HC Deb 23 July 1958 vol 592 cc408-9
46. Wing Commander Bullus

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the permitted maximum width of vehicles and vehicle loads allowed on the roads under the jurisdiction of his Department.

Mr. Nugent

As the Answer is lengthy and detailed, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Wing Commander Bullus

Is my hon. Friend aware that much of the good work that he and his Department have done, and are doing, in road improvement, is nullified by the excessive loads permitted on single vehicles? Could not they be routed by sea, or rail, or even by road at night?

Mr. Nugent

Of course, the vehicles have to get to the sea, and have to use the roads to do so. As far as possible, we advise that they should go by sea or rail if they can but, unfortunately, they have on occasion to use the roads and, as far as possible, they are routed at times that cause the minimum inconvenience.

Following is the information:

A. Motor vehicles and trailers in general use on the roads The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1955, prescribe the following limits of overall width:— Vehicles Locomotives (i.e. heavy tractors)—9 ft. Public service vehicles—8 ft. Heavy motor cars which are goods vehicles of 4 tons unladen weight upwards, and trailers drawn by them; and road sweepers—8 ft. Other heavy motor cars, motor cars, and trailers (with certain exceptions) and motor tractors—7 ft. 6 ins. Invalid carriages—7ft. 2 ins. Loads The load carried on a vehicle must not—
  1. (a) overhang sideways mote than 1 ft. beyond the overall width of the vehicle, or
  2. (b) have a total lateral width of more than 9 ft. 6 ins.;
unless the load consists of loose agricultural produce, not baled or crated, or is an indivisible load of the movement of which two days' notice has been given to the police. B. Special type vehicles The use of certain special types of motor vehicles and trailers (the most important being certain agricultural vehicles, engineering plant and vehicles carrying abnormal indivisible loads) is authorised by the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order, 1955, although their dimensions and those of their loads exceed those permitted under the Construction and Use Regulations.
Forward to