When reading any legislation, there are always terms laid out and referred to. These definitions can be confusing as they refer to many aspects of the Construction and Use Regulations (and other legislation).
The definitions also have wide ranging application for their use, an example of this is the reference to a Category N3 Goods Motor vehicle (vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes) or an O4 Trailer (trailers that have a maximum mass exceeding 10 tonnes).
It is unlikely that most of you would be aware of the many definitions you may come across; therefore, we have included the following as a general guide to avoid confusion.
Domestic Legislation
The following definitions are contained within current domestic legislation and cover the following:
Goods Vehicle – a motor vehicle or trailer constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods – this includes goods or burden of any description.
Motor Vehicle – a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads, and trailer means a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle.
Motor Car – a mechanically propelled vehicle, (other than a motor cycle or invalid carriage), which is constructed itself to carry a load or passengers and the unladen weight of which:
Heavy Motor Car – a mechanically propelled vehicle which is not a motor car, is constructed itself to carry a load or passengers and with an unladen weight exceeding 2,540kg
Motor Tractor – a mechanically propelled vehicle that is not constructed to carry a load, other than excepted articles, with an unladen weight not exceeding 7,370kg
Locomotive – a mechanically propelled vehicle, which is not constructed to carry a load, other than excepted articles, with an unladen weight exceeding 7,370kg
Excepted articles are – water, fuel, accumulators and other equipment used for propulsion, loose tools and loose equipment
Centre Axle Trailer – a trailer having only a single axle, or group of axles, which is positioned at or close to the centre of gravity so that, when the trailer is uniformly loaded, the static vertical load transmitted to the towing vehicle does not exceed 10 per cent of the maximum authorised weight for the axle or group of axles or 1,000kg, whichever is the less.
Articulated Vehicle – a heavy motorcar or motorcar with a trailer attached so that part of the trailer is superimposed on the drawing vehicle and, when the trailer is uniformly loaded, not less than 20 per cent of the weight of its load is borne by the drawing vehicle. The motive or tractor unit is the vehicle and is a motor car if it weighs up to 3,050kg unladen and a heavy motor car if it exceeds 3,050kg unladen
Unladen Weight – defined as the weight of the vehicle or trailer inclusive of the body and all parts necessary to or ordinarily used with the vehicle on the road. Where alternative bodies or parts are used, the heavier is taken. The weight of water and fuel, loose tools and equipment are not included.
Road Friendly Suspension – a suspension system whereby at least 75 per cent of the spring effect is produced by air or other compressible fluid under pressure or suspension recognised as being equivalent within the Community as defined in Annex II of Council Directive 96/53/EC (a).
RTA (1988), C&U (1986) and AW Regs (1998)
The following definitions are derived from the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998.Vehicle categories are defined according to the following international classification.
Category M Motor Vehicles – with at least four wheels used for the carriage of passengers.
Category M1 Motor Vehicles – used for the carriage of passengers and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat
Category M2 Motor Vehicles – used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass not exceeding five tonnes.
Category M3 Vehicles – used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass exceeding five tonnes.
Category N Motor vehicles – With at least four wheels used for the carriage of goods
used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes
This category of vehicles are divided into three classes, depending on their weight when empty:
class I – for vehicles with a weight when empty of under 1,205kg
class II – for vehicles with a weight when empty of between 1,205kg and 1,660kg
class III – for vehicles with a weight when empty of over 1,660kg
Category N2 Motor vehicles – used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes.
Category N3 Motor vehicles – used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes.
Category O Trailers (Including semi-trailers)
Category O1 Trailers – with a maximum mass not exceeding 0.75 tonnes. The year of manufacture must be marked on O1 trailers manufactured from 1 January 1997.
Category O2 Trailers – with a maximum mass exceeding 0.75 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
Category O3 Trailers – with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 10 tonnes.
Category O4 Trailers – with a maximum mass exceeding 10 tonnes.
