Decreto-Lei n.º 132/2017

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Decreto-Lei n.º 132/2017"

Godfrey Hutchinson
5 years ago
Views:

1 QUINTA-FEIRA, 26 DE OUTUBRO DE 2017 Decreto-Lei n.º 132/2017 Diário da República n.º 196/2017, Série I de Data de Publicação: Tipo de Diploma: Decreto-Lei Número: Emissor: Páginas: 132/2017 Planeamento e das Infraestruturas : ELI (Identificador Europeu da Legislação) lei/132/2017/10/11/p/dre/pt/html SUMMARY IN PLAIN ENGLISH (WITHOUT LEGAL VALUE) What is it? This decree-law introduces into Portuguese law the European Directive 2015/719/EU, which updates sizes and weights of vehicles that can use the roads of European Union countries. What will change? The limits for vehicle length, height and width will be updated In order to use Portuguese roads, vehicles must comply with the limits indicated in the following table. Category Maximum length Maximum height Maximum width

2 Motor vehicles with 2 or more axles (except heavy vehicles) 12 4 Trailers with 1 or more axles 12 4 Heavy vehicles with 13,5 4 2 axles Heavy vehicles with 3 or more axles 15 4 Articulated heavy 4 vehicles Depends Class I heavy vehicles on the vehicle s number of 4,2 axles

3 Combinations of motor vehicle and semi-trailer 16,5 4 with 3 or more axles Combinations of motor vehicles and 4 trailers Vehicle combinations in European Modular 25,25 4 System Special vehicles for car 20,55 4,6 transportation Vehicles with ISO standard containers up to 45 feet (13.7 meters) in length 4,6 4,6

4 Vehicles transporting other damaged or accident damaged motor vehicles (if it is longer it needs a special permit) 4,5 Conditioned transport vehicles or conditioned containers or exchangeable containers transported by vehicles 4 2,6 Motorised or towable machinery 20 4,5 3 Tourist trains 4 Vehicle modules in a European Modular System (EMS) are combinations of goods vehicles with 6 or more axles. Each module cannot exceed the maximum size and weight limits in place for vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers. Conditioned transport vehicles or conditioned containers or exchangeable containers transported by vehicles are:

5 vehicles adapted to carry goods at a controlled temperature (their side walls, including insulation, must be at least 45 mm thick) containers or exchangeable containers that carry goods at a controlled temperature. The limits for vehicle weight will be updated To use the roads in Portugal, vehicles must comply with the limits indicated in the following table. Category Motor vehicles with 2 axles Motor vehicles with 3 axles Motor vehicles with 4 or more axles Heavy vehicles with 2 axles Heavy vehicles with 3 axles Articulated heavy vehicles with 3 axles Heavy vehicles with 4 or more axles Articulated heavy vehicles with 4 or more axles Combination of motor vehicle and semi-trailer with 3 axles Combination of motor vehicle and semi-trailer with 4 axles Combination of motor vehicle and semi-trailer with 5 or more axles Maximum weight 19 tonnes 26 tonnes 32 tonnes 19,5 tonnes 26 tonnes 28 tonnes 32 tonnes 32 tonnes 29 tonnes 38 tonnes 44 tonnes

6 Combination of motor vehicle and trailer with 3 axles Combination of motor vehicle and trailer with 4 axles Combination of motor vehicle and trailer with 5 or more axles Trailers with 1 axle Trailers with 2 axles Trailers with 3 or more axles Motorised machinery or combinations of motorized machinery or towable machines with 5 or more axles 29 tonnes 37 tonnes 44 tonnes 10 tonnes 18 tonnes 24 tonnes 60 tonnes Some limits may be exceeded in special cases 1. When transporting containers or exchangeable containers 45 ft. long (about 14 m) on a journey that will use various modes of transport (for example, by land and sea), vehicles or combinations of vehicles may exceed the maximum length for its category by 15 centi. 2. Vehicles may exceed the maximum length set for their category if they have aerodynamic devices attached to the rear. When the devices are folded,the vehicles cannot exceed the maximum length by more than 20 centi. Within three years, it will also be possible to install aerodynamic devices in the cabs of vehicles. In this case, the devices should reduce the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle, reduce fuel consumption and increase vehicle safety.

7 3. If alternative fuels are used, the weight of 3-axled vehicles may exceed the maximum limit by up to 1 tonne. The excess weight must correspond to the weight of the equipment needed to use alternative fuels (such as electricity, hydrogen, natural gas or liquid propane gas). New rules of transportation for various products 1. As long as the registration certificate shows that they can do so safely, motor vehicle and trailer combinations with five or more axles may carry up to 60 tonnes gross if they carry only: wood from forest holdings (logs) produce: wine products (such as grapes, grape juice, grape must, wine, brandy, pomace or wine lees) fruit or vegetables livestock products cereals. 2. When traveling to or from a national port, motor vehicle and trailer combinations with five or more axles may carry up to 60 tonnes gross if they carry only: logs or wood shavings paper or paper pulp ceramics metals ores wine products (such as grapes, grape juice, grape must, wine, brandy, pomace or wine lees) fruit or vegetables animal products.

8 3. During agricultural seasons, motor vehicle and trailer combinations with five or more axles may carry up to 60 tonnes gross if they travel to the storage or processing units of: wine products (such as grapes, grape juice, grape must, wine, brandy, pomace or wine lees) fruit or vegetables cereals. 4. Motor vehicle and trailer combinations with five or more axles may carry up to 60 tonnes gross if they travel to the storage or processing units of livestock products. 5. During the agricultural seasons, goods vehicles without a container that are not equipped to carry a gross weight of up to 60 tonnes can carry up to 44 tonnes. 6. Motor vehicle and trailer combinations with five or more axles may carry a gross weight of up to 60 tonnes if they carry only chemical products (in particular terephthalic acid). The weight of vehicles on the road must be controlled By May , vehicles traveling on the road that might exceed the maximum authorized weight may be weighed to verify compliance with the law. Every two years, Portugal must inform the European Commission about the checks and their results. What are its benefits? This decree-law is intended to: increase the competitiveness of the transport sector allow the installation of devices that increase vehicle energy efficiency and reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide. When does it come into effect? This decree-law comes into effect the day after being published.

9 This text is intended to present the content of the legal act in accessible, plain and understandable language for citizens. The summary of the legal act in plain language has no legal value and does not replace the consultation of the legal act in the Diário da República.

Implementation of Directive (EU) 2015/719 concerning vehicle weights and dimensions in Ireland

Implementation of Directive (EU) 2015/719 concerning vehicle weights and dimensions in Ireland July 2017 Contents 1.0 Introduction... 3 2.0 Changes to Weight & Dimensional Limits... 4 2.1 Increase to the