Discussion
Have just been looking at the on-line Highway code
(here: www.highwaycode.gov.uk/09.shtml#103 )
and was somewhat surprised to read that the 60mph limit on NSL single carrigeway roads and 70mph limit on dual carrigeways only applies to commercial vehicles up to 2 tonnes.
Does this mean that the speed limit for vans on single carrigeway roads is 50mph? Where does the law lie on Car derrived vans over this weight (eg Discovery van), and what about the base vehicle (eg Discovery's)?
I had always assumed that as as commercial's up to 3.5T were taxed the same, and not subject to other LGV laws (eg Tacho fitment) that other traffic laws were the same as for equivilant sized private vehicles -no?
Confused,
Pete
(here: www.highwaycode.gov.uk/09.shtml#103 )
and was somewhat surprised to read that the 60mph limit on NSL single carrigeway roads and 70mph limit on dual carrigeways only applies to commercial vehicles up to 2 tonnes.
Does this mean that the speed limit for vans on single carrigeway roads is 50mph? Where does the law lie on Car derrived vans over this weight (eg Discovery van), and what about the base vehicle (eg Discovery's)?
I had always assumed that as as commercial's up to 3.5T were taxed the same, and not subject to other LGV laws (eg Tacho fitment) that other traffic laws were the same as for equivilant sized private vehicles -no?
Confused,
Pete
It also applies to unladen weight of vehicles, not just Gross weight.
Anything over 2450kg unladen is banned from lane 3 of a motorway. Most people think that it applies only to trailers, Large passenger, goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.
The Highway code is wrong in this respect. Myself and a colleague pointed this out in relation to unladen weights and it went all the way to the top where it was decided to leave the situation it is because it will cause too much confusion!!
Anything with a Tachograph fitted (3500kg gross and above) is limited to 50mph on single and 60mph on dual carriageway roads not including Motorways where they can travel at 70mph.
The unladen weight of around 2 tons will basically be catering for these types of vehicles. Not many of them appear to be aware of either of the regulations regarding this.
So, Large box vans which you see travelling at 70mph on the motorway are entitled to do so until they exceed 7.5 tons laden. They should not however venture out into lane 3 under any circumstances but because of confusion, it was felt better to not ammend the highway code advice!
Anything over 2450kg unladen is banned from lane 3 of a motorway. Most people think that it applies only to trailers, Large passenger, goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.
The Highway code is wrong in this respect. Myself and a colleague pointed this out in relation to unladen weights and it went all the way to the top where it was decided to leave the situation it is because it will cause too much confusion!!
Anything with a Tachograph fitted (3500kg gross and above) is limited to 50mph on single and 60mph on dual carriageway roads not including Motorways where they can travel at 70mph.
The unladen weight of around 2 tons will basically be catering for these types of vehicles. Not many of them appear to be aware of either of the regulations regarding this.
So, Large box vans which you see travelling at 70mph on the motorway are entitled to do so until they exceed 7.5 tons laden. They should not however venture out into lane 3 under any circumstances but because of confusion, it was felt better to not ammend the highway code advice!
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