THE CONSTRUCTION AND USE REGULATIONS
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A Precis of the Rules Concerning the Building and Employment of .Motor Vehicles, which Came into Force on January 15th
To assist our readers to gain a comprehensive knowledge of The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1931, con
tained in Statutory Miles awl Orders, 1931, No. 4, we have reduced the clauses to the smallest dimensions, but have retained the numbers. . Some, however, we have omitted as not being of direct importance to our readers.
3. (i) Overall length is exclusive of the starting handle (if any) and of the hood when down. Overall width is measured between parallel planes passing through extreme Projecting points exclusive of any driving mirror. Overhang is the distance measured horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle between, two vertkcal planes at right angles to such axis, one passing through the end of the vehicle, and the other passing through :—(a) With two axles, the centre point of the rear axle, and (5) with three axles (i) front steering, through a point 4 ins, in rear of the centre of a line joining the centre points of the rear and middle axles ; (ii) rear axle steering, through the centre point of the middle axle • (iii) where all axles but one are steering axles, through the centre point of the rearmost axle which does not steer, and (c) where all the axles, whether two or three, are steering axles, and there are four or mare axles, through a point situated on the longitudinal axis, such that a line drawn from it at right angles to the axis will pass through the mitre of the minimum turning circle. "Locomotives" means heavy and light locomotives. " Land'locomotives " indicates one used primarily for work in connection with agriculture, forestry, dredging, etc., which is driven on a road only when proceeding to and from work, and when so driven hauls nothing other than land implements Similar restrictions apply to a land tractor.
"Agricultural trailer" means one the property of a person engaged in agriculture and used on a road only for the conveyance of produce or of articles required for agriculture.
Articulated vehicle" means one drawing a trailer so constructed that a substantial part of the weight of the trailer is borne by the motor vehicle.
(ii) A brake drum is deemed to form part of the wheel and not of the braking-system. (iii) Any two wheels of a vehicle or trailer are regarded as one if the distance between them at ground level'is less than 18 ins.
Part 1.—The Construction, Weight and Equipment of Vehicles and Trailers.
5. Maximum overall length of vehicle with four wheels. 27 ft. 6 ins.; with more than four, 30 ft. Articulated vehicles, 33 ft., that of any eight-wheeled articulated vehicle registered before January 1st, 1931, 36 ft.
6. Every vehicle and trailer with more than four wheels and every trailer having more than two wheels in contact with the ground, being part of an articulated vehicle, shall he so constructed that if any wheel he lifted 6 ins, above the surface, the load on any wheel shall not be increased by more than 10 per cent.
7. Every vehicle other than a mobile crane, and every trailer, shall be equipped with springs between each wheel and the frame. This does not apply to vehicles registered by January let, 1932; to trailers constructed before June 1st, 1931: "until January 1st, 1935; to motor tractors not exceeding 4 tons in weight if all unsprung wheels have pneumatic tyres ; to land locomotives, land tractors, laud implements, agricultural trailers, those used for the haulage of felled trees, and any motor tractor, under 4 tons unladen, for railway shunting.
8. The braking system must be constructed so that it will prevent two, or, in the case of a vehicle with three wheels, one of the wheels, from revolving when the vehicle is left unattended. This does not apply to land locomotives registered before January 1st, 1932, or to landtractors until January 1st, 1937. 9. A vehicle or trailer must transmit its entirc weight to the road by wheels, except in a track-laying machine, in which case :— (a) The parts of the tract
initcontact with the road must be flat and have a mini
mum width of in. The area of each track in contact at any one time shall not be less than 36 sq. ins, for each ton of unladen weight, and (5) a track-laying machine may draw only a land implement.
10. All wheels must have a rim diameter not less than 670 mm. when the tyres are other than pneumatics. This Regulation will not apply until January 1st, 1940 (a) to vehicles registered by January 1st, 1933, and (b) to trailers constructed before this date, also (i) to vehicles or trailers, not exceeding 30 ewt. unladen, designed for use in works, etc.; (ii) to vehicles or trailers used by local authorities for street-cleansing or refuse collection ; (Iii) to mobile cranes; (iv) to land implements.
11. A vehicle exceeding 8 cwt. unladen must be able to reverse.
12. Drivers must have a full view of the road and trattie ahead.
13. A rear-view mirror must be provided unless a, person on the trailer has an uninterrupted view to the rear and can communicate with the driver.
14. Glass for windscreens or windows facing to the front on the outside of an vehicle, except for bus upper decks, must be safety glass. This applies after January 1st, 1937, to any vehicle registered by January 1st, 1932.
17. No avoidable smoke or visible vapour may be emitted.
19. No vehicle or trailer registered for the first time by January 15th, 1931, shall have a closet, lavatory basin or sink, unless (a) such closet empties into a tank carried by the vehicle, this to be ventilated, and contain chemicals -to act as a deodorant and germicide; (la) no basin or sink shall drain into the tank. •
Locomotives.
20. Maximum overall width 9 ft.
21. (a) Maximum unladen weight 15/ tons, but if a permanent fitting (jib, crane, dynamo or extra winding drum) be fitted, the weight can be increased by 1 ton ; if the wheels have soft tyres, the unladen weight can be increased by 2 tens, the increase to be cumulative where both con. ditions are satisfied,
'(b) In cable-ploughing engines, the winding gear is not included in computing unladen weight. '
22. Not more than three-quarters the total weight may be carried by any two wheels.
23. After January 1st, 1933, tyres must be soft and may be continuous or in .sections not separated by more than I in.; the aggregate extent of all spaces must not exceed 6 ins. This Regulation does not apply to land locomotives if the tyres of steering wheels are smooth-soled, not less than 5 ins, wide at the tread, and the tyres of driving wheels not less than 12 ins, wide, smooth-soled or shod with diagonal cross-bars not less than 3 ins, wide, more than i in. thick or. spaced apart more than 3 ins.
24. Brakes must act upon all wheels, other than steering wheels. This does not apply to locomotives registered by January let, 1933. or if propelled by a reversing steam engine.
25. From April 1st, 1931, the unladen weight of the machine must be plainly marked upon a conspicuous part of the off side.
Motor Tractors.
26. Maximum width, 7 ft. 6 ins.
27. Maximum overhang, 6 ft.
28 (a) Every tractor shall have two independent braking systems acting upon all wheels other than the steering wheels, either capable of stopping the machine within a reasonable distance. A reversing steam engine is considered as a brake. One brake can also be used for a road roller or land tractor.
(h). In motor tractors other than land tractors, registered by January 15th, 1931, the brakes of one system shall act on all wheels other than steering wheels and not through the transmission. Where a tractor has more than four wheels and is driven on all hut the steering wheels, without a differential gear between the driving-wheel axles, it will he sufficient if one brake acts directly on two driving wheels on opposite sides. and the second brake acts on the other driving wheels.
(c) 'Where failure of any-mechanism operating brakes on one system may adversely affect the brakes of the other, the system is not independent.
29. Wheels Must be equipped with soft tyres. This applies after :ranuary 1st, 1933, tc any tractor registered by January 1st 1932; it does not apPly to land tractors if the steeringwheel tyres be smooth-soled, not less than 2+ ins. wide, those of the driving wheel not less than 6 ins, wide, smooth-soled or shod with diagonal cross-bars arranged as in paragraph 23.
30. Unladen weight and maximum speed to be plainly marked upon the off side.
Heavy Motorcars.
31. Maximum width 7 ft. 6 ins. in vehicles registered by January 1st, 1932, additional 6 ins, permitted to allow use a pneumatics.
32. Maximum overhang 7-24ths of length.
33. Maximum weights, four-wheelers, 7f tons ; sixwheelers, 10 tons ; over six, 11 tons. A heavy motorcar weighing more than 7+ tons with crane, dynamo, welding plant, etc., which is an essentially permanent fixture, shall be deemed not to exceed 7+ tons, 10 tons, or 11 tons, as above, provided provisions of Regulations 59 and 61 (weight transmitted to road surface and total laden weight) are complied with.
34 (a) Two independent braking systems acting upon all wheels of vehicle other than steering wheels, are required. The engine of a steam vehicle shall be deemed to be one such braking system if capable of being reversed and, in the case of a vehicle registered on or after January 1st, 1927, cannot be disconnected from the road wheels, other than steering wheels, except by sustained effort of the driver.
(b) In vehicles registered by January 15th, 1931, brakes of one system shall act on all wheels other than steering wheels, and not through transmission. Where a vehicle has over /our wheels and the drive is transmitted to all except the steering wheels without the interposition of a differential between the axles carrying the drivingwheels, it will be sufficient if the brakes of one system act on two opposite driving wheels and those of the second system on all other driving wheels.
(c) Braking systems in which failure of a part operating one system may adversely affect the other, are not independept.
35. Every heavy motorcar must have pneumatic tyres. This does not apply until January 1st, 1940, to vehicles registered by January 1st, 1933, if they have soft tyres; neither does it apply to those over 4 tons in weight unladen mainly working on rough ground or unmade roads, to those for street cleansing or the collection of refuse, or to turntable lire escapes and tower wagons.
36. From January 1st, 1933, if wheels on either side have a space of more than 2 ft. between their nearest points, a guard rail, running board, or other similar device shall be fixed to guard such space to within 1 ft. 3 ins, of the ground.
38. From April 1st, 1931, the weight unladen and the maximum speed when not drawing a trailer, must be plainly marked upon the off side of the vehicle.
Motorcars.
39. Maximum width 7 ft. 2 ins. No other dimension or the load on any wheel may exceed the corresponding dimension or loral prescribed for a heavy motorcar.
40. Maximum overhang 7-24ths of length.
41. (a) There must be two braking systems or one with two independent means for operation, designed so that failure of part of any system shall not prevent braking on two wheels, or with less than four wheels, on one wheel. With a single system, two means for operation shall not be deemed to be other than independent because they are connected to the same cross-shaft.
(b) With more than three wheels and with two independent braking systems, each must be constructed so that if the brakes act on two wheels only, the wheels shall be on the same axle.
(c) With one system, where the means for operation are connected to the same cross-shaft, the brakes applied by one of such means shall act directly on all the wheels and shall not pass through the transmission.
1346 (d) One of the means shall be applied by direct mechanical action without the intervention of any hydraulic, electric or pneumatic device.
(e) The brakes operated by one of the means must act directly upon the wheels and not pass through the transmi ssion.
42. Vehicles exceeding 1 ton unladen must have pneumatic tyres. This shall not apply until January 1st, 1940, to any motorcar registered by January 1st, 1933. This does not apply to vehicles under 30 cwt. unladen and designed for use in works, for street cleansing or refuse collection.
43. From January 1st, 1933, if wheels on either side (other than in a motorcar for passengers and their effects and limited to seven people and the driver) have a space of more than 2 ft. between their nearest points, a guard rail, running board or siniilar device shall be fixed to guard this space to within 1 ft. 3 ins, of the ground.
Trailers.
51. Maximum length, exclusive of drawbar, 22 ft. This does not apply to trailers normally used for indivisible loads of exceptional length, to land implements or to part of an articulated whiele.
52. Overall width (other than a land implement) 7 ft. 6 ins. A trailer in use before January 15th, 1931, by a travelling showman may not exceed 8 ft. 9 ins, in width.
53. Trailers other than land implements must have a braking system acting upon (a) at least two wheels where there are not more than four wheels, (b) at least four wheels where there are over four wheels, and must be capable of preventing at least two wheels from revolving when the trailer is stationary. This Regulation does not apply until January 1st, 19:s2, to vehicles drawn by a locomotive or used in Street cleansing, which do not carry any load except gear and equipment
54. From January 1st, 1.938, all trailer wheels must have pneumatic or soft tyres. This does not apply (a) to any land implement or agricultural' trailer;' (b) to those constructed before January 15th, 1931, and designed for horses and cattle; (c) where it was Constructed previously and designed for-furniture and 'shriller honsehokt effects. .55. All trailers 'built after January 1st, 1933, and as from January 1st; 1940, all trailers drawn by metorear or heavy motorcar, must have pneumatic tyres. This does not apply to those designed for use in works, for street cleansing or -for the collection of .refuse.•
Part 2.—Governing the Use of Motor Vehicles and Trailers. -56. Maximum weight of locomotive must not exceed un laden weight by more than 3 tons.
57. Maximum weight of all trailers drawn by a locomotive, 40 tons.
58. Sum of weights transmitted to road by all wheels of trailer and of tractor or heavy motorcar drawing such trailer, must not exceed 22 tons. " . ,
• 59. Weight of any wheel of a heavy motorcar, where no other wheel is in the same line transversely, shall not exceed 4 tons, weight transmitted by any two wheels in Rue transversely shall not exceed, with four wheels, Si tons; with more than four wheels, 7+ tons ; and the sum of the weights trans-. milted by all wheels of a heavy Motorcar with four, wheels, 12 tons ; six wheels, 19 tons; more than six wheels, 22 tons.
60. Maximum weight transmitted by two wheel's of trailer in line transversely, Gi tons._ In two-wheeled trailer, part of an articulated vehicle, weight transmitted May equal, but not exceed, 8 tons, if all wheels have pneumatic tyres, and total weight on road does not exceed 19 tons. ' 61. Total weight of heavy motorcar laden and total weight of any loaded trailer, must be distributed so that the weight on any strip upon which the vehicle rests contained between two parallel lines 2 ft. apart at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, shall not exceed 10 tons. 62. Weight distribution, packing and adjustment of the load must not cause danger to any person on the vehicle or trailer or road.
66. Glass or safety glass must not obscure the vision of the driver.
67. Every motor vehicle must be maintained and driven so that there shall not be emitted smoke, visible vapour, grit, sparks, ashes, cinders or oily substance, emission of which could be prevented by exercising reasonable care.
68. No contents of any closet, lavatory basin or sink or of any tank into which these drain, shall be discharged or allowed to leak on to a toad.
6th No vehicle or trailer may cause excessive noise either directly or indirectly (a) as the result of any defect; (b) the faulty packing or adjustment of tho load, but a good defence to proceedings taken under this Regulation are (i) that the noise was due to some temporary or accidental cause and zould not have been prevented ; (ii) that it arose through a defect in design or construction, or through negligence of someone who should have kept the vehicle in a proper state of repair or who bad failed to pack or adjust the load satisfactorily.
71. When a vehicle is stationary, other than through enforced traffic stops, it should have its machinery stopped so far as may be necessary to prevent noise. This Regulation does not prevent examination of the working of the machinery where such is rendered necessary by failure or derangement, or where tins engine is required for some ancillary purpose.
74 (i) No person in charge of a motor vehicle shall (a) except in the case of a road roller, cause it to travel backwards for a greater distance than may. be essential ; (b) allow a vehicle or trailer drawn thereby to stand on the road and cause unnecessary obsSruction.
(ii) No driver shall be in such position that he cannot have oontrol over his vehicle or retain a full view of the road and traffic ahead, nor may he quit it without having stopped the engine and applied the brake.
75. The driver of a steam vehicle (other than a motorcar) shall, unless two persons be carried upon it for driving or attending the vehicle, stop it to attend to the furnace.
76. Where a trailer is drawn by a motor vehicle other than a locomotive, a person other than the driver shall be in a position efficiently to apply the brakes of the trailer, unless the driver can readily operate them as well as those of the motor vehiete.
Where the trailer is drawn by a locomotive, one of those driving or attending the machine must be in a position to apply the brakes of the trailer, unless any person is attending to the trailer and can apply the brakes thereof.
Where trailers do not exceed 1 ton in weight unladen, it will be sufficient if an over-run brake be employed.
77. Section 17 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, respecting the employment of drivers and attendants shall not apply in the following cases :—(a) To any articulated vehicle, (b) where a trailer with not more than two wheels is drawn by a motorcar or motorcycle, (c) where a motor tractor is drawing (1) any closed trailer for the conveyance of meat between docks, railway stations and markets, (ii) any machine or implement used for the maintenance, repair or cleansing of roads.
78. A tow-rope must not separate the nearest point of, two vehicles by mare than 15 ft., and it must be rendered easily distinguishable by other users of the road.
79, Vehicles exceeding 26 ft. in length must not draw a trailer.
81. As from January 1st, 1940, a motorcycle without a sidecar shall not draw a trailer.
82. As from January 1st, 1935, no motorcycle shall draw a trailer exceeding 5 cwt. in weight unladen or 6 ft. in overall width.
84. No trailer shall be used for the conveyance of passengers for hire or reward.