Q We are going into the plant hire business and much
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of our equipment will be large items of engineering plant. Can you clarify for us the need for an attendant when such equipment is being moved on the roads?
APresumably you will be ' operating your vehicles under the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1973 and Article 21 of the Order in particular as engineering plant.
Article 24 deals with the need for attendants Here it is stated that this Article applies to vehicles authorised under Article 22 (motor vehicles and trailers carrying loads exceeding 4.3 metres (14ft. 1.296in.) wide but not exceeding 6.1 metres (20ft. 0.157in.) wide. It alsc applies when vehicles are authorised under Article 20 or 21 when the width of the vehicle and load exceeds 3.5 metres (lift. 5 796ins ) or the overall length of the vehicle and any forward or rearward projection exceeds 18 3 metres (60ft. 0.468ins ) An attendant must he carried when a vehicle is drawing a trailer or trailers and ltie load rests on more than one of the vehicles (whether an artic combination or not) If the overall length of the trailer and any forward or rearward proK:ction
exceeds 18.3 metres (60ft. 0.468ins.) In the case of any other ' combination of vehicles, the overall length of the vehicles, the distance between the vehicles and the length of forward and rearward projections.
Whether or not the use of a vehicle is authorised under Article 20 or 21, if it is drawing a trailer or trailers and the overall length of the vehicle combination together with the length of any forward and rearward projection of the load exceeds 25.9 metres (84ft. 11.688ins.), an attendant is required.
Similarly, when a vehicle authorised under Article 20 or 21 is carrying a load having a forward projecti6n exceeding 1.83 metres (6ft. 0.048ins.) or a rearward projection exceeding 3.05 metres (10ft. 0.084ins.) or is fitted with a special appliance or apparatus having such projection, an attendant must be provided..