Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. They make provision for converter dollies used for agricultural and similar purposes. They also amend the provisions which relate to exhaust emissions.

A converter dolly is a trailer which can be used in combination with a semi-trailer so that the combination of the two operate as a single draw bar trailer.

By virtue of regulation 3(11) of the 1986 Regulations, a combination of the two trailers is treated as one trailer for the following purposes:

The exemptions apply only where one of the vehicles in the combination is a “converter dolly” as defined in the Table in regulation 3(2) of the 1986 Regulations. In order to come within the definition as originally drafted a trailer had to be so designed that no part of the weight of a semi-trailer used in combination with it was borne by the towing vehicle.

Part 11 of Schedule 8 of the 1986 Regulations sets out the information which has to be contained in plates fitted to trailers pursuant to regulation 66. In the case of trailers which impose some weight on the drawing vehicle, the information on the plate has to include the maximum load imposed on the drawing vehicle. Converter dollies were, however, exempt under these provisions as originally drafted.

These Regulations amend the definition of “converter dolly” so that a trailer can come within the definition even though part of the weight of the semi-trailer is borne by the towing vehicle, provided the trailer in question is used solely for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture or forestry.

As a consequence, Part 11 of Schedule 8 is amended so that plates fitted under regulation 66 to converter dollies manufactured after 1st February 1992 which impose some load on the drawing vehicle have to state the maximum load imposed on the drawing vehicle.

The opportunity has been taken to make some minor drafting improvements to the definition as it applies to trailers not used for the purposes of agriculture, etc.

Regulation 61 previously contained a provision requiring vehicles to be constructed so as not to emit any avoidable smoke or avoidable visible vapour. This provision is amended so that vehicles not only have to be constructed but also maintained so as not to emit any avoidable smoke or avoidable visible vapour.

A new paragraph (10A) is added to regulation 61 which makes it unlawful for a vehicle with a 4 stroke spark ignition engine to be used if it is in such a condition that, when the engine is idling, the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon content of the exhaust emissions exceeds specified limits. The limit, in the case of the carbon monoxide content, is 4.5% if the vehicle was first used on or after 1st August 1983 or 6% in any other case. The limit in the case of hydrocarbon content is 0.12%. The provision applies only to vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1975. Exemptions from the new paragraph (10A) are contained in a new paragraph 10(B).