Weight limits
Last updated | 25/04/2007
Councils can introduce weight limits on roads for environmental reasons and to prevent damage to weak roads and bridges.
There is an area wide weight limit on parts of Craigie in Perth to stop heavy goods vehicles using these residential streets as a short cut between Edinburgh Road and Glasgow Road.
There are weight limits on a few narrow roads in rural areas where there are concerns that heavy goods vehicles could damage the structure of the road by over-running onto the verges.
Several bridges throughout the Council area have been structurally assessed as being unable to carry all classes of road vehicles. These bridges are identified by signing showing the Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) of vehicles permitted to cross them.
If you are planning to make deliveries of large or heavy loads please contact Roy Abel on 01738 477237.
Weight restrictions can be imposed for structural or for environmental reasons. It is a legal control on a specified vehicle weight or width, mainly on lorries, on certain roads and routes.
The restriction prevents large vehicles from using inappropriate roads, routes and areas in order to:
- reduce danger to pedestrians and other road users
- prevent damage to buildings, roads and bridges
- preserve the character, amenity and environment of an area
- reduce and manage congestion on the roads
Procedures for implementation
Restrictions are subject to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and the associated procedures regulatory signs are erected on site to give effect to the TRO and to assist the police in carrying out its enforcement.
Enforcement
This is a matter for the Police. However, the Police have limited resources to enforce this type of restriction (especially environmental restrictions). Restrictions with "except for access" clauses quickly fall into disrepute and are notoriously difficult to enforce. However these are needed to permit HGV access to local shops, businesses, residential properties for deliveries/removals etc.
For this reason, enforcement commands a low priority and therefore, where possible, physical measures should be introduced to prevent any abuse of the restrictions - the installation of signs alone are wholly ineffective. Restrictions will not be used if there is no suitable alternative route for the displaced traffic.
Additional Considerations
Where a Traffic Regulation Order restricts the use of a road, route or area to certain vehicles, the signing of a recommended alternative route will need to be considered.
