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Greenway Law

Weight restriction on designated Greenway Roads

On designated Greenway Roads motor vehicles exceeding 500kg unladen weight are prohibited (other than agricultural vehicles and other vehicles which of necessity have to use the road for access to land). In order to designate those Greenway Roads to which that weight restriction applies a Traffic Regulation Order was made under Section 1 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1985. This is Statutory Document No. 306/94, The Greenway Roads (Weight Limit) Order 1994. At the present time 11 Greenway Roads are specified in that Order.

Although the designation of a highway as a "Greenway Road" to which the weight limit applies allows the use of road-legal vehicles not exceeding 500kg total unladen weight, it does not give or imply any warranty that the road is passable by all such kinds of vehicular traffic even though a particular vehicle complies with that weight restriction or with a permission given by or under the Order.

There are currently 11 designated Greenway Roads to which the weight limit of 500kg unladen weight applies:

Ref	Parish	Name
G1	Rushen	Surby (Carnanes)
G2	Patrick	Slieau Whallian (Garey)
G3	Malew	Foxdale (Stoney Mountain)
G4	German	Cornelly (Glion Darragh, Greeba) (Kerrowgarrow)
G5	German	Cornelly (Glion Darragh, Greeba) (Ballachurry)
G6	Braddan	Baldwin (Carraghan and Beinn y Phot)
G7	Michael	Mountains of Michael (Sartfell, Slieau Freoghane, Slieau Curn, Slieau Dhoo)
G8	Ballaugh	Upper Ballaugh Glen (Glen Dhoo - cul de sac)
G9	Ballaugh	Upper Ballaugh Glen (Cronagh Road)
G10	Lezayre	Sulby (Mount Karrin)
G11	Sulby	Sulby (Lezayre Tops) (Sky Hill Road)

For more detailed information on where these roads start and finish the Greenway Roads List is available in PDF format. Click on the link below to download

Road Traffic law applies to vehicles on Greenways

On any highway or other road to which the public have access (including Greenways) it is a legal requirement that motor vehicles be registered and licensed for use on public roads, and the driver of a motor vehicle must hold a current driving licence and motor insurance. The construction and use requirements for vehicles are applicable according to the type and use of the vehicle in question. All vehicles must be "road legal". They must display the registration mark (number plates), the licence disc, and in conditions of poor visibility vehicle lights must be switched on. All greenways have the status of a single-track road for the purposes of following the Highway Code.

The law relating to the unauthorised use of a vehicle off a road

Greenways are often located in land which is unfenced, and footpaths join Greenways. Vehicles using Greenways, or any other public road, must not be taken on to adjacent land without the consent of the owner and occupier of the land. Alongside those designated Greenway Roads that cross moorland managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry "Greenway" marker-posts have been erected so that motorcyclists are aware of the boundaries of the road.

Section 28 of the Road Traffic Act 1985 states that if, without lawful authority, a person drives a motor vehicle on to or upon any area of common land, moorland or other land which is not designated as a road, or on a footpath, he shall be guilty of an offence. However, it is not an offence under that section of the Act to drive a motor vehicle on any land within 13.5 metres of a road for the purpose only of parking the vehicle on that land. This does not prejudice any Byelaws applying to any land or affect the law of trespass to land or any right or remedy to which a person may by law be entitled in respect of any such trespass. It does not confer a right to park a vehicle on any land.

Downloadable Documents