Tanks a lot

[GKP]

Just quickie. Are tracked vehicles allowed onto motorways?



(no, not cars that go on trackdays but cranes, tanks, bulldozers etc!)

[tvradict]

Only on low loaders.

[GKP]

Do you know if any organisation (Armed Forces?) have special dispensation?

[tvradict]

I wouldn't have thought so, not for tracked vehicles during peace time anyway. Tracks turn tarmac to rubble very quickly, this is why during major roadworks any diggers on the carriageway tend to be on wheels rather than tracks, unless the tracks are rubber.

[monkeyhanger]

GKP said:

Do you know if any organisation (Armed Forces?) have special dispensation?

Unless we're at war, i doubt it

[vonhosen]

GKP said:

Do you know if any organisation (Armed Forces?) have special dispensation?

The Secretary of State for Transport may authorise the use on roads of special vehicles that do not comply with section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

[Boosted LS1]

GKP said:

Just quickie. Are tracked vehicles allowed onto motorways?



(no, not cars that go on trackdays but cranes, tanks, bulldozers etc!)

Have you bought a tank, thinking about the drive home

Boosted.

[bermyandy]

with rubber tracks on theyre fine

Was at uni in southampton and used to see convoys of tanks on the M3

An odd sight!

[vonhosen]

bermyandy said:

with rubber tracks on theyre fine

Was at uni in southampton and used to see convoys of tanks on the M3

An odd sight!

There are eleven classes of vehicle defined under Schedule 4 of the Highways Act 1980 in relation to use on Special roads (motorways).
Only Class I & Class II vehicles from these eleven are allowed on motorways.

There are a number of stipulations for vehicles to qualify as Class I & the important one in this case is that all the vehicle weight must be transmitted to the road surface through wheels & all of those wheels must have pneumatic tyres.

Class II vehicles are abnormal or indivisable loads authorised by the Minister under Sec 44(1) Road Traffic Act 1988. Military vehicles under order fall into this category.
There are some other tracked vehicles that can also fall under this category from the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1973.