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S.I. No. 320/2017 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.

S.I. No. 320/2017 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2017. Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc cha

the European Communities (Proof of Compliance) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 223 of 2000 ) and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 224 of 2000 ); or (b) in the case of a vehicle registered in a Member State other than the State,

Article 6

(1)of the Council Directive.” Amendment of Regulation 10 of the Principal Regulations 8. Regulation 10 of the Principal Regulations is amended: (a) by substituting for paragraph
(1)the following paragraphs: “
(1)Subject to this Regulation and to Regulation 22A, the weight laden of a vehicle having 3 axles shall not exceed 25 tonnes. (1A) In the case of a 3-axle alternatively fuelled vehicle to which paragraph
(1)applies, the maximum permitted weight laden of 25 tonnes is increased by the additional weight that is required for the vehicle’s alternative fuel technology, subject to a maximum of one additional tonne.”; (b) by inserting after paragraph
(2)the following paragraph: “(2A) In the case of a 3-axle alternatively fuelled vehicle to which paragraph
(2)applies, the maximum permitted weight laden of 26 tonnes is increased by the additional weight that is required for the vehicle’s alternative fuel technology, subject to a maximum of one additional tonne.”; (c) by inserting after paragraph
(3)the following paragraphs: “(3A) Subject to paragraph (3B), the weight laden of a 3-axle articulated bus may exceed 25 tonnes but shall not exceed 28 tonnes. (3B) In the case of a 3-axle articulated bus that is an alternatively fuelled vehicle, the maximum permitted weight laden of 28 tonnes is increased by the additional weight that is required for the vehicle’s alternative fuel technology, subject to a maximum of one additional tonne.”; and (d) by inserting after paragraph
(8)the following paragraph: “
(9)A vehicle to which this Regulation (other than paragraph
(7)) applies shall be equipped with, as appropriate, a manufacturer’s plate or an authorisation plate, or a combination of such plates, complying with either: (a)

the European Communities (Proof of Compliance) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 223 of 2000 ) and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 224 of 2000 ); or (b) in the case of a vehicle registered in a Member State other than the State,

Article 6

(1)of the Council Directive.” Amendment of Regulation 18 of the Principal Regulations 9. Regulation 18 of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting after paragraph
(5)the following paragraphs: “
(6)The weight laden of 2-axle motor vehicle with a 3-axle semi-trailer carrying, in intermodal transport operations, one or more containers or swap bodies, up to a total maximum length of 45 feet, may exceed 34 tonnes but shall not exceed 42 tonnes.
(7)The weight laden of 3-axle motor vehicle with a 2-axle semi-trailer carrying, in intermodal transport operations, one or more containers or swap bodies, up to a total maximum length of 45 feet, may exceed 34 tonnes but shall not exceed 44 tonnes.
(8)A vehicle to which this Regulation applies shall be equipped with, as appropriate, a manufacturer’s plate or an authorisation plate, or a combination of such plates, complying with either: (a)

the European Communities (Proof of Compliance) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 223 of 2000 ) and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 224 of 2000 ); or (b) in the case of a vehicle registered in a Member State other than the State,

Article 6

(1)of the Council Directive.” Amendment of Regulation 19 of the Principal Regulations 10. Regulation 19 of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting after paragraph
(3)the following paragraph: “(3A) The weight laden of 3-axle motor vehicle with a 3-axle semi-trailer carrying, in intermodal transport operations, one or more containers or swap bodies, up to a total maximum length of 45 feet, may exceed 34 tonnes but shall not exceed 44 tonnes. Such a vehicle shall be equipped with, as appropriate, a manufacturer’s plate or an authorisation plate, or a combination of such plates, complying with either: (a)

the European Communities (Proof of Compliance) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 223 of 2000 ) and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 224 of 2000 ); or (b) in the case of a vehicle registered in a Member State other than the State,

Article 6

(1)of the Council Directive.” Insertion of Regulations 22A and 22B into the Principal Regulations 11. The Principal Regulations are amended by inserting after Regulation 22, and at the end of Part 2, the following: “22A
(1)In addition to any other limit imposed by these Regulations, an alternatively fuelled vehicle shall comply with the maximum authorised axle weight limits set out in point 3 of Annex I of the Council Directive.
(2)The additional weight required by an alternatively fuelled vehicle: (
  1. a)shall be defined on the basis of the documentation provided by the manufacturer when the vehicle in question is approved; and (
  2. b)shall be recorded on the authorisation plate, within the meaning of either: (
  3. i)the European Communities (Proof of Compliance) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 223 of 2000 ) and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 224 of 2000 )), or (
  4. ii)in the case of a vehicle registered in a Member State other than the State, Article 6
(1)of the Council Directive, in respect of that vehicle. 22B
(1)This Regulation applies to the transport of a container or swap body by a vehicle or a vehicle combination to which Article 1
(1)(a) of the Council Directive applies.
(2)Not later than the time at which the shipper of a container or swap body entrusts that container or swap body to a haulier, the shipper must give to the relevant haulier a statement (which may be in digital form) indicating the weight of the container or swap body that is to be transported.
(3)(a) The haulier of a container or swap body must record, and must for a period of at least two years retain in a durable form (which may be in digital form), all relevant documentation provided by the shipper under paragraph
(2). (b) A haulier to whom a shipper has, pursuant to paragraph
(2), provided prescribed information, must produce that information to a member of An Garda Síochána and to a transport officer (within the meaning of section 15 of the Road Transport Act 1986 (No. 16 of 1986)), upon request.” Amendment of Regulation 26 of the Principal Regulations 12. Regulation 26 of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting for paragraphs
(4)and
(5)(substituted by Regulation 6 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 ( S.I. No. 354 of 2015 )) the following paragraphs: “
(4)Subject to this Regulation, the overall width of: (
  1. a)a goods vehicle or a goods trailer with a design gross vehicle weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes, and (
  2. b)a vehicle to which paragraph
(6)applies, may exceed 2.50 metres but shall not exceed 2.55 metres.
(5)In the case of a vehicle to which paragraph
(6)applies, the overall width of the superstructure of a conditioned vehicle or conditioned container or swap body transported by the vehicle may exceed 2.50 metres but shall not exceed 2.60 metres.
(6)This paragraph applies to vehicles to which Article 1
(1)(a) of the Council Directive applies, namely motor vehicles in Categories M2 and M3 and their trailers in Category O and motor vehicles in Categories N2 and N3 and their trailers in Categories O3 and O4, each as defined in Annex II to Directive 2007/46/EC.” Amendment of Regulation 28 of the Principal Regulations
  1. Regulation 28 of the Principal Regulations (substituted by Regulation 2 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 ( S.I. No. 99 of 2004 )) is amended by substituting “Subject to Regulations 28A, 28B and 28C, the overall length of:” for “The overall length of:”. Insertion of Regulations 28A to 28C into the Principal Regulations
  2. The Principal Regulations are amended by inserting after Regulation 28 the following: “28ASubject to Regulations 28B and 28C, in the case of a vehicle or vehicle combination to which Article 1
(1)(
  1. a)of the Council Directive applies and which is engaged in the transport of 45-foot containers or 45-foot swap bodies, empty or loaded: (
  2. a)the maximum length laid down in Regulation 28 and in point 1.1 of Annex I of the Council Directive, and (
  3. b)the maximum distance laid down in Regulation 30 and in point 1.6 of Annex I of the Council Directive, and which is applicable to that vehicle or vehicle combination, may each be exceeded by 15 cm, provided that the road transport of the relevant container or swap body is part of an intermodal transport operation. 28B
(1)This Regulation applies to a vehicle to which Article 1
(1)(a) of the Council Directive applies.
(2)A vehicle or a vehicle combination that meets

this paragraph and which complies with Directive 2007/46/EC may exceed the maximum lengths laid down in Regulations 28 and 29 and in point 1.1 of Annex I of the Council Directive, provided that: (

  1. a)the cab of the vehicle or vehicle combination delivers improved aerodynamic performance, energy efficiency and safety performance; (
  2. b)the vehicle or vehicle combination complies with point 1.5 of Annex I of the Council Directive; (
  3. c)any exceeding of the maximum length for that vehicle or vehicle combination does not result in an increase in the load capacity of the vehicle or vehicle combination; and (
  4. d)before being placed on the market, a vehicle or vehicle combination to which this Regulation applies has been approved in accordance with the rules on type-approval within the framework of Directive 2007/46/EC. 28C

(1)This Regulation applies to a vehicle to which Article 1
(1)(a) of the Council Directive applies.
(2)A vehicle or a vehicle combination the rear of which is fitted with an aerodynamic device that meets

this paragraph and of paragraph

(3), and which aerodynamic device complies with Directive 2007/46/EC, may, to allow the addition of such devices to the rear of a vehicle or vehicle combination, exceed the maximum lengths laid down in Regulations 28 and 29 and in point 1.1 of Annex I of the Council Directive, provided that: (
  1. a)the vehicle or vehicle combination complies with point 1.5 of Annex I of the Council Directive; (
  2. b)any exceeding of the maximum length for that vehicle or vehicle combination does not result in an increase in the load capacity of the vehicle; and (
  3. c)before being placed on the market, an aerodynamic device that exceeds 500mm in length has been approved in accordance with the rules on type-approval within the framework of Directive 2007/46/EC.
(3)An aerodynamic device to which this paragraph applies must meet the following operational conditions: (
  1. a)in circumstances in which the safety of other road users or of the driver is at risk, the aerodynamic device must be folded, retracted or removed by the driver; (
  2. b)the use of the aerodynamic device on urban and inter urban road infrastructure must take into account the special characteristics of areas where the speed limit is less than or equal to 50 km/h and where vulnerable road users are more likely to be present; and (
  3. c)the use of the aerodynamic device shall be compatible with intermodal transport operations and, in particular, when retracted/folded, it must not exceed the maximum authorised length by more than 20 cm.” Amendment of Regulation 29 of the Principal Regulations 15. Regulation 29 of the Principal Regulations is amended in paragraph
(1)by inserting “and to Regulations 28A to 28C” after “Subject to this Regulation”. Amendment of Regulation 30 of the Principal Regulations 16. Regulation 30 of the Principal Regulations is amended in paragraph
(1)by inserting “and to Regulations 28A to 28C” after “Subject to this Regulation”. Amendment of Regulation 45 of the Principal Regulations 17. Regulation 45 of the Principal Regulations is amended: (a) in paragraph
(1), by substituting “A” for “Subject to this Regulation, a”; (b) in paragraph
(1), by deleting the number of that paragraph; and (c) by deleting paragraph
(2). GIVEN under my Official Seal, 14 July
  1. SHANE ROSS, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.) These Regulations give effect in Irish law to Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996 laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the EU the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic, including with regard to the intermodal transport of goods between the State and other EU Member States. In particular, in pursuit of the Directive’s objectives of improving road safety and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from relevant vehicles, these Regulations increase slightly the maximum permitted weights and dimensions of relevant types of vehicle in specified circumstances, in order to facilitate: • the fitting of retractable or foldable aerodynamic devices, • the use of more aerodynamic cabs (which also leads to improved visibility of pedestrians and other road users), • the fitting and use of alternative powertrains, • the use of alternatively fuelled vehicles, and • the use of longer (45-foot) standardised containers and swap bodies in intermodal transport operations (as defined). In the case of containers and swap bodies, these Regulations require shippers to provide hauliers with weight-related information concerning that cargo and require hauliers to provide access to that information when it is provided by the shipper. These Regulations amend the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 5 of 2003 ) extensively. 1 OJ No. L 115, 6.5.2015, p.
  2. 2 OJ No. L 368, 17.12.1992, p.
  3. 3 OJ No. L 263, 9.10.2007, p.
  4. 4 OJ No. L 235, 17.9.1996, p.
  5. 5 OJ No. L 67, 9.3.2003, p.
  6. 6 OJ No. L 115, 6.5.2015, p.
  7. 7 OJ No. L 300, 14.11.2009, p.
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