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Audible motor vehicle alarms: Amendment of the road vehicles (construction and use) regulations 1986


'(1)   The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/1078) are amended as follows.
(2)   In regulation 3(2) (interpretation), in the Table, at the appropriate place in alphabetical order, insert—

Expression	Meaning
"audible motorvehicle alarm	a system fitted within a motor vehicle which involves the sounding of a horn, bell, gong or siren with the purpose of raising an alarm as to the theft or attempted theft of the vehicle or its contents, or a forced entry or attempted forced entry into the vehicle.
bell	includes references to any instrument or apparatus capable of emitting a sound similar to that emitted by a bell.
gong	includes references to any instrument or apparatus capable of emitting a sound similar to that emitted by a gong.
horn	an instrument, not being a bell, gong or siren, capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of the approach or position of the vehicle to which it is fitted.
siren	includes references to any instrument or apparatus capable of emitting a sound similar to that emitted by a siren."

 
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(3)   In regulation 37 (audible warning instruments)—

   (a)   for paragraphs (7) and (8) substitute—

         "(7)   The provisions of paragraph (4) shall not apply so as to make it unlawful for a vehicle to be fitted with—

            (a)   an audible car alarm, or

            (b)   in the case of a bus, a bell, gong or siren the purpose                of which is to summon help for the driver, conductor or                an inspector.";

   (b)   in paragraph (9), for the words "(4) to (8)", substitute the words "(4) to (7)"; and

   (c)   in paragraph (10), omit sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).
(4)   In regulation 99(5) (exemptions from general restrictions on use of audible warning instruments), omit the word "or" after paragraph (a), and for paragraph (b) substitute—

   "(b)   an audible car alarm, or

   (c)   in the case of a bus, a horn (not being a two-tone horn), bell, gong or siren to summon help for the driver, the conductor or an inspector."
(5)   After regulation 99, insert—
"99A   Restrictions on audible motor vehicle alarms on certain motor vehicles first used on or after 1st January 2007
(1)   Subject to paragraph (2), this regulation applies to a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st January 2007.
(2)   The provisions of this regulation do not apply to—

   (a)   motor vehicles of the kinds listed in regulation 37(5), or

   (b)   buses.
(3)   The audible motor vehicle alarm of a motor vehicle to which this regulation applies—

   (a)   may not at any time emit a noise exceeding 55 decibels,

   (b)   may not emit a noise for a continuous period of more than ninety seconds,

   (c)   may not emit a noise for more than ninety seconds in response to a single event initiating the emitting of a noise, and

   (d)   shall be maintained in good working order so as to comply with the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a) to (c).
(4)   In this regulation—

'A-weighted sound pressure level' has the same meaning as that given in BS 7445;

'BS 7445' means British Standard BS7445: Part 1 1991/International Standard ISO 1996-1: 1982 'Description and measurement of environmental noise. Part 1. Guide to quantities and procedures';

'decibel' is a unit of both A-weighted sound pressure level and equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level as given in BS 7445.
99B   General restrictions on audible motor vehicle alarms on certain motor vehicles first used before 1st January 2007
(1)   Subject to paragraph (2), this regulation applies to a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st October 1982.
(2)   The provisions of this regulation do not apply to—

   (a)   motor vehicles to which regulation 99A applies,

   (b)   motor vehicles of the kinds listed in regulation 37(5), or

   (c)   buses.
(3)   The audible motor vehicle alarm of a motor vehicle to which this regulation applies—

   (a)   may not emit a noise for a continuous period of more than ninety seconds,

 
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   (b)   may not emit a noise for more than ninety seconds in response to a single event initiating the emitting of a noise, and

   (c)   shall be maintained in good working order so as to comply with the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).".'.—[Norman Baker.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Norman Baker: I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: New clause 12—Audible motor vehicle alarms: amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981—

'(1)   The Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 (S.I. 1981/1694) are amended as follows.

(2)   In regulation 20 (fees for examinations)—

   (a)   in paragraph (3A)(b), after the reference to "anti-lock braking system warning device", insert—

"audible motor vehicle alarm"; and

   (b)   in paragraph (7)(c), before sub-sub-paragraph (i), insert

      "(ai)   audible motor vehicle alarm,".

(3)   In Schedule 2 (the prescribed statutory requirements)—

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