The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

82.—(1)  No load shall be carried on a vehicle so that the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of its load exceeds 4.3m.E+W+S

(2)  Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, no load shall be carried on a vehicle so that—

(a) the load has a lateral projection or projections on either side exceeding 305mm; or

(b) the overall width of the vehicle and of any lateral projection or projections of its load exceeds 2.9m.

Provided that this paragraph does not apply to the carriage of—

(i)loose agricultural produce not baled or crated; or

(ii)an indivisible load if—

(A)it is not reasonably practicable to comply with this paragraph and the conditions specified in [F1paragraphs 1 and 5] of Schedule 12 are complied with; and

(B)where the overall width of the vehicle together with the width of any lateral projection or projections of its load exceeds 3.5m, the conditions specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 12 are complied with.

(3)  Where a load is carried so that its weight rests on a vehicle or vehicles, the length specified in paragraph (5) shall not exceed 27.4m.

[F2(4) A load shall not be carried so that its weight is borne by a vehicle or vehicles if either—

(a)the length specified in paragraph (5) exceeds 18.65m; or

(b)the load is borne by a trailer or trailers and the length specified in paragraph (6) exceeds 25.9m,

unless the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part I of Schedule 12 are complied with.]

(5)  The length referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4)(a) is—

(a) where the [F3weight of the load is borne by] a single vehicle, the overall length of the vehicle together with the length of any forward and rearward projection of the load;

(b) where the [F3weight of the load is borne by] a motor vehicle and one trailer, whether or not forming an articulated vehicle, the overall length of the trailer together with the length of any projection of the load in front of the foremost point of the trailer and of any rearward projection of the load; and

(c) in any other case, the overall length of all the vehicles [F4which bear the weight of the load], together with the length of any distance between them and of any forward or rearward projection of the load.

(6)  The length referred to in paragraph (4)(b) is the overall length of the combination of vehicles, together with the length of any forward or rearward projection of the load.

(7)  Subject to the following provisions of this regulation no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle, not being a straddle carrier, carrying a load or fitted with a special appliance or apparatus if the load, appliance or apparatus has a forward projection of a length specified in an item in column 2 of the Table, or rearward projection of a length specified in an item in column 3, unless the conditions specified in that item in column 4 are complied with.

(8)  Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a straddle carrier carrying a load if—

(a) the load has a rearward projection exceeding 1 m unless the conditions specified in paragraph 4 of Schedule 12 are met;

(b) the load has a forward projection exceeding 2 m or a rearward projection exceeding 3m; or

(c) the overall length of the vehicle together with the length of any forward projection and of any rearward projection of its load exceeds 12.2m

Provided that—

(i)sub-paragraph (a) does not apply to a vehicle being used in passing from one part of private premises to another part thereof or to other private premises in the immediate neighbourhood;

(ii)sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) do not apply to a vehicle being used as in proviso (i) above if—

(A)the vehicle is not being driven at a speed exceeding 12 mph; and

(B)where the overall length of the vehicle together with the length of any forward projection and of any rearward projection of its load exceeds 12.2m, the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12 are complied with.

(9)  Where another vehicle is attached to that end of a vehicle from which a projection extends, then for the purposes of any requirement in this regulation to comply with paragraph 3 or 4 of Schedule 12, that projection shall be treated as a forward or rearward projection only if, and to the extent that it extends beyond the foremost point or, as the case may be, the rearmost point, of that other vehicle, measured when the longitudinal axis of each vehicle lies in the same vertical plane.

(10)  In the case of a vehicle being used—

(a) for [F5fire brigade] [F6Scottish Fire and Rescue Service] [F7or, in England or Wales, fire and rescue authority] [F8or, in England, fire and rescue authority]F9... or police purposes or for defence purposes (including civil defence purposes);

[F10(aa)for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an NHS ambulance service;] or

(b) in connection with the removal of any obstruction to traffic,

if compliance with any provision of this regulation would hinder or be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used, that provision does not apply to that vehicle while it is being so used.

(11)  No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road an agricultural, horticultural or forestry implement rigidly, but not permanently, mounted on a wheeled agricultural motor vehicle, agricultural trailer, or agricultural trailed appliance, whether or not part of its weight is supported by one or more of its own wheels if—

(a) the overall width of the vehicle together with the lateral projection of the implement exceeds [F112.55]m; or

(b) the implement projects more than 1m forwards or rearwards of the vehicle,

so however, that this restriction shall not apply in a case where—

(i) part of the weight of the implement is supported by one or more of its own wheels; and

(ii) the longitudinal axis of the greater part of the implement is capable of articulating in the horizontal plane in relation to the longitudinal axis of the rear portion of the vehicle.