Road Vehicle Construction & Use Regulations (C&U)

The Road Vehicle Construction and Use Regulations 1986 is broken down into many parts. In this section 5 different areas are covered as listed below.

Braking Systems

Braking Systems - Construction and Use Regulations 1986 cover braking systems under regulations 15, 16, 18(1), 19 and 87.

Definitions and Categories

Definitions and Categories - When reading any legislation, there are always terms laid out and referred to. These have been included as a general guide.

Dimensions & Manoeuvrability

Dimensions & Manoeuvrability includes the Length, Width and Height of motor vehicles but there are exemptions to these requirements.

Vehicle Emissions

Road Vehicles (C&U) Regulations 1986 sets out the regulations on Smoke Emissions and Noise; combined these regulations deal with Pollution Control.

Vehicle Axles

The maximum permissible weights and dimensions of goods vehicles in the UK have traditionally been set out in the Road Vehicles (C&U) Regulations 1986.

Offences

Committing a Construction & Use 1986 Offence are dealt with under sections - 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D and Regulation 42 of the Road Traffic Act.

Inside the Vehicle Cab

Under C&U regulation, inside the vehicle cab carries many vital elements that must be maintained to remain inside the law.

Mirror & Glass

Every goods vehicle must have two mirrors, one externally on the offside and the other either internally or on the nearside externally.

Rear Under-Run Bars

Rear under-run protection bars should be fitted as close to the rear as practicable possible and must not be further forwards than 400mm from the rear.

Seat Belts

There is much to be learned from the Construction and Use Regulations (1986) relating to Seatbelts and their Anchorage points.

Side Guards

Construction and Use Regulations 1986 refer to Rear and Side Protection for Goods Vehicles under Regulations 49 and 51.

Speed Limiters

From 1 January 2007 additional HGV & LGV Goods vehicle types came into scope under-speed limiter legislation, this included goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes

Spray Suppression

Regulation 64 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that suitable spray suppression equipment should be fitted on each axle.

HGV Trailers

Heavy Goods trailers come in many shapes and sizes which will depend upon the operational activity they were designed for so seek out the regulation.

Tyres

A goods vehicle, bus or trailer must be equipped with tyres designed and maintained to support the maximum axle weight for each axle at specified speeds.

Tyre Age Restrictions

Under contraction and Use DVSA warn operators that old tyres are dangerous and should not be fitted to commercial vehicles if they are more than 10 years old.