Land Transport Rule
Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2005
Rule 41001/1
Note: This Rule should be read in conjunction with the consolidated version of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002, which includes previous Rule amendments.
Contents
Section 2 Amendments relating to vehicle dimensions and mass
- 2.1 Dimension requirements for vehicles and vehicle combinations
- 2.2 New clause substituted
- 2.3 Towing requirements
Section 3 Amendments to definitions
Section 4 Amendment to schedule
Schedule New Schedule 6 substituted
Objective of the Rule
Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2005 amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002, which specifies requirements for dimension and mass limits for vehicles operating on New Zealand roads. That Rule set in place a regulatory regime so that vehicles, particularly heavy truck and trailer combinations, are operated safely.
The objectives of this Rule are to amend the definitions of heavy vehicle axles to clarify the applicable mass limits for axle sets; to ensure that there are clear, consistent and safe requirements covering the towing of motor vehicles that are not trailers; and to clarify the rights of licensed operators of heavy vehicle recovery service vehicles to remove disabled and damaged vehicles from the roadway.
The amendments to Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002 specifically:
- • change the definitions of 'tri-axle set' and 'quad axle set' by deleting the requirement that tyres be of the same size and that they load-share, and by deleting the requirement that tandem axles load-share (load-sharing is already included elsewhere in the Rule);
- • clarify the meaning of some of the provisions previously brought over from Part 5 (Loading and dimensions) of the Traffic Regulations 1976 into the Rule;
- • clarify and make provision for the unintended effect of wording in Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, which allows a heavy motor vehicle to tow two other motor vehicles that are not trailers, and clarify the requirements for towing a trailer and another vehicle by applying the same conditions to the towing of motor vehicles that apply to the towing of trailers;
- • allow a heavy vehicle recovery service vehicle to remove a disabled heavy vehicle from the roadway without having to comply with some of the relevant requirements in section 4 of the Rule, which operators may not have been able to strictly comply with under the 2002 Rule when towing a disabled heavy vehicle;
- • correct an error in Schedule 6 of the Rule, which specifies the zones for restricted travel time of large overdimension vehicles.
Consequential amendments to the definitions of axles and axle sets have been made in Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles Amendment 2005.
Extent of consultation
For the purposes of consultation, a number of amendments proposed to Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002 and 12 other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single draft Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2005 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule). The changes proposed were intended mainly to convert remaining provisions in the Traffic Regulations 1976 to Rules, to update vehicle standards, to delete redundant provisions and clarify provisions and to correct some errors in Rules.
On 1 April 2005, Land Transport New Zealand (Land Transport NZ) sent a letter containing the Rule amendment proposals to about 2200 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended, and sought submissions on the proposed changes. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the Land Transport NZ Help Desk and was available together with Questions and Answers on the Land Transport NZ website. The availability of the draft was publicised in five metropolitan daily newspapers, Te Karere National News and the New Zealand Gazette. Land Transport NZ received 33 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which 13 commented on the proposals relating to vehicle dimensions and mass.
Following consultation, the provisions in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into separate amendment Rules, including this Rule. The submissions that were received were taken into account in drafting the amendment Rules before the Rules were submitted to the Minister for Transport Safety for signing.
Part 1 Rule requirements
Section 1 Application
1.1 Title
1.1(1) This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2005.
1.1(2) In this Rule, Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002 is called 'the principal Rule'.
1.2 Date when Rule comes into force
This Rule comes into force on 15 September 2005.
Section 2 Amendments relating to vehicle dimensions and mass
2.1 Dimension requirements for vehicles and vehicle combinations
2.1(1) Table 4.1 of the principal Rule is amended by omitting from the item relating to overall length the words "Towing vehicle and full trailer, towing vehicle and simple trailer, towing vehicle and pole trailer, A-train, B-train, towing vehicle and two trailers, towing vehicle in combination with a motor vehicle other than a trailer", and substituting the words "Any other combination of vehicles".
2.1(2) Table 4.1 of the principal Rule is amended by omitting from the item relating to inter-vehicle spacing the words "towing vehicle and trailer", and substituting the words "any two consecutive vehicles in a combination".
2.2 New clause substituted
Section 4 of the principal Rule is amended by revoking clause 4.4, and substituting the following clause:
"4.4 Mass ratio of towed and towing vehicles for heavy combination vehicles
"4.4(1) For an A-train, a B-train or a rigid vehicle towing two vehicles, the gross mass of the rearmost vehicle must not exceed 1.5 times the gross mass of the towing vehicle and the first towed vehicle, that is:
"4.4(2) For all other heavy combination vehicles, except those operating under an overweight permit with a VAI exceeding 1.1, or those restricted to an operating speed of 40 km/h or less, the gross mass of the towed vehicle must not exceed 1.5 times the gross mass of the towing vehicle, that is:
2.3 Towing requirements
Clause 4.6 of the principal Rule is amended by adding the following subclauses:
"4.6(9) A heavy rigid vehicle must not tow more than one heavy rigid vehicle that is without power.
"4.6(10) A heavy rigid vehicle may only tow both a trailer and a rigid vehicle without power if:
- "(a) the combination consists of a rigid vehicle towing a semi-trailer that is towing a rigid vehicle without power; or
- "(b) the total gross mass of the combination is less than 20,000 kg, and the rearmost vehicle is a light trailer or other light motor vehicle.
"4.6(11) A heavy rigid vehicle may only tow two rigid vehicles without power if:
- "(a) the total gross mass of the combination is less than 20,000 kg, and the rearmost vehicle is a light motor vehicle; and
- "(b) at least one towing connection between consecutive vehicles consists of a rigid bar or A-frame.
"4.6(12) If a heavy motor vehicle on a roadway becomes disabled, a heavy vehicle recovery service vehicle may tow the disabled vehicle and any attached trailers to the nearest safe area off the roadway without complying with the dimension requirements in Table 4.1, or with 4.4, 4.6(4) or 4.6(10)."
Section 3 Amendments to definitions
3.1 Substitution of definitions
3.1(1) Part 2 of the principal Rule is amended by revoking the definition of quad-axle set, and substituting the following definition:
"Quad-axle set means a set of four axles, where:
- "(a) the centres of the first and fourth axles are spaced not less than 3.75 m and not more than 4 m apart; and
- "(b) all axles contain an equal number of tyres; and
- "(c) none of the axles is a single standard-tyred axle."
3.1(2) Part 2 of the principal Rule is amended by revoking the definition of tandem axle set, and substituting the following definition:
"Tandem axle set means an axle set comprising two axles having their centres spaced not less than 1 m and not more than 2 m apart".
3.1(3) Part 2 of the principal Rule is amended by revoking the definition of tri-axle set, and substituting the following definition:
"Tri-axle set means a set of three axles, where:
- "(a) the centres of the first and third axles are spaced not less than 2 m and not more than 3 m apart; and
- "(b) all axles contain an equal number of tyres; and
- "(c) none of the axles is a single standard-tyred axle."
3.2 Insertion of new definition
Part 2 of the principal Rule is amended by inserting, in its appropriate alphabetical order, the following definition:
"Roadway means that portion of the road used or reasonably usable for the time being for vehicular traffic in general."
Section 4 Amendment to schedule
4.1 New schedule substituted
The principal Rule is amended by revoking Schedule 6, and substituting the Schedule 6 set out in the Schedule to this Rule.
Part 2 Schedule
New Schedule 6 substituted [4.1]
Schedule 6 Zones for restricted travel
[Refs. Cl. 6.12(1), 6.12(7)]
| Zone | Area | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1
|
Northland (southern part), Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato | Kamo and south of Kamo |
| Maungatapere and East of Maungatapere | ||
| Maungaturoto and East of Maungaturoto | ||
| North of the intersection of SH 2 and SH 33 Paengaroa | ||
| North of the intersection of SH 5 and SH 1 Tirau | ||
| North of the intersection of SH 3 and SH 31 Otorohanga | ||
| Wellington | North to McKay's Crossing | |
| East to Te Marua including Te Marua | ||
| Christchurch | South from Waimakariri River | |
| North of Templeton | ||
| East of Dawsons Road Yaldhurst | ||
| Zone 2 | Southern Waikato and Eastern Bay of Plenty | The intersection of SH 2 and SH 33 Paengaroa and south of the intersection of SH 2 and SH 33 Paengaroa |
| The intersection of SH 5 and SH 1 Tirau and south of the intersection of SH 5 and SH 1 Tirau | ||
| The intersection of SH 3 and SH 31 Otorohanga and south of the intersection of SH 3 and SH 31 Otorohanga | ||
| Opotiki and north of Opotiki | ||
| Te Whaiti and north of Te Whaiti | ||
| Rangitaiki and north of Rangitaiki | ||
| North of Motuoapa | ||
| North of the intersection of SH 32 and SH 41 at Kurutau, but excluding SH 41 and SH 32 (Kurutau to Tokoroa) | ||
| North of the intersection of SH 43 and SH 4 Taumarunui | ||
| North of Awakino | ||
| Zone 3 | Northland (northern part) | North of Kamo |
| West of Maungatapere | ||
| West of Maungaturoto | ||
| Southern North Island (excluding Wellington as defined in Zone 1) | South of Opotiki | |
| East of Opotiki | ||
| South of Te Whaiti | ||
| South of Rangitaiki | ||
| Motuoapa and south of Motuoapa | ||
| The intersection of SH 32 and SH 41 Kurutau including SH 41 and south of the intersection of SH 32 and SH 41 | ||
| SH 32 Kurutau to Tokoroa | ||
| The intersection of SH 43 and SH 4 Taumarunui and south of the intersection of SH 43 and SH 4 Taumarunui | ||
| Awakino and south of Awakino | ||
| McKay's Crossing and north of McKay's Crossing | ||
| North of Te Marua | ||
| South Island and Stewart Island (excluding Christchurch as defined in Zone 1) | North from Waimakariri River | |
| Templeton and south of Templeton | ||
| Dawsons Road Yaldhurst and west of Dawsons Road Yaldhurst |
Land Transport Rule - Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2005 - Rule 41001/1
Land Transport New Zealand, Ikiiki Whenua Aotearoa