Explanatory note
Northern Ireland
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”) to provide for an increase in the maximum authorised weights in domestic traffic for certain alternatively fuelled vehicles and certain zero-emission vehicles, to support their uptake as part of the move to a net zero target.
Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 2 of the 1999 Regulations to add a definition of “zero-emission vehicle” for the purposes of these Regulations. Definitions and provisions relevant to alternatively fuelled vehicles were inserted into the 1999 Regulations by the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) and (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017 No. 191).
Regulation 2(4) amends regulation 4 of the 1999 Regulations to replace reference to “maximum gross or train weight” with a reference to “maximum permitted gross weight” and to increase the maximum authorised weights for—
relevant alternatively fuelled vehicle combinations: with the increase equivalent to the additional weight of the particular alternative fuel powertrain in excess of a comparable fossil fuel vehicle’s powertrain, to a maximum of an additional one tonne; and
relevant zero-emission vehicles and relevant zero-emission vehicle combinations: with the increase of an additional two tonnes in all instances.
Regulation 2(5) amends Schedule 1 to the 1999 Regulations to increase the maximum authorised weight of a relevant zero-emission vehicle when the relevant requirements are fulfilled.
Regulation 2(6) amends Schedule 2 to the 1999 Regulations to increase the maximum authorised weight of a relevant alternatively fuelled vehicle combination or a relevant zero-emission vehicle combination when the relevant requirements are fulfilled.
The opportunity is being taken to update the 1999 Regulations to refer to the EU Type Approval Regulation rather than the Type Approval Regulation as it is that version of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 that now applies to Northern Ireland by virtue of Article 5(4) of, and Annex 2 to the Windsor Framework. References to approvals under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations have also been updated to specify UK(NI) approvals.
An Explanatory Memorandum has been produced and is available from Vehicle Policy Branch, Driving, Vehicle and Road Safety Policy Division, James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, Belfast BT7 2JA or online alongside this Statutory Rule at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr