up to 3 tons unladen in weight are termed "motor cars," whilst over that weight they are termed "heavy motor cars." Vehicles not constructed to carry a load and weighing not more than 71 tons are termed "motor tractors," whilst above this weight they become "light locomotives" up to 111 tons. Over this latter weight vehicles not constructed to carry a load are termed "heavy locomotives."
Regarding the issue of driving licences for other than motorcycles or invalid carriages, no-one under the age of 17 is allowed to drive any type of motor vehicle, whilst no-one under 21 is allowed to drive a locomotive, motor tractor or heavy motor car.
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ASCOTTISH operator refers to a case where he has .been summoned, with his driver, for permitting a vehicle to be on the road with a load which was insecure. He contends that the responsibility for the load rests with the driver, and asks for comment.
Under Paragraph 73 (2) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1955, it is an offence for a load to be carried on any vehicle which is not so secured that danger is not likely to be caused to any person on the road through the load, or any part of it, falling from the vehicle.
In this context the responsibility for the use of a vehicle has a wider application than is normally implied, and can include the driver, supervisors and any persons who gave instruction for the journey to be made. As a result, an employer may thus find himself charged with an offence of which he was quite ignorant and which may have been committed many miles from his office.
It should, however, be borne in mind that liability for contravention of an absolute prohibition depends upon the fact of contravention and not upon the intention to contravene. It would be a matter to be decided in each individual case as to the proportion of blame to be attached to the driver, employer, or any other party involved.
SEVERAL reports have been received as to variations in the attitude adopted by local authorities to the registration and licensing of 12-seaters with fixed seats.
A personnel carrier type of vehicle, which is neither constructed or adapted in any way, nor used, for the carriage of goods for hire or reward or in connection with a trade or business, nor alternatively is standing or plying or let for hire for the carrying of passengers, would normally be taxed at the "private" rate of duty.
If let out for hire, or running as a country bus for example, such a vehicle would be taxed at the " Hackney " rate of duty.
Where such a vehicle is used for the carriage of goods for hire or reward, or for business purposes, it would be taxed as a goods vehicle only if it could be held to be either constructed or adapted for this purpose, since construction or adaptation, as well as use, is a criterion in determining whether the " goods " rate of duty is payable.
Many personnel carriers have dual purpose features such as tip-up and foldaway seats, a luggage grid bolted on the roof. or wooden slats for carriage of personnel or goods. A lot of understandable confusion has arisen over the classification
f these vehicles in the past, and, in order that taxation authories will treat these vehicles alike, the Ministry of Transport has ;cently issued general guidance notes, with the object of L:hieving some uniformity of practice throughout the country., I S there any legal objection to exhibiting the name of my customer on the top of the cab?" asks the operator of a my-loader carrying machinery for a plant hire company. There is no legal obligation to display the name and address f an operator on a goods vehicle, unless it happens to be ngaged in sale of milk, ice cream or in use as a mobile shop. -here would therefore appear to be no objection to exhibiting customer's name in this instance.
It would, however, be particularly advisable to ensure that fly goods carried on the vehicle were covered by the carrier's icence under which it operated.
FHE User of a small van asks whether the titling of rear passengers scats would be considered a conversion into a dual purpose' vehicle, and therefore make the vehicle not abject to a 30 m.p.h. limit, although liable for purchase tax. :ome firms, he claims, undertake to fit seats so that they do tot incur purchase tax, and he therefore asks when does a 'chicle become 'dual purpose" and additionally if such a 'chicle were converted into a caravan would it be excluded rom the payment of purchase tax.
A short answer to all these types of query would be that, Ls the law stands at the moment, one must either pay purchase ax as in the case of a private car or dual purpose vehicle, )r, alternatively, be restricted to 30 m.p.h. as applies to a goods 'chicle, including small vans. Additionally, drivers of these toads vehicles would be required to comply with the Road ("raffle Act, 1960, as regards the limitations of drivers' hours Ind the keeping of records.
Regarding the possibility of converting into a caravan and ;a avoiding payment of purchase tax, it is doubtful whether he Customs and Excise authorities would accept such a small /chicle as a 5-cwt, van ever coming within the category of "caravan."
The precise definition of a dual-purpose vehicle is somewhat letailed and is contained in. the Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limit) Regulations, 1956, which is obtainable from any H.M. Stationery Office, price 4d. It would be advisable for anybody contemplating conversion to obtain a copy of this regulation before commencing conversion so as to avoid subsequent disappointment.
THE extent to which part-time drivers should keep log sheets is the substance of another inquiry. Two vehicles arc operated, but as traffic is light only one driver is employed. The operator asks whether he should keep one log book per vehicle or, alternatively, per driver. He also asks whether copy records should be kept, and if his driver should account for driving time only. as the man concerned is also engaged in packing and cleaning. In addition, he asks for the length of maximum driving period legally permitted, and whether or not the driver has to enter on his log sheet any journeys made in a C licence vehicle for private purposes.
There is an obligation on drivers of goods vehicles to keep a current record (generally referred to as a log sheet) containing particulars as prescribed in the leaflet '' The Goods Vehicles (Keeping of Records) Regulations, 1935," which is obtainable from any H.M. Stationery Office, price 3d. As it is a record of the driver, and not the vehicle, it is necessary to keep one log sheet per driver, but there is no legal obligation to keep copies of log sheets.
As set out in this leaflet, log sheets can be specially drawn up for the convenience of part-time drivers, so facilitating the differentiation between driving time and non-driving time. It should be noted, however, that any time spent in connection with a vehicle, such as loading and unloading, is deemed " driving time" for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act.
Details concerning the maximum permitted driving time lor drivers of goods vehicles are laid down in Section 73 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960. Briefly, the total number of hours' driving permitted in any one period of 24 hours commencing at 2.0 a.m. is eleven, with the further limitation that a maximum continuous period of driving of 5 hours must be followed by a meal break ofl at least half-an-hour.
Except in the case of an owner-driver (for example, a butcher or baker driving his own vehicle and using it privately for a purpose which does not require an A, B or C licence), it is still necessary for other drivers of C-licence vehicles to keep a record of their hours of driving, even though the vehicle may be used "