What are the exemptions to structural weight limits?

[I52]

Can anyone confirm what the exemptions, other than those signed, are for weight limits. I thought there were some for environmental weight limits, but none for structural weight limits, but maybe wrong. A road I travel has a weak bridge 7.5T MGW limit, I have often followed heavy agricultural vehicles over it, always assumed it was just that some farmers took a relaxed view to regulations, but recently have past full size coaches over this bridge on a couple of occasions. Could not see any exemptions when doing a quick search, could anyone educate me? [url]

[paul_c123]

There are no exemptions unless signed.

Sometimes weight limits are set for environmental reasons, eg a housing estate, rather than structural reasons. But when environmental reasons are set, there is usually an "except for access" added so that delivery lorries etc can access.

[SmoothCriminal]

Same kind of question was answered on here i think.

Maybe worth a look as it has more replies.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[I52]

Thanks for the replies. So for this case, unless the council have been overly cautious setting the limit, with the amount of overweight vehicles using this road it could well be destined to be out of action in few years.

[E-bmw]

I52 said:

Thanks for the replies. So for this case, unless the council have been overly cautious setting the limit, with the amount of overweight vehicles using this road it could well be destined to be out of action in few years.

Don't know in this case for certain but in general weight limits & the like generally have a "safety factor" built into the stated maximum.

One frequently used is 1.5 x.

So if something is built/tested to survive 15t, it would be rated at 10t max for arguments sake.

[essayer]

I looked into this, the answer depends on the actual Traffic Regulation Order that was applied to the road.
I live on a 7.5T weight limit road and there are no exemption signs but the actual order permits some heavier vehicles for “purposes of agriculture in connection with land adjacent to the length of road”, “conveyance of timber felled” etc

You d have to request the TRO from the relevant council to see what actually applies

[vonhosen]

essayer said:

I looked into this, the answer depends on the actual Traffic Regulation Order that was applied to the road.

You d have to request the TRO from the relevant council to see what actually applies

This (to see what exemptions are listed in the relevant TRO).

[darkyoung1000]

While I agree with what has been said, it’s worth noting that in this case the specific use of the phrase ‘weak bridge’ along with the weight restriction, does mean that that some parts of the structure have been assessed as below the desired 40t capacity.

The environmental weight restrictions are more likely to be in place to control traffic and have exemptions for bin lorries, buses etc.