Friday 22 March 2019
Traffic and Highway Services wish to advise the public of a number of changes to vehicle construction and use standards in Guernsey, the majority of which will come into force when the UN Convention on Road Traffic 1968 ("The Vienna Convention") is formally ratified on 29th March 2019.
This latest information follows recent advice issued with regard to International Driving Permits and Trailer Registration requirements and will apply to all motor vehicles and trailers registered in Guernsey.
For the vast majority of motor vehicle / trailer owners nothing will change as most modern, well maintained vehicles will already meet these revised standards. However, there are some aspects that may require corrective action to be taken in respect of certain vehicles from 29 March 2019. Examples include -
- The need for all motor vehicles, other than motorcycles, to be equipped with at least two rear view mirrors to enable the driver to see traffic to the rear and at both sides of the vehicle (previously only a requirement for one mirror to be fitted in law);
- Speedometers to be fitted to motor vehicles capable of exceeding 25mph, excluding certain agricultural vehicles and some vehicles first used before 1st April 1984; and
- Exhaust silencers now required to be fitted in law to every motor vehicle and be maintained in good working order (as opposed to solely relying on legislation governing excessive noise in relation to use).
Other changes will impact motor vehicles and trailers manufactured on or after 29th March 2019. For example, directional indicators will need to be fitted to all motor vehicles and trailers with the exception of certain slow moving vehicles, such as mobility scooters for people with disabilities with a maximum speed not exceeding 4mph, and single seat motorcycles constructed or adapted for off-road use.
Transitional arrangements have been put in place in circumstances where changes to construction and use requirements are considered to be more significant in nature. For example, by 29th March 2020, it will be necessary for seat belts to be fitted to all forward-facing passenger seats in most motor vehicles manufactured on or after 1st April 1987. Exceptions apply for passenger carrying vehicles with 12 or more passenger seats, goods vehicles having an un-laden weight exceeding 1,525kg and motorcycles.
For most commercial vehicles exceeding 3,500kg maximum gross weight it will be a requirement that side-guards and under-run devices are fitted by 29th March 2021. For most trailers this will be a requirement at an un-laden weight of 1,020kg.
More comprehensive advice on these and other changes is detailed in the attached Public Advice note which has been published online.
