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Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

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Minimum ground clearance

14.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a wheeled trailer which is—

(a)a goods vehicle; and

(b)manufactured on or after 1st April 1984,

shall have a minimum ground clearance of not less than 160mm if the trailer has an axle interspace of more than 6m but less than 11.5m, and a minimum ground clearance of not less than 190mm if the trailer has an axle interspace of 11.5m or more.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a trailer—

(a)which is fitted with a suspension system with which, by the operation of a control, the trailer may be lowered or raised while that system is being operated to enable the trailer to pass under a bridge or other obstruction over a road, provided the system is operated so that no part of the trailer (excluding any wheel) touches the ground or is likely to do so; or

(b)while it is being loaded or unloaded.

(3) In this regulation—

“axle interspace” means—

(a)

in the case of a semi-trailer, the distance between the point of support of the semi-trailer at its forward end and, if it has only one axle, the centre of that axle or, if it has more than one axle, the point halfway between the centres of the foremost and rearmost of those axles; and

(b)

in the case of any other trailer, the distance between the centre of its front axle or, if it has more than one axle at the front, the point halfway between the centres of the foremost and rearmost of those axles, and the centre of its rear axle or, if it has more than one axle at the rear, the point halfway between the centre of the foremost and rearmost of those axles;

“ground clearance” means the shortest distance between the ground and the lowest part of that portion of the trailer (excluding any part of a suspension, steering or braking system attached to any axle, any wheel and any air skirt) which lies within the area formed by the overall width of the trailer and the middle 70% of the axle interspace, such distance being ascertained when the trailer—

(a)

is fitted with suitable tyres which are inflated to a pressure recommended by the manufacturer, and

(b)

is reasonably horizontal and standing on ground which is reasonably flat.

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