Extending a vehicle’s length behind its rear axle
Published 1 April 2010
© Crown copyright 2010
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The rear of a motor vehicle may normally extend past the rear axle for a distance not greater than 60% of the wheelbase (the distance between the two axles). For example, if a vehicle has a wheelbase of 3 meters (m), the relevant distance is 60% of 3m (ie 1.8 meters).
Where bodywork is added to the vehicle, for example a Luton body or a load bed on a recovery vehicle, this is considered part of the vehicle and is therefore bound by this legislation.
Exception
Vehicles which comply with paragraph 7.6.2 of Annex I of EC Directive 97/27/EC are exempt from the above requirement on overhang.
This paragraph requires a vehicle to be capable of a standard ‘roundabout’type manoeuvre, safely navigating a circular path whilst remaining between an outer radius of 12.5m and an inner radius of 5.3m.
An illustration is given in the diagram:
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