# The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 1996, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations further amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The main effects of the amendments are as follows.
Regulation 3 amends regulation 15 of the 1986 Regulations. Regulation 15 requires trailers manufactured on or after the 1st April 1995 to comply with the requirements of Council Directive 71/320/EEC as last amended by Commission Directive 91/422/EEC. However, trailers with a maximum total design axle weight not exceeding 750 kg were exempt. As a result of the amendment, the exemption will not apply to trailers manufactured on or after the 1st January 1997. The Directives require such trailers either to be fitted with a braking device such that the trailer will stop automatically if the coupling separates while the trailer is in motion or to be provided with a secondary coupling (e.g. a chain or cable) which in the event of separation of the main coupling can stop the draw bar from touching the ground and provide some residual steering action on the trailer.
Regulation 4 amends regulation 16 of the 1986 Regulations in its application to certain motor cycles first used on or after 1st April 1987. The amendment enables such motor cycles to comply with Council Directive 93/14/EEC instead of complying with the existing requirements.
Regulation 5 inserts a new regulation 17A into the 1986 Regulations. The new regulation 17A relates to air line couplings fitted to trailers with pneumatic brakes. It makes it unlawful for a trailer to be fitted with an air line coupling which is capable of being connected to a motor vehicle coupling that complies with British Standard Number BS AU 138a: 1980 unless the trailer coupling itself complies with that Standard (as modified by the regulation). Provision is made for compliance with a corresponding standard. That provision is inserted in discharge of obligations under Article 30 of the Treaty of Rome.
Regulation 7 inserts a new regulation 71A into the 1986 Regulations. The new regulation requires trailers manufactured on or after 1st January 1997 and which have a maximum total design axle weight not exceeding 750 kg to be marked with the year of manufacture.
Regulation 9 amends regulation 89 of the 1986 Regulations. Regulation 89 previously made it an offence for certain persons to cause or permit a trailer to stand on a road when detached from the drawing vehicle unless at least one of the wheels of the trailer was prevented from revolving by the setting of any brake or the use of a chain, chock or other efficient device. As a result of the amendment, the requirement will be to prevent a wheel revolving by the setting of a parking brake or the use of a chain, chock or other efficient device.
Compliance cost assessments have been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Department of Transport, Zone 2/04, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR (telephone: 0171 271 4631). Copies are being placed in the Libraries of each House of Parliament.
Copies of the relevant EC Directives can be obtained from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. A copy of the British Standard referred to above can be obtained from the British Standards Institution, Customer Service Department, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL (telephone: 0181 996 7000) or Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to Directive 83/189/EEC of 28th March 1983 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (OJ 1983 L109, p. 9) as amended by Council Directive 88/182/EEC of 22nd March 1988 (OJ 1988 L81, p. 75) and European Parliament and Council Directive 94/10/EEC of 23 March 1994 (OJ 1994 L100, p. 30).
Details of the relevant Directives are set out below.
Principal Instrument
Amending Instruments
Council Directive 71/320/EEC of 26th July 1971 (OJ No. L202, 6.9.71, p.37).
Commission Directive 74/132/EEC of 11th February 1974 (OJ No. L74, 19.3.74, p.7), Commission Directive 75/524/EEC of 25th July 1975 (OJ No. L236, 8.9.75, p.3), Commission Directive 79/489/EEC of 18th April 1979 (OJ No. L128, 26.5.79, p.12), Commission Directive 85/647/EEC of 23rd December 1985 (OJ No. L380, 31.12.85, p.1) Commission Directive 88/194/EEC of 24th March 1988 (OJ No. L92, 9.4.88, p.47), and Commission Directive 91/422/EEC of 15th July 1991 (OJ No. L233, 22.8.91, p.21), to which there is a corrigendum in OJ No. L275, 2.10.91, p.36.
Council Directive 93/14/EEC of the 5th April 1995 (OJ Nos. L121, 15.5.93, p.1).

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/3033/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-construction-and-use-amendment-no-7-regulations-1996/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.