Road Legal

Which laws apply?

Safety standards are incorporated into the type approval scheme for new vehicles, trailers and individual components. The government also updates safety laws by introducing amendments to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

The Vehicle Certification  Agency (VCA) website has a useful graphic of which relevant Directives and ECE regulations apply for a particular vehicle component or system.

Type approval

Unlike cars, there is currently no Europe-wide type approval scheme for goods vehicles. Member states operate their own national type-approval schemes which do, however, incorporate various EU-agreed and mandatory Directives on safety and environmental impact. In the UK the VCA handles type approval of trucks, trailers and components.

All new goods vehicles sold in the UK and manufactured in the EU  will have a VCA-issued Type Approval Certificate to demonstrate the vehicle conforms to minimum EU safety and environmental standards. The key standards for diesel-engined vans and trucks are exhaust emissions, drive-by noise, tyre noise and braking performance.

Speed limiter fitment rules also fall within the remit of the VCA.

Guide to type approval

Maximum axle and vehicle gross operating weights, also called the plated weight, are also covered under type approval regulations. (Don’t confuse plated weight with design weight which tends to be higher.). We cover Weights and Dimensions in a separate section.

Did you know?

The EU is currently in discussions with member states to allow European whole vehicle approvals to be issued, including bodywork.

Construction and Use Regulations

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 – commonly referred to as the C&U regs – cover all aspects of vehicles including weights and dimensions, safety items and environmental standards. The C&U regulations are amended whenever the government wants to change any of the rules concerning goods vehicle safety and operation.

Copies of the C&U Regulations 1986 are not available online but can be purchased from the Office of Public Sector Information website which has replaced Her Majesty’s Stationery Office as the source for all government documents relating to legislation. Some public libraries also carry a copy of Sweet and Maxwell's Encyclopedia of Road Traffic Law and Practice (Construction and Use).

C&U Amendments are usually available online through OPSI, although finding the one you want will be quicker if you know the Statutory Instrument number, the section number, or date of amendment.

UN ECE

Quite a lot of vehicle safety legislation, including EU Directives, incorporates UN ECE regulations. These are globally agreed standards promoted by the United Nations Economic Council for Europe (UNECE). For a comprehensive list of which ECE regulations apply to motor vehicles and trailers go to the ECE list.

Notifiable Alterations

Any technical alternations to the vehicle which would affect components or systems covered under type approval have to be authorised under the Notifiable Alteration scheme using VOSA form VTG10.

 A Type I alteration (a change to the permitted weight limit or to the size and capacity of the tyres, for example) is usually a paperwork exercise. A Type II alteration is for more substantial alterations such as replacement of the suspension or brakes and usually requires an examination at a test station to confirm that the vehicle still conforms to safety and performance standards.

For further information see VOSA's guide to notifiable alterations.

Lighting

Lighting is covered under the Road Vehicle Light Regulations 1989, based on UN ECE regulation 48. Goods vehicles are classified as follows:

Powered goods vehicle:

• N1       Up to 3,500kg GVW
• N2       3,500 to 12,000kg GVW
• N3       Over 12,000kg GVW

Trailer:

• O1       Up to 750kg
• O2       750kg to 3,500kg
• O3       3,500 to 10,000kg
• O4       Over 10,000kg

The vehicle classification determines which front, side and rear lamps and reflectors are mandatory, which are allowed and which are not permitted. There are also rules on positioning and colour. The highly reflective outline rear and side marker strips designed to make trucks more easily visible at night also come under the vehicle lighting regulations.

For a copy of the regulations go to: The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

Did you know?

The rules on reversing spot lamps changed in July 2006. These are lamps fitted in addition to standard reversing lights to provide extra illumination. Previously, some operators used fog lights for this purpose, but this practice is now banned. Instead, if you do fit reversing spotlights, they must conform to the new ECE 48 specification. A maximum of four is allowed: two at the rear and one at either side.

Passive safety components

Seatbelts, mirrors and glazing are among the passive safety systems legally required under C&U regulations. VOSA examiners will check that passive safety systems are functioning when the vehicle is presented for test.

Seat belts: C&U section 46 and 47

• Vans and light trucks up to 3,500kg: a three-point lap-and-diagonal belt has been required since 1987 for drivers and a lap-belt for passengers. Older vans and light trucks registered between 1980 and 1987 require a two-point belt for the driver.
• Trucks over 3,500kg: Seat belts are only mandatory on new trucks over 3,500kg first registered after 1 October 2001. On these vehicles, a three-point belt for the driver, a three-point belt for the main passenger and a lap-belt for a third person between the driver and main passenger should be fitted. Seatbelt checks are now included in the LGV annual test.

Mirrors: C&U section 33

• Up to 1,200kg: External near- and off-side mirrors are all that is required.
• Over 12,000kg: Vehicles first registered after 1st October 1985 must have a nearside close-proximity mirror.
• Articulated trucks: A close-proximity and a wide-angled mirror are required.

Glazing: C&U section 31 and 32

There are different standards for windscreen and side-window glass: essentially windscreen glass must not splinter. Tinted glass is permitted, provided it does not reduce the light transmission below the required levels (70% for windscreens, 75% for other windows).