Regulations, shall so long as it continues to comply with the said provisions as though the same had not been revoked be treated as if prescribed by the Regulations until 31st December 1985.
(2) Any traffic sign, which immediately before the coming into operation of these Regulations is situated on or near any road. if it is a sign prescribed, or be treated as if prescribed by the Regulations of 1975 and if it then complies with the provisions relating thereto by virtue or these Regulations, shall so long as it continues to comply with the said provisions as though the same had not been revoked, be treated as if prescribed by these Regulations, any provisions thereof to the contrary notwithstanding:
Provided that this paragraph shall cease to have any effect—
(i) on and after 1st January 1983 in relation to any sign shown in diagram No. 601 in schedule 1 to the Traffic signs Regulations 1964[1] (hereinafter in these Regulations referred to as "the Regulations or 1964") and to any sign shown in diagram No. 1035 in Schedule 2 to the Regulations of 1975 as varied by the substitution of the words "turn left", "ahead" or "turn right",
(ii) on and after 1st January 1984 in relation to any sign shown in diagram No. 1002, in schedule 2 to the Regulations of 1975, and
(iii) on and after 1st January 1990 in relation to any sign shown in any of the diagrams Nos. 622.1, 626. 628, 639.1, 640.2, 649, 719.3. 806.2, 808.2 and 819 in Schedule 1 to the Regulations of 1975.
4.—(1) In these Regulations the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them:—
"the Act" means the Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1967;
"chief officer of police", in relation to England and Wales, has the same meaning as in the Police Act, 1964[2], and, in relation to Scotland, the same meaning as in the Police (Scotland) Act, 1967[3],
"enactment" includes any instrument made under an Act;
"goods vehicle" means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods or a trailer so constructed or adapted;
"hours of darkness" means the time between half—an hour after sunset and half-an-hour before sunrise;
"maximum gross weight" means—
(i) in relation to a goods vehicle equipped with a Ministry plate in accordance with regulation 148 or the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1978[4] the weight not to be exceeded in Great Britain by that vehicle and own in column (2) of the plate opposite to the words "GROSS WEIGHT" appearing in column (1) thereof,
