Motor Vehicles (Weights, Dimensions and Equipment)

L.N. 348 of 2005

TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDINANCE

(CAP. 65)

Motor Vehicles (Weights, Dimensions and Equipment)

(Amendment) Regulations, 2005

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 54 of the Traffic

Regulation Ordinance, the Minister for Urban Development and Roads

has, in consultation with the Malta Transport Authority, made the

following regulations>-

The title of these regulations is the Motor Vehicles (Weights,

Dimensions and Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005, and they

shall be read and construed as one with the Motor Vehicles (Weights,

Dimensions and Equipment) Regulations, 2003, hereinafter referred to

as “the principal regulations”.

Regulation 2 of the principal regulations shall be amended as

follows>-

(a)

the definition “agreement” shall be deleted<

(b) for the definition “bus” there shall be substituted the

following>

“ “bus” means a vehicle with more than nine seats

including the driver’s seat, which is constructed and equipped

to carry passengers and their luggage, which may have one

or two decks and which may also draw a luggage trailer<”<

(c) immediately after the definition “driver card (with

memory)” there shall be inserted the following new definitions>

“the European Union” has the same meaning as is given

to it in the European Union Act and includes Norway, Iceland

and Liechtenstein<”<

(d) immediately after the definition “maximum authorised

axle weight” there shall be inserted the following new definition>

“ “Member State” means a Member State of the

European Union<”<

(e) in the proviso to the definition “normal residence”, for

the words “Agreement States” and “Agreement State” there shall

be substituted the words “Member States” and “Member State”

respectively< and

(f) immediately after the definition “tachograph card” there

shall be inserted the following new definition>

“ “taximeter” means a measuring instrument designed

for installation in a motor vehicle that calculates and displays

the fare to be paid for a trip, based on the distance travelled

and the duration of the trip<”.

For regulation 3 of the principal regulations there shall be Substitutes

regulation 3 of the

substituted the following>

principal

regulations.

“3. Passenger vehicles shall be classified in the following

categories>

CATEGORY M

Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for the carriage of

passengers.

- M1 – Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers

and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the

driver’s seat<

- M2 – 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 5 tonnes<

- 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 5 tonnes.”.

For regulation 4 of the principal regulations there shall be Substitutes

regulation 4 of the

substituted the following>

principal

regulations.

“4. Goods vehicles shall be classified in the following

categories>

CATEGORY N

Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for the carriage of

goods.

- N1 – Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and

having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes<

- N2 – Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and

having a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not

exceeding 12 tonnes<

- N3 – Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and

having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes.

In the case of a towing vehicle designed to be coupled to

a semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer, the mass to be considered

for classifying the vehicle is the mass of the tractor vehicle in

running order, increased by the mass corresponding to the

maximum static vertical load transferred to the tractor vehicle

by the semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer and, where applicable,

by the maximum mass of the tractor vehicle’s own load.”.

For regulation 5 of the principal regulations there shall be

substituted the following>

“5.

Trailers shall be classified in the following categories>

CATEGORY O

Trailers (including semi-trailers).

- O1 – Trailers with a maximum mass not exceeding

0.75 tonnes<

- O2 – Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 0.75

tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes<

- O3 – Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5

tonnes but not exceeding 10 tonnes<

- O4 – Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 10

tonnes.

In the case of a semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer, the

maximum mass to be considered for classifying the trailer

corresponds to the static vertical load transmitted to the ground

by the axle or axles of the semi-trailer or centre-axle trailer

when coupled to the towing vehicle and carrying its maximum

load.”.

In regulation 8 of the principal regulations, immediately after Amends

8 of the principal

the words “First Schedule” there shall be inserted the words “and with regulations.

any other restrictions on maximum authorized dimensions and, or

weights of vehicles in specified areas or on specified roads”.

In regulation 11 of the principal regulations, immediately after Amends regulation

11 of the principal

the words “First Schedule” there shall be inserted the words “and with regulations.

any other restrictions on maximum authorized dimensions and, or

weights of vehicles in specified areas or on specified roads”.

Regulation 12 of the principal regulations shall be amended Amends regulation

12 of the principal

as follows>

regulations.

(a) for the marginal note thereto there shall be substituted

the words “Conformity with specifications.”< and

(b) for the words “shall comply with the limits established

for weights and dimensions in the Second Schedule” there shall

be substituted the words “for hire or reward, shall comply with

specifications established from time to time by the Authority”.

Sub-regulation (1) of regulation 14 of the principal regulations Amends regulation

14 of the principal

shall be amended as follows>

regulations.

(a) in paragraph (a) (ii) for the words “Third Schedule” there

shall be substituted the words “Second Schedule”< and

(b) in paragraph (c) for the words “Agreement State” there

shall be substituted the words “Member State”.

For regulation 16 of the principal regulations there shall be Substitutes

regulation 16 of the

substituted the following>

principal

regulations.

(1) The scope of this Part is the implementation

“Applicability.

of Council Directive 92#6#EEC on the installation and use of

speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor

vehicles in the Community as amended by Directive

2002#85#EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

(2) This Part applies to N3, N2, M3 and M2

category vehicles that are intended for use on the road, having

at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding

25 kph.”.

11. For paragraph (b) of regulation 17 of the principal regulations Amends regulation

17 of the principal

there shall be substituted the following>

regulations.

“(b) goods vehicles whose maximum design speed is lower

than 90 kph and passenger vehicles whose maximum design speed

is lower than 100 kph<”.

12. For regulation 18 of the principal regulations there shall be

substituted the following>

The following goods vehicles shall be equipped

with a fully operational speed limitation device>

(a) N3 category vehicles first registered in Malta

or registered in a Member State on or after 1 st January,

1988<

(b) N2 category vehicles first registered in Malta

on or after the 1 st January, 2005 to operate both nationally

and internationally or registered in a Member State and

circulating on the public highway<

(c) N2 category vehicles having a maximum mass

of more than 7.5 tonnes registered in Malta on or after

the 1 st January, 2005 to operate only in Malta<

(d) N2 category vehicles having a maximum

mass of more than 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5

tonnes to be first registered in Malta on or after the 1 st

January, 2008 to operate only in Malta.”.

13. For regulation 19 of the principal regulations there shall be

substituted the following>

N2 category vehicles with a diesel engine first

registered in Malta between 1 st October, 2001 and the 31 st

December, 2004 shall be equipped with a fully operational

speed limitation device by the -

(a) 1 st January, 2006 if they are registered to be

used for both national and international transport, and

(b) 1 st January, 2007 if they are registered to be

used only for national transport.”.

14. Regulation 20 of the principal regulations shall be amended

(a) in the marginal note for the words “N3 vehicles” there

shall be substituted the words “goods vehicles”, and

(b) for the words “86 kph” there shall be substituted the

words “90 kph”.

15. In regulation 21 of the principal regulations for the words Amends regulation

21 of the principal

“86 kph” there shall be substituted the words “90 kph”.

regulations.

16. For regulation 22 of the principal regulations there shall be Substitutes

regulation 22

substituted the following>

of the principal

regulations.

The following passenger vehicles shall be required

to be equipped with a fully operational speed limitation device>

(a) M3 category vehicles with a maximum mass

of more than 10 tonnes first registered in Malta or

registered in a Member State on or after the 1 st January,

1988<

(b) M3 category vehicles that are first registered

in Malta or registered in a Member State on or after the

1 st January, 2005<

(c) M2 category vehicles that are first registered

in Malta on or after the 1 st January, 2005 to operate both

nationally and internationally or registered in a Member

State and circulating on the public highway<

(d) M2 category vehicles to be first registered in

Malta on or after 1 st January 2008 to operate only in

Malta.”.

For regulation 23 there shall be substituted the following>

17. Substitutes

regulation 23 of the

principal

regulations.

M3 category vehicles with a maximum mass of

more than 5 tonnes but not exceeding 10 tons and having a

diesel engine and M2 category vehicles having a diesel engine

first registered on or after the 1 st October, 2001 shall be fitted

with a speed limitation device by the –

(a) 1 st January, 2006 if they are registered to be

used for both national and international transport, and

(b) 1 st January, 2007 if they are registered to be

used only for national transport.”.

18. For regulation 25 of the principal regulations there shall be

substituted the following>

“25. Speed limitation devices shall satisfy the technical

requirements laid down in the Motor Vehicles (EC Type Approval)

Regulations, 2002. However, all vehicles covered by this Part of

the regulations and registered before the 1 st January, 2005 may

continue to be equipped with speed limitation devices which satisfy

the technical requirements laid down by the competent authorities

in Member States.”.

19. In paragraph (a) of regulation 27 of the principal regulations,

for the words “Agreement State” there shall be substituted the words

“Member State”.

20. In regulation 28 of the principal regulations for the words

“Fourth Schedule” there shall be substituted the words “Third Schedule”.

21. In regulation 29 of the principal regulations, for the words

“Agreement State” wherever they appear there shall be substituted the

words “Member State”.

22. In regulation 30 of the principal regulations, for the words

“Agreement State” there shall be substituted the words “Member State”.

23. In paragraph (e) of regulation 35 of the principal regulations,

for the words “Fifth Schedule” there shall be substituted the words

“Fourth Schedule”.

In sub-regulation (1) of regulation 51 of the principal

regulations for the words “Agreement State” there shall be substituted

the words “Member State”.

Regulation 73 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows>-

(a) for the words “a fine (multa) of fifty liri” in sub-

regulation (2), there shall be substituted the words “a fine

(ammenda) of twenty-five liri”< and

(b) for the words “a fine (ammenda) of fifty liri” in sub-

regulation (3), there shall be substituted the words “a fine

(ammenda) of twenty-five liri”.

The First Schedule to the principal regulations shall be Amends the First

Schedule to the

amended as follows>

principal

regulations.

(a) for paragraph 1.1. there shall be substituted the

following>

“1.1. Maximum length

-

motor vehicle other than a bus

12.00 m

-

trailer

12.00 m

-

articulated vehicle

16.50 m

-

road train

18.75 m

-

articulated bus

18.75 m

-

bus with two axles

13.50 m

-

bus with more than two axles

15.00 m

-

bus + trailer

18.75 m<”.

(b) immediately after paragraph 1.4 there shall be inserted

the following new paragraph>

“1.4A If any removable attachments, such as ski-boxes,

are fitted to a bus, its length, including the attachments, must

not exceed the maximum length laid down in paragraph 1.1.”<

and

(c) immediately after paragraph 1.5 there shall be inserted

the following new paragraph>

“1.5A Additional requirements for buses.

With the vehicle stationary, a vertical plane tangential

to the side of the vehicle and facing outwards from the circle

shall be established by marking a line on the ground. In the

case of an articulated vehicle, the two rigid portions shall be

aligned with the plane.

When the vehicle moves from a straight line approach

into the circular area described in paragraph 1.5, no part of it

shall move outside of that vertical plane by more than 0.60m.”.

The Second Schedule to the principal regulations shall be

Deletes the Second

Schedule to the

deleted.

principal

regulations.

The Third, Fourth and Fifth Schedules to the principal

Renumbers the

Third, Fourth and

regulations shall be renumbered as the Second, Third and Fourth

Fifth Schedules to

Schedules respectively.

the principal

regulations.

Mitbug[ fl-Istamperija tal-Gvern — Printed at the Government Printing Press