Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986.
(2) These Regulations and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1985 shall be construed as one and may be cited together as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1986.
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paragraphs: In these Regulations—
"the Principal Regulations" means the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 ( S.I. No. 190 of 1963 ).
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paragraphs: The Principal Regulations are hereby amended by the insertion in article 3 of the following definitions—
"international journey" means a journey involving the crossing of one or more national frontiers;
"refrigerated vehicle" means any vehicle specially designed and constructed for the carriage of goods at a temperature below the ambient temperature;
"tandem axles" means two successive axles, not being part of a tri-axle, on a trailer or semi-trailer;
"tri-axle" means an arrangement of three successive axles on a semi-trailer.
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paragraphs: These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1987.
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paragraphs: The Principal Regulations are hereby amended by the substitution for article 7 of the following article—
"7.(1) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any wheel of a vehicle or any wheel of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed—
(a) where the wheel is fitted with a pneumatic tyre, 5250 kilograms;
(b) where the wheel is fitted with a soft tyre, 16 kilograms for each millimetre width of the tyre measured at the point of contact of the tyre with the ground;
(c) where the wheel is not fitted with a pneumatic or soft tyre, 10 kilograms for each millimetre width of the wheel or its tyre measured at the point of contact of the wheel or tyre with the ground.
(2) (a) (i) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (ii) of this subarticle, the weight transmitted to the surface of a road by a single axle of a vehicle or of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed 10170 kilograms.
(ii) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by a single axle which is the sole driving axle of a vehicle may, where the distance between the sole driving axle and the closest adjacent axle is 1.2 metres or more, exceed 10170 kilograms but shall not exceed 10500 kilograms.
(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this sub-article, the weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any two adjacent axles of a vehicle or of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed that shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between the axles shown in column 1 of the Table.
Table
Column 1
Column2
Where the distance between the axles is—
Maximum Weight
Less than 1.0 metres
11180 kilograms
not less than 1.0 metres and less the 1.2 metres
17230 kilograms
not less than 1.2 metres and less than 1.35 metres
18300 kilograms
not less than 1.35 metres and less than 1.5 metres
18800 kilograms
not less than 1.5 metres and less than 1.8 metres
19320 kilograms
not less than 1.8 metres and less than 1.85 metres
20000 kilograms
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paragraphs: 85 metres or more
20340 kilograms
(c) (i) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by three or more successive axles of a semi-trailer shall not exceed 22890 kilograms.
(ii) The weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any one of three or more successive axles of a semitrailer shall not exceed that shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown in column 1 of the Table.
Table
Column 1
Column 2
Where the distance between the two closest adjacent axles is—
Maximum Weight
less than 0.7 metres
3560 kilograms
not less than 0.7 metres and less than 0.8 metres
6000 kilograms
not less than 0.8 metres and less than 0.9 metres
6200 kilograms
not less than 0.9 metres and less than 1.0 metres
6400 kilograms
not less than 1.0 metres and less than 1.1 metres
6600 kilograms
not less than 1.1 metres and less than 1.2 metres
6900 kilograms
not less than 1.2 metres and less than 1.3 metres
7100 kilograms
not less than 1.3 metres and less than 1.5 metres
7500 kilograms
not less than 1.5 metres and less than 1.7 metres
8030 kilograms
not less than 1.7 metres and less than 1.9 metres
8640 kilograms
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paragraphs: 9 metres or more
9150 kilograms
(3) (a) The weight laden of a vehicle, not being an articulated vehicle, or of a trailer attached to a vehicle shall not exceed—
(i) where the vehicle has two axles, 17000 kilograms;
(ii) where the trailer has two axles and the distance between the axles is:—
less than 3.0 metres — 16260 kilograms;
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paragraphs: 0 metres or more — 18000 kilograms;
(iii) where the vehicle or trailer has three axles and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—
less than 4.6 metres — 22360 kilograms;
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paragraphs: 6 metres or more — 24390 kilograms;
(iv) where the vehicle or trailer has four or more axles and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—
less than 5.6 metres — 25410 kilograms;
not less than 5.6 metres and less than 5.9 metres — 26420 kilograms;
not less than 5.9 metres and less than 6.3 metres — 28450 kilograms;
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paragraphs: 3 metres or more — 30490 kilograms;
(b) The weight laden of a mechanically propelled vehicle which forms part of an articulated vehicle shall not exceed—
(i) where the mechanically propelled vehicle has two axles and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—
less than 2.7 metres — 16260 kilograms;
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paragraphs: 7 metres or more — 17000 kilograms;
(ii) where the mechanically propelled vehicle has three or more axles none of which transmits a weight in excess of 10170 kilograms to the surface of a road and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—
less than 4.3 metres — 22360 kilograms;
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paragraphs: 3 metres or more — 24390 kilograms;
(iii) where the mechanically propelled vehicle has three or more axles and the weight transmitted to the surface of a road by any of these axles exceeds 10170 kilograms and the distance between the extreme front and rear axles is:—
less than 4.0 metres — 20340 kilograms;
not less than 4.0 metres and less than 4.9 metres —22360;
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paragraphs: 9 metres or more — 24390 kilograms;
(c) The weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of three axles shall not exceed the maximum laden weight shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances shown in column 1 of the Table.
Table
Column 1
Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the axle of the semi-trailer is—
Maximum Weight Laden
less than 2.6 metres
22360 kilograms
not less than 2.6 metres and less than 2.9 metres
23370 kilograms
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paragraphs: 9 metres or more
24390 kilograms
(d) the weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of four axles shall not exceed the maximum weight laden shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown in column 1 of the Table.
Table.
Column 1
Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer is—
Maximum Weight Laden
less than 3.5 metres
25410 kilograms
not less than 3.5 metres and less than 3.8 metres
26420 kilograms
not less than 3.8 metres and less than 4.1 metres
27440 kilograms
not less than 4.1 metres and less than 4.4 metres
28540 kilograms
not less than 4.4 metres and less than 4.7 metres
29470 kilograms
not less than 4.7 metres and less than 5.0 metres
30490 kilograms
not less than 5.0 metres and less than 5.3 metres
31500 kilograms
not less than 5.3 metres and less than 5.4 metres
32520 kilograms
not less than 5.4 metres and less than 5.7 metres
33000 kilograms
not less than 5.7 metres and less than 6.0 metres
34000 kilograms
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paragraphs: 0 metres or more
35000 kilograms
(e) The weight laden of an articulated vehicle having a total of five or more axles shall not exceed the maximum weight laden shown in column 2 of the following Table in relation to the distances between axles shown as regards drawing components having (a) 2 axles and (b) 3 axles in column 1 of the
Table.
Column 1
Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer is—
Maximum Weight Laden
(a) in the case of a drawing component having 2 axles
(b) in the case of a drawing component having 3 axles
less than 3.5 metres
less than 3.5 metres
25410 kilograms
not less than 3.5 metres
not less than 3.5 metres
26420 kilograms
and less than 3.8 metres
and less than 3.8 metres
not less than 3.8 metres
not less than 3.8 metres
27440 kilograms
and less than 4.1 metres
and less than 4.1 metres
Column 1
Column 2
Where the distance between the rearmost axle of the drawing component and the rearmost axle of the semi-trailer is—
Maximum Weight Laden
(a) in the case of a drawing component having 2 axles
(b) in the case of a drawing component having 3 axles
not less than 4.1 metres
not less than 4.1 metres
28450 kilograms
and less than 4.4 metres
and less than 4.4 metres
not less than 4.4 metres
not less than 4.4 metres
29470 kilograms
and less than 4.7 metres
and less than 4.7 metres
not less than 4.7 metres
not less than 4.7 metres
30490 kilograms
and less than 5.0 metres
and less than 5.0 metres
not less than 5.0 metres
not less than 5.0 metres
31500 kilograms
and less than 5.3 metres
and less than 5.3 metres
not less than 5.3 metres
not less than 5.3 metres
32520 kilograms
and less than 5.5 metres
and less than 5.4 metres
not less than 5.5 metres
not less than 5.4 metres
33000 kilograms
and less than 5.8 metres
and less than 5.6 metres
not less than 5.8 metres
not less than 5.6 metres
34000 kilograms
and less than 6.2 metres
and less than 5.8 metres
not less than 6.2 metres
not less than 5.8 metres
35000 kilograms
and less than 6.5 metres
and less than 6.0 metres
not less than 6.5 metres
not less than 6.0 metres
36000 kilograms
and less than 6.7 metres
and less than 6.2 metres
not less than 6.7 metres
not less than 6.2 metres
37000 kilograms
and less than 6.9 metres
and less than 6.3 metres
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paragraphs: 9 metres or more
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paragraphs: 3 metres or more
38000 kilograms
(4) (a) The weight laden of a track-laying vehicle shall not, subject to paragraph (c) of this sub-article, exceed 7400 kilograms.
(b) The weight transmitted to any strip of the surface of a road upon which a track-laying vehicle rests, contained between any two parallel lines drawn 600 millimetres apart on that surface at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, shall not exceed 10170 kilograms.
(c) Paragraph (a) of this sub-article shall not apply to a track-laying vehicle while it is being loaded on to or unloaded from a conveying vehicle or while it is travelling for a distance not exceeding 100 metres between such vehicle and a place off the road.
(5) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this sub-article, the weight laden of a combination of vehicles comprising a vehicle and one trailer shall not exceed 35000 kilograms.
(b) The weight laden of a combination of vehicles comprising a vehicle and one trailer, having five or more axles where the distance between the rearmost axle of the vehicle and the foremost axle of the trailer is 3.7 metres or more may exceed 35000 kilograms but shall not exceed 38000 kilograms.
(6) In calculating, for the purposes of this article, the weight laden of a large public service vehicle or the weight transmitted by an axle or wheel thereof, the vehicle shall be deemed to be carrying its full complement of standing and sitting passengers, and weights of 63.5 kilograms each shall be placed in the correct relative positions for the driver, the conductor and each passenger."
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paragraphs: Article 10 of the Principal Regulations is hereby amended by the substitution for sub-articles (1) and (2) of the following sub-articles——
"(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (2) and (3) of this article, the overall width of a vehicle or trailer shall not exceed 2.5 metres.
(2) (a) The overall width of a large tractor shall not exceed 2.75 metres;
(b) The overall width of a refrigerated vehicle shall not exceed 2.6 metres."
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paragraphs: A vehicle or a combination of a mechanically propelled vehicle and one trailer which complies with the maximum weights, maximum dimensions and related characteristics set out as respects the vehicle or combination in the Schedule to these Regulations shall, when undertaking an international journey, be taken to comply with the provisions of articles 7, 8, 10 and 11 of the Principal Regulations.