Citation, commencement and introduction

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1989 and shall come into force on 8th November 1989.

2.-(1) The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986(2)shall be further amended in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.

(2) The Secretary of State is satisfied that-

(a)it is requisite that the provisions of regulations 4 to 9 shall apply as from8th November 1989 to vehicles registered under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971(3)before the expiration of one year from the making of these Regulations; and

(b)notwithstanding that the said provisions will then apply to those vehicles, no undue hardship or inconvenience will be caused thereby.

Amendments relating to Interpretation

3. In the Table in paragraph (2) of regulation 3-

(a)the meaning specified in column 2 for the expression "Community Directive, followed by a number" shall be amended by the substitution for the words "the reference to it means" of the words "the reference to the amending Directive includes a reference to"; and

(b)the meaning specified in column 2 for the expression "the Community Recording Equipment Regulation" shall be substituted by the following- "Council Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 of 20th December 1985 on recording equipment in road transport(4), as read with the Community Drivers' Hours and Recording Equipment (Exemptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 1986(5)."

Amendment relating to compliance with Community Directives and ECE Regulations

4. In regulation 6(2) the word "or" immediately following sub-paragraph (b) shall be omitted and after sub-paragraph (c) there shall be added the following words-

• "; or

  (d)

  a sound level measurement certificate issued by the Secretary of State under regulation 4 of the Motorcycles (Sound Level Measurement Certificates) Regulations 1980(6);".

Amendments relating to noise limits-motor cycles

5. In regulation 55(6) for "57(2)(a)" there shall be substituted "57(1A)(a)".

6. In regulation 57-

(a)for paragraphs (1) and (2) and the Table in paragraph (2) there shall be substituted-

"(1) Save as provided in regulation 59, the requirements specified in paragraph (1A) apply to every motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1983 but not later than 31st March 1991 which is-

(a)a moped; or

(b)a two-wheeled motor cycle, whether or not with sidecar attached, which is not a moped.

(1A) The requirements referred to in paragraph (1) are that-

(a)the vehicle shall be so constructed that its sound level does not exceed the relevant limit specified in column 2 of item 1 or 2 of the Table when measured under the conditions specified in column 3 in that item by the method specified in column 4 in that item using the apparatus prescribed in regulation 55(6); and

(b)the device designed to reduce the exhaust noise meets the requirements specified in column 5.

TABLE

(1B) Instead of complying with paragraph (1), a vehicle referred to in paragraph (1)(b) may comply at the time of its first use with Community Directive 78/1015 or 87/56.

(2) Save as provided in regulation 59, the requirements specified in paragraph (2A) apply to every motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1991 which is-

(a)a moped; or

(b)a two-wheeled motor cycle, whether or not with sidecar attached, which is not a moped.

(2A) The requirements referred to in paragraph (2) are those mentioned in paragraph (1A) save that for the reference to item 1 or 2 of the Table there is substituted a reference to item 2 of the Table.

(2B) Instead of complying with paragraph (2), a vehicle referred to in paragraph (2)(b) may comply at the time of its first use with Community Directive 87/56."; and

(b)paragraph (5) shall be omitted.

7. In regulation 58(2)(d) for "regulation 57(2)" there shall be substituted "regulation 57(1A) and (2A)".

8. In regulation 59 for "57(2)" there shall be substituted "57(1A) and (2A)".

9. In Table 1 of Schedule 2 after item 51 there shall be added the following item-

Explanatory Note

This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 ("the principal regulations").

The principal amendments are to regulation 57 (noise limits-motorcycles), which is amended in two respects.

1. Compliance with the sound level limits permitted by E.E.C. Council Directive 87/56 at its first stage of implementation will be compulsory for motorcycles first used on or after 1st April 1991.

2. Previously a vehicle was treated as complying with the principal regulations if a sound level measuring certificate ("a certificate") was issued in relation to the vehicle by reason of the vehicle's conforming with the requirements of E.E.C Council Directive 78/1015. By virtue of these Regulations a vehicle first used not later than31st March 1991 may be treated as complying with the principal regulations if a certificate has been issued in relation to the vehicle by reason of the vehicle's conforming with either the requirements of Directive 78/1015 or 87/56. A vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1991 however may only be treated as complying with the principal regulations if a certificate has been issued in relation to the vehicle by reason of the vehicle's conforming with the requirements of Directive 87/56. In this connection the omission of the sound level measuring certificate from regulation 6 in the principal regulations is corrected.

There are also provisions to clarify the meaning given in the principal regulations for "Community Directive, followed by a number", to update the meaning given in the principal regulations for "the Community Recording Equipment Regulation", and to effect consequential amendments.

Copies of the EEC Regulation and Directives referred to in these Regulations can be obtained from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Details of the EEC Regulation and Directives are set out in the Table below.