Is driving with bust speedo illegal?

[shadowfax]

Cos someone (private sale) has offered to sell me a car with a bust digital speedo and mileometer, and I would have to drive a long way home in it. Or pay an extra £250 to buy the car repaired ( inc. new temp sensor, as that is gone, too :rolleyes: )

[rsvmilly]

shadowfax said:

Cos someone (private sale) has offered to sell me a car with a bust digital speedo and mileometer, and I would have to drive a long way home in it. Or pay an extra £250 to buy the car repaired ( inc. new temp sensor, as that is gone, too )

I believe it is. At the very least, how could you be confident driving past scameras?

Do you have a gps? Take that along.

[shadowfax]

No, I dont. It's a Chim. The seller is a bobby
That's all folks. It's looking like a no no every moment that passes. Just thought I'd flag it up as a possible first!

>> Edited by shadowfax on Wednesday 22 June 10:10

[cooperman]

If the tacho works it's no problem.
Just work out the gearing and you will know how fast you are going from the rpm's in each gear. I had this happen on my newly acquired rally car two weeks ago and I had to drive over 100 miles before I could get it fixed.
If in doubt, put some markings in the tacho face with coloured sticky tape, then you have a means of displaying your speed. That, I believe, complies with the legal requirements.

[parrot of doom]

Chances are if the speedo has failed so has the odometer.

[hiasakite]

See if you can borrow a Road Angel or other GPS based device to give you a speed read out..

[Dwight VanDriver]

RV (Con and Use) Regs 1986 covers fitting of speedometer blah blah blah etc and if vehicle first used after 1.4.1984 must be capable of recording speed in mph or kph. Tachy no no.

But and this is the bit that is wanted......has to be maintained in good working order.

DEFENCE: Defect occurred during the journey on which the contravention was detected, OR

If steps have already been takjen to have the defect remedied with reasonable expedition.

Clue: looks in mirror and repeats convincingly Honest officer several times???

DVD

[Don]

parrot of doom said:

so has the odometer.

They all do that, sir.

[silverback mike]

shadowfax said:

The seller is a bobby That's all folks.

bejesus

[mcflurry]

What are the realistic odds on being stopped for a dodgy speedo unless you are speeding?

[parrot of doom]

mcflurry said:

What are the realistic odds on being stopped for a dodgy speedo unless you are speeding?

Zero.

[GreenV8S]

The rev counter is separate from the speedo, and knowing the gearing you can estimate the speed.

[rsvmilly]

mcflurry said:

What are the realistic odds on being stopped for a dodgy speedo unless you are speeding?

But how would you know?

Anyway, we all know scameras don't exercise discression.

[mickrw]

DVD, could you please spell out the specific bit of legislation as the new Tuscan2 pod is completley unreadable when the car top is removed. This means you cannot see the speed you're doing or anything else for that matter! Be useful to know this for future use with the dealer.

Thanks

Mick

ps, rest of the car is fantastic

[Dwight VanDriver]

Reg 35 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 deals with the fitment of speedometers to certain vehicles of which includes a motor car capable of more than 25 mph.

Reg 36 covers maintenance of speedometer.....which shall be kept free from any obstruction which might prevent it being easily read and shall at all material times [when in use on a road] be maintained in good working order. The Reg then goes on to cover the defences mentioned earlier.

Dvd

[mickrw]

DVD, thanks for the info

Mick

[cooperman]

In 1980 I bought a new BMW 7-series. After about 4 weeks I was stopped and told I was speeding when I genuinly believed I wasn't. A check revealed the speedo to be under-reading by about 12 mph at some speeds. In fact it was 'lagging' badly during acceleration. A letter from both the dealer and BMW U.K. confirming the fault saw me plead guilty in court but with mitigation I got no points and only a very small fine. However, the police never asked to check the speedo to verify the facts as stated.

[Mad Dave]

The speedo on my motorcycle was broken when I bought it, it took me 3 weeks to successfully find and fix the fault, and after 1500 miles the same bit has broken again. It's not much fun driving with no speedo, but just look out for Police officers and go slightly slower than the flow of traffic in front of you through GATSOs.

The first time it broke, I followed a friend, and when he hit a pre-arranged speed, he flashed his hazards. From this I know that in 6th gear, 60mph is 3500rpm (bearing it mind revs to 12500rpm! )