Explanatory note

These Regulations revoke and replace the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 to correct a number of drafting errors.

They amend the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 in relation to seat belts and their anchorage points in the light of EC Directives 96/36/EC, 96/38/EC and 2000/3/EC.

Regulation 2 and the Schedule substitute a new regulation 54 which specifies what anchorage points are to be fitted to which vehicles and the technical requirements for anchorage points. Regulation 3 amends regulation 55 which makes corresponding provision for seat belts and regulation 4 makes a consequential amendment to regulation 56 (maintenance of seat belts and anchorage points). Regulation 5 amends regulation 57 so as to enable rearward-facing seats meeting specified requirements to count towards the minimum number of forward-facing seats with seat belts that must be provided on minibuses and coaches to carry groups of children on organised trips. Regulation 6 corrects a reference to a Community Directive in item 68 in Table I in Schedule 1 and inserts some references to ECE Regulations 14.04 and 14.05 in Table II in Schedule 1.

The opportunity has been taken to correct a drafting error in paragraph 8 of Schedule 10 to the principal Regulations.

These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to Directive 98/34/EC of 22nd June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services (O.J. No. L204, 21.07.98, p. 37-48) as amended by Directive 98/48 EC of 20th July 1998 (O.J. No. L217, 05.08.98, p. 18-26).

Copies of the relevant Directives and ECE Regulations can be obtained from TSO, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.