Hong Kong Regulations

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 40B

Rearguards

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this regulation applies to-

   (a)  a goods vehicle which had a permitted gross vehicle weight exceeding
        5.5 tonnes;

   (b)  a trailer which has a permitted gross vehicle weight exceeding 2
        tonnes; and

   (c)  a semi-trailer which has a permitted gross vehicle weight exceeding 2
        tonnes.

(2) This regulation does not apply to-

   (a)  a tractor unit of an articulated vehicle;

   (b)  a vehicle which is incapable by reason of its construction of
        exceeding a speed of 25 kilometres per hour under its own power on the
        road;

   (c)  an agricultural trailer;

   (d)  a vehicle fitted at the rear with apparatus specially designed for
        spreading material on a road;

   (e)  a vehicle without body work which is being driven or towed by its
        manufacturer, dealer or distributor for a quality check or to premises
        of the manufacturer, dealer or distributor;

   (f)  a chassis-cab;

   (g)  a vehicle specially designed and constructed as a vehicle transporter;

   (h)  a trailer specially designed and constructed for carrying round
        timber, beams or girders of exceptional length;

   (i)  a vehicle being driven or towed to a place where, by previous
        arrangement, the body work or rearguard is to be fitted;

   (j)  a concrete mixer;

   (k)  a vehicle fitted with a tail lift so constructed that the lift
        platform forms part of the floor of the vehicle and this part has a
        length of at least 1 metre measured parallel to the longitudinal axis
        of the vehicle or fitted with such tail lift installation which will
        render rearguard installation impractical;

   (l)  a vehicle designed and used solely for delivery by means of a conveyor
        which is fitted to the rear of the vehicle when in use; and

   (m)  a vehicle so constructed that it can be unloaded by part of the
        vehicle being tipped rearwards.

(3) Every vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be fitted with
rearguards constructed and fitted to meet the following requirements -

   (a)  each rearguard shall be of such robust construction as to effectively
        prevent a motor vehicle from underrunning the motor vehicle in front
        in the event of rear-end collision;

   (b)  the lower edge of the rearguard shall not be more than 550 millimetres
        above the ground;

   (c)  the outer edge of the rearguard shall not be extended beyond the outer
        faces of the rear axle measured at the outermost points of the wheels,
        excluding the bulging of the tyres close to the ground, or more than
        100 millimetres inboard from either outer face of the rear axle, and
        more than 300 millimetres inboard from either outer face of the rear
        axle in the case of a vehicle fitted with a demountable body; and in a
        case where there is more than one rear axle, the width to be
        considered is that of the widest rear axle; and

   (d)  the rearguard shall consists of a cross-member and linking components
        connected to the chassis side members or to whatever replaces the
        chassis side members; the section height of the cross-member shall not
        be less than 100 millimetres.

(4) Every rearguard fitted to a vehicle in pursuance of this regulation shall
at all times when the vehicle is used on a road be maintained free from any
defect which might in any way affect adversely its function of giving
resistance in the event of an impact from the rear. (L.N. 203 of 1990)