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Bigger Lorries Now Legal

8th April 1955, Page 44
8th April 1955
Page 44
Page 44, 8th April 1955 — Bigger Lorries Now Legal
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Maximum Widths, Lengths, Axle Weights and Gross Vehicle Weights Increased : New System for Heavy Tractors: Transmission Brakes fot Buses LAST Saturday it became legak to build larger and heavier goods vehicles. On the previous day, transmission hand brakes for public service vehicles were made permissible.

Six months ago the Ministry of Transport issued a memorandum setting out its proposals for amending the weights and dimensions of goods vehicles and for granting certain other concessions During the intervening period various organizations have pressed the Ministry to issue the revised regulations.

When the new regulations were placed on sale at the Stationery Office last-Friday afternoon ihere had been no official announcement by the Ministry.

Maximum Width 8 ft.

Under the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1955, which came into force on April 2, a rigid vehicle or the prime mover of an articulated outfit which weighs 4 tons or more may be built to a maximum width of 8 ft., instead of 7 ft. 6 in. Drawbar trailers and semi-trailers may also be of a width of 8 ft. if the drawing unit is also of that width. , The maximum overall length of rigid four-wheeled goods vehicles has been increased from 27 ft. 6 in. to 30 ft. There is now a standard length for all rigid goods vehicles of more than 4 tons unladen, irrespective of the number of wheels. The maximum length of an articulated vehicle has been increased from 33 ft. to 35 ft, Weights of vehicles and trailers have also been raised. The new maximum laden weights of goods vehicles are as follows: Four-wheelers, 14 tons; sixwheelers, 20 tons; more than six wheels, 24 tons. For an articulated vehicle with a two-wheeled semi-trailer the limit is 20 tons, or, if the semi-trailer has four wheels or more, 24 tons, Axle weights have been increased correspondingly. The maximum weight that may be imposed on a two-wheeled axle is 9 tons, If the axle has more than two wheels in line, the figure is II tons.

Trailer Weights

A separate trailer drawn by a lorry or tractor may, if it has four wheels, be laden to 14 tons gross. The maximum gross weight -of the combined outfit is 24 tons, but if the trailer has power-assisted brakes the limit is raised to 32 tons. The maximum axle weight is 9 tons.

Locomotives (tractors of more than 71 tons unladen) are now restricted by gross laden weight, instead of bY unladen weight. If the locomotive is not equipped with springs and rubber tyres. the maximum weight is 20i tons. If it has springs and rubber tyres and is a four-wheeler, it may have a gross weight of 22 tons; if it is a six-wheeler, 26 tons, and if it has more than six wheels, 30 tons.

The maximum weight that may be n10 imposed on any two-wheeled axle on a locomotive is 11 tons. A locomotive with not more than four wheels and registered before June 1, 1955, may carry up to three-quarters of its total weight on any two wheels.

Locorn.otives registered on or after June 1. 1955, must have brakes with two independent means for operation conforming to the same detailed conditions as goods vehicles and tractors.

New regulations have been introduced restricting the width of loads.

When in the travelling position, a load, unless it is abnormal and indivisible, must not overhang by more than 1 ft. on either side. The total width of the load must not exceed 9 ft. 6 in. With an 8-ft-wide vehicle, this mewls that if the load protrudes 1 ft. on one side, it may overhang only 6 in. on the other. These restrictions do not apply to loose agricultural produce which is not baled or crated.

If the load is wider than 9 ft. 6 in., two days' notice of its movement must be given to the police.

Three-wheelers. other than motorcycle combinations, must each have a driving mirror. A proposal that all vehicles should carry two mirrors has not been proceeded with, but the Ministry of Transport still has it under review. They are likely to be made compulsory later.

New provisions are made concerning direction indicators on trailers. Their use is not compulsory, but if they are fitted to any trailer built on or after July I, 1955, they must comply with the standards laid down. These are in the following alternative forms:—

(t The indicator must have an illuminated area at least 6 in. long and with a breadth not more than a quartet of the length, and must show either a steady or a flashing light.

(2) If the indicator has a flashing light, the bulb or bulbs must not be less than 15W. or more than 36W. If the trailer has fewer than four wheels, or is a close-coupled four-wheeler, the minimum illuminated area of the sign is 31 sq. in. In other cases it is 12 sq. in. The centre of the illuminated area must not be more than 16 in. nearer to the longitudinal axis of the trailer than is the outermost part of the trailer on the same side.

The only compulsory provision is, as at present, to fit indicators on those trailers which are drawn by motor vehicles equipped with separate front and rear flashing-light indicators.

Separate Indicators

Formal approval is given to the fitting on the same vehicle of both (a) indicators on the side showing to the front and rear, and On separate indicators on the front and rear showing flashing lights, in the first case only to the front and in the second case only to the rear.

It is now an offence not only to quit a vehicle on the road without stopping the engine and applying the brake. but also to leave it in such a condition on private premises that it subsequently runs on to the road.

Metropolitan public-carriage examiners are empowered, in addition to police officers in uniform and Ministry of Transport certifying officers and vehicle examiners, to test and inspect the brakes, silencers or steering gear of vehicles or trailers, either on the road or on private premises. If the examination is to be conducted on private premises, either the vehicle owner's consent must be obtained, or he must be given at least 48 hours' notice. Public-carriage examiners haie in the past been uniformed members of the Metropolitan Police, but they may not always be so in future.

More Changes Coming The new regulations require changes in the Motor Vehicles Construction and Use) (Track Laying Vehicles) Regulations and the Motor Vehicles (Authorization of Special Types) General Order. These revisions will be made as soon as possible.

The concession regarding transmission brakes on buses and coaches is made in the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness) (Amendment) Regulations, -1955, which came into force on April I. Regulation 14 of the 1941 Regulations is amended to allow transmission brakes on vehicles registered on or after January 1 last.

The brake must be operated only by hand, there must be no form of servo and no universal joint between the brake and the final drive, and the rear axle must be fully floating.


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