EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)These Regulations further amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1986 (“the 1986 Regulations”).
Regulation 2 adds a reference to Directive 2001/27/EC into item 2 of the Table in Regulation 61A of the 1986 Regulations, specifying requirements in relation to smoke, gas and other similar emissions. The requirements have effect on heavy-duty vehicles and amend certain technical requirements in order to prevent cycle defeating strategies being employed in compression ignition engines, and to simplify certain construction requirements for gas engines. Limit values specified in Annex I to Directive 1988/77/EEC as amended by Directive 1999/96/EC remain unchanged, but the new requirements set out in Directive 2001/27/EC apply to gas engines from 1st October 2003.
Regulation 3 adds that Directive to the list of Community Directives specified in Schedule 2.
Regulation 4 amends the definition of “the emissions publication” in Schedule 7B of the 1986 Regulations so as to refer to the most recent (ie the eighth) edition of the publication entitled “In-Service Exhaust Emission Standards for Road Vehicles”. The publication specifies, with respect to vehicles with spark ignition engines, the maximum permitted carbon monoxide content of exhaust emissions at idling speed and the limits for the ratio of air to petrol vapour entering the combustion chamber, in relation to each of the vehicle models named in the publication.
Regulation 5 corrects a minor error introduced by SI 2001/3208 into paragraph (1D) of Regulation 15 of the 1986 Regulations concerning braking systems of certain vehicles.
Copies of the emissions publication can be obtained from the Vehicle Inspectorate, Berkeley House, Croydon Street., Bristol BS5 0DA (telephone number 0117–954–3277).
In relation to the amendments specified in Regulations 2 and 3, a Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Zone 4/15, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR (telephone: 020 7944–2063). Copies are being placed in the libraries of each House of Parliament. No separate transposition note has been provided since all the relevant information is contained within this Explanatory Note.
Copies of the relevant EC Directives can be obtained from the Stationery Office.