Van speed limit

[DaveH23]

I'll be driving a Mercedes Sprinter later today and googling is throwing different answers.

Can anyone confirm if I need to adhere to 50, 60, 70 on Single, dual and Motorways.

Thanks in advance.

[Unbusy]

I’m pretty sure that is right. Trouble is keeping the damn van down to those speeds as they want to zip along much faster. From a previous thread here, the scameras can differentiate between vehicles so don’t assume anything!

[DaveH23]

Brilliant, thank you.

[Ron99]

DaveH23 said:

I'll be driving a Mercedes Sprinter later today and googling is throwing different answers.

Can anyone confirm if I need to adhere to 50, 60, 70 on Single, dual and Motorways.

Thanks in advance.

Yes.

Although technically you don't *need* to, it just might be a good idea unless you fancy your chances in the optional speeding tax lottery.

Most vans, however, seem to prefer 70/80/90 on the aforementioned roads.

[un1corn]

DaveH23 said:

I'll be driving a Mercedes Sprinter later today and googling is throwing different answers.

Can anyone confirm if I need to adhere to 50, 60, 70 on Single, dual and Motorways.

Thanks in advance.

A sprinter is classed as light goods up to 3.5t MGW..

So on a national single carriageway, your limit is 50 (60 for cars).

On a dual, it's 60 (70 for cars)

On a motrway, it's the same as everyone else, 70mph. If you tow a trailer, it's back to 60 on motorways, but I dont know what size trailer warrants this.

[grumpy52]

If it's a modern sprinter you can set a limiter on them .
Very handy if on long runs in over active camera areas .

[Digby]

I feel rather sorry for such van drivers. There you are, in something that would struggle to knock over a flower pot if it ended up crashing into a garden, stuck at the same speed as a 44 ton HGV. They sadly fall into the "Hmm, err, what about things a little bigger than a car?" catagory.

[Hashtaggggg]

Digby said:

I feel rather sorry for such van drivers. There you are, in something that would struggle to knock over a flower pot if it ended up crashing into a garden, stuck at the same speed as a 44 ton HGV. They sadly fall into the "Hmm, err, what about things a little bigger than a car?" catagory.

But they are not limited to 56

[joropug]

I drove sprinters for Tesco a while back, the limiter as mentioned is great. To be honest they were limited to 56, and Gps.tracked for speed limit+10%+3 so I just drove it flat out on the NSL.

[old'uns]

un1corn said:

On a motorway, it's the same as everyone else, 70mph. If you tow a trailer, it's back to 60 on motorways, but I dont know what size trailer warrants this.

a trailer is a trailer....so technically 60

unless you're a Utilities van towing a cable reel/ mini digger etc then anything goes including the outside lane ..muppets

[TheRainMaker]

Digby said:

I feel rather sorry for such van drivers. There you are, in something that would struggle to knock over a flower pot if it ended up crashing into a garden, stuck at the same speed as a 44 ton HGV. They sadly fall into the "Hmm, err, what about things a little bigger than a car?" catagory.

You don't drive many vans, do you?

[Digby]

TheRainMaker said:

You don't drive many vans, do you?

Only around fifty or so in my time. Very rare now, though. They all felt less bulky and lighter than a Range Rover.

[usn90]

Does this apply to small vans, i.e kangoos?

[Pica-Pica]

usn90 said:

Does this apply to small vans, i.e kangoos?

Yes, unless you can convince the authorities it is a ‘car-derived van.
A car-derived van, is basically a car with rear side panels instead of rear side windows.
A car-derived van IS NOT a van, made on the same platform (chassis, suspension etc) as a car, but with a different body side (superstructure).
The law is completely daft in this area, and this is a source of constant discussion on here.
In my view it should be on GVM.

(PS. I have seen very few 3.5t vans keeping to 50 on a single carriageway with NSL)

[caelite]

Digby said:

TheRainMaker said:

You don't drive many vans, do you?

Only around fifty or so in my time. Very rare now, though. They all felt less bulky and lighter than a Range Rover.

This, I liken a modern van very much to a large crossover/SUV. In the sense that they drive like a fat car, as opposed to a small lorry (exceptions being those 3.5ton Jap cabovers and Iveco Dailys).

In many ways they drive better than 'proper' 4x4s, always perplexes me something like a Transit custom is limited to a lower speed than my Suzuki Jimny, or even the crew cab pickups which skirt the lower limit by being 'dual purpose' vehicles (unless their tare weight is over 2050kg iirc).

[old'uns]

usn90 said:

Does this apply to small vans, i.e kangoos?

do a Tax/MOT check on your van, somewhere in the results will be either an N1 or M1 designation, i 'think' N1 is commercial, M1 car classification, a quick google will confirm
i seem to recall Mitsu L200's etc can be either, presumably classed as private or business when first registered?

[caelite]

old'uns said:

usn90 said:

Does this apply to small vans, i.e kangoos?

do a Tax/MOT check on your van, somewhere in the results will be either an N1 or M1 designation, i 'think' N1 is commercial, M1 car classification, a quick google will confirm
i seem to recall Mitsu L200's etc can be either, presumably classed as private or business when first registered?

The pick ups are a wierd one. Provided they have a payload capacity in excess of 1000kg, and a row of seats behind the driver, they fall under dual purpose, so car limits. However if they happen to have a unladen (tare) weight over 2050kg (iirc) then they fall under van limits.

This does create a wierd line up. For instance a base model ranger is under 2050kg, so can go car limits, but a wildtrak or raptor is over the limit so is a 'van'.

[Cat]

caelite said:

old'uns said:

usn90 said:

Does this apply to small vans, i.e kangoos?

do a Tax/MOT check on your van, somewhere in the results will be either an N1 or M1 designation, i 'think' N1 is commercial, M1 car classification, a quick google will confirm
i seem to recall Mitsu L200's etc can be either, presumably classed as private or business when first registered?

The pick ups are a wierd one. Provided they have a payload capacity in excess of 1000kg, and a row of seats behind the driver, they fall under dual purpose, so car limits. However if they happen to have a unladen (tare) weight over 2050kg (iirc) then they fall under van limits.

This does create a wierd line up. For instance a base model ranger is under 2050kg, so can go car limits, but a wildtrak or raptor is over the limit so is a 'van'.

A Kangoo is not a CDV, they are subject to lower limits.

The vehicle category, M1, N1 etc. doesn't determine the applicable speed limit.

Payload capacity has no bearing on whether or not a vehicle meets the definition of a DPV. A second row of seats is not necessary if the vehicle is all wheel drive. The unladen weight of a DPV can not exceed 2040kg.

Cat

Edited by Cat on Monday 26th August 17:16

[old'uns]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-der...

[MYOB]

What I do not understand is why such vehicles are limited to 50 or 60 on single or dual carriageways, but permitted to do 70 on motorways.

Bizarre.