Broken exhaust - legality of driving

[boyse7en]

Mrs has a delivery job one day a week, driving a small refrigerated van (Berlingo i think).
In the middle of her round today, the exhaust has broken off and is making a horrific noise. Her employer isn't contactable and she isn't sure what to do.

Is it an offence to drive a car/van with a broken exhaust?
What are the penalties possible?

[herewego]

I'd say she should check there aren't any more parts about to drop off, i.e. it's safe to drive, put the broken piece in the van and drive it back to the depot. If there are bits hanging off then to call the owner to get it recovered.

[beko1987]

Definatly check nothing else will fall off.

The exhaust snapped on one of my old snotters on the way home from work one day. I knew it was blowing, but not that it was hanging on by a tiny spit of metal.

The worse bit was when it fell onto the road and a car ran over it. I fully expected to be hauled up by the driver for it, and any damage but he didn't stop, I pulled up onto the verge, ran and grabbed it (burning my hands in the process), chucked it on the back seat and drove VERY noisily the rest of the way home (broke just before the centre silencer)

Can't imagine she would get much grief for a lone female who has *just* had the issue occur tbh.

[funkyrobot]

Sounds wick tho dunnit bruv!

[boyse7en]

funkyrobot said:

Sounds wick tho dunnit bruv!

On a 1.9 diesel non-turbo van? Doubt it

[Who me ?]

Similar situation many years ago, but in Scotland, so things might be different. I lived just outside Edinburgh and had popped in to get something. On the way home, I had a problem and exhaust went bang, and got noisy. Very naive in those days ,and plod were very good, so I spotted a PC on beat and asked where nearest exhaust place was ,as I had a problem. Turned out, I'd met the son of an old mate, hundreds of miles from home, who advised me of the right to get home to nearest place I knew, and if problems with another officer ,to let them know I'd sought advice and give his number. These days ,I'd wonder .

[un1corn]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/part/I...

The argument would be if the exhaust system is broken and/or not properly secured, or further parts are at risk of coming off, this present an obvious danger to other road users.

[shep1001]

Apart from the bits that might fall off, what about the risk of exhaust gas entering the car whilst in use and the problems this could present?

[shep1001]

Apart from the bits that might fall off, what about the risk of exhaust gas entering the car whilst in use and the problems this could present?

[caelite]

Drove an old car with the exhaust rusted through between the downpipe and the cat/backbox. Sounded hilarious (1.0L 99 micra). Drove for 6ish months in that nick with no problems from the bobby.

MOT failure ofc when that came up it was scrapped.

[Slidingpillar]

I still chuckle now but driving a tuned and rather vocal Morgan 4/4 through Glasgow I passed a VW with a blowing exhaust being pulled by the boys in blue. It was obvious from the body language that the owner was not very happy being passed by a far louder car - but mine had no holes in the exhaust, just a rather short one. And I was not giving it beans either, city driving and all that.

Said Morgan only just passed the 113dBa limit at 2/3rds throttle (the MSA noise test for hillclimbs at that time).

[FurryExocet]

As posted above with the link, you'd also be looking at a vehicle prohibition to go along with the dangerous condition (this would obviously depend on how bad it is)

[DeuxCentCinq]

The flexi pipe bit on my old Cinq Sporting went as I came off the motorway one Sunday evening. Basically manifold straight out, and you could smell it in the car.

Drove it home, then Monday morning straight to an exhaust place. Sounded hilarious though!