Speed limits (1 Viewer)

Mandthelifeboats

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When we purchased our new coachbuilt m/h I seem to remember being told that speed limits for a 3.5tonne van was the same as a car! Just been looking and I am now not sure what the speed limits are,help please.
 
Dec 22, 2013
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over 3050kg 50mph on single carriageway, 60mph on dual, I believe
 
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From "gov web site"

Type of vehicle
Built-up areasmph(km/h) Single carriagewaysmph (km/h) Dual carriagewaysmph (km/h) Motorwaysmph(km/h)
Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles when towing caravans or trailers 30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)

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andy63

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It's been covered a few times on various threads but I never seem to be abe to do a search and find what I want so here's what I believe..
The speed limit is governed by something known as the unladen weight which is seldom stated anywhere .... if it's over 3050kg
Then lower speed limit's apply otherwise it is as a car..
For most coach built with a gross of 3500kg I think it's widely accepted that car limits apply..
The log book may well show a mass in service and manufacture often give a mass in running order... if these weights are below 3050 kg then your Definitely on the car speed limits.. as by definition the unladen weight does not include things which these weights do include..
Phew...hope that's right..
Andy.
 
Apr 29, 2009
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If you are driving a Panel Van Conversion check it is registered on the V5 as a Motor Caravan otherwise regardless of weight you would be governed by the lower limits.
 

vwalan

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but you can drive slower .those arent targets . they are maximum. they arent compulsory to drive at . only not above .
drive slower enjoy the scenery . make the journey a pleasure .

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andy63

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If you are driving a Panel Van Conversion check it is registered on the V5 as a Motor Caravan otherwise regardless of weight you would be governed by the lower limits.

It would pay to be even more thorough lol..
I Was done 18 months ago driving mine.. a ford transit van conversion which is registered as a motor caravan...
I got a ticket for doing 60 in what I thought was a 50 limit..
Some months later I discovered that I had been done as a goods vehicle exceeding the speed limit... an sp10 notice..
Ćontacted the courts ,police force concerned and a specialist solicitor... oh , and the dvla as the police said they got back to confirm it was a ford transit... neglected to say it was registered as a motor caravan..
Turned out that once I had accepted the notice and paid the fine I had no further comeback... was just told there was nothing could be done now.. if I had raised it at the time it may have been different...
So you are right to beware and always check to see what the offence actually is..
Andy. .
 
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It would pay to be even more thorough lol..
I Was done 18 months ago driving mine.. a ford transit van conversion which is registered as a motor caravan...
I got a ticket for doing 60 in what I thought was a 50 limit..
Some months later I discovered that I had been done as a goods vehicle exceeding the speed limit... an sp10 notice..
Ćontacted the courts ,police force concerned and a specialist solicitor... oh , and the dvla as the police said they got back to confirm it was a ford transit... neglected to say it was registered as a motor caravan..
Turned out that once I had accepted the notice and paid the fine I had no further comeback... was just told there was nothing could be done now.. if I had raised it at the time it may have been different...
So you are right to beware and always check to see what the offence actually is..
Andy. .
I am concerned that although mine is now registered as a Motor Caravan the Vehicle Category is still N1. DVLA say this doesnt change when you update the body type but I am trying to find out if this is true. I will try ringing DVLA again and see if I get a different answer. I had forgotten about it until I read this thread.
 

andy63

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I am concerned that although mine is now registered as a Motor Caravan the Vehicle Category is still N1. DVLA say this doesnt change when you update the body type but I am trying to find out if this is true. I will try ringing DVLA again and see if I get a different answer. I had forgotten about it until I read this thread.
It's just the body type definition that changes but if you find out different please let me know.. ..
but led to believe that it is then subject to the limits for motorcarvans and not a goods vehicle..
Mine is clearly not a goods vehicle.. if it was photographic evidence they had I don't know what they were doing?? But I was done as a goods vehicle exceeding it's speed limit...
If it ever happened and you were in doubt just check the code used on the notice... I wish I had but too late now.. live and learn:).
Andy.

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pappajohn

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Typical DVSA incompetance at its best.

How can you have a MAXIMUM unladen weight.
Unladen weight is not a variable.
Anything above the STATED, whether plated or documented, unladen weight becomes payload
 

Lorryman100

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Check your V5, if the unladen weight is more than 3050kgs with a revenue weight of 3500kgs then you are restricted to the lower speed limits. If the unladen weight is below 3050kgs then car speed limits apply.

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Apr 22, 2013
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Check your V5, if the unladen weight is more than 3050kgs with a revenue weight of 3500kgs then you are restricted to the lower speed limits. If the unladen weight is below 3050kgs then car speed limits apply.
Unladen weight is not listed on my V5
 

pappajohn

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Unladen weight is not listed on my V5
Not often that its is but it will be documented somewhere.
You could use a weighbridge but that means removing EVERYTHING that wasnt there when it came out the converters building...inc fixed items like sat dish, solar and controller, bike rack, towbar etc.

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andy63

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V5 Section 4' Vehicle details, sub section G: Mass in service. (y)

Mass in service is defined under The European Directive 95/48/EC which includes 90% fuel and 75kg for driver and tools. As it is an EU wide directive one must assume the DVLA use the same definition shown on the V5.
Unladen weight
The unladen weight of any vehicle is the weight of the vehicle when it’s not carrying any passengers, goods or other items.

It includes the body and all parts normally used with the vehicle or trailer when it’s used on a road.

It doesn’t include the weight of the fuel or, if it’s an electric vehicle, the batteries.
So they are not the same... ..
It's been kicked to death before and no firm conclusion reached... other than unladen weight is a term used in law which determines a max permissible speed but no one else actually seems use it or record it... but as I said in my original post if mass in service or mass in running order are less than or around 3050kg then by definition the unladen weight has to be less than the stated figure..

Andy..
 
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Check your V5, if the unladen weight is more than 3050kgs with a revenue weight of 3500kgs then you are restricted to the lower speed limits. If the unladen weight is below 3050kgs then car speed limits apply.
What if the unladen weight is 3050 and the gross weight is 4250?
 

Lorryman100

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I was told by a work colleague (ex Strathclyde traffic division) that the weight listed in section G is what defines whether or not I would get done for speeding. Good enough for me so I stick to the lower limits. (y)

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andy63

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What if the unladen weight is 3050 and the gross weight is 4250?
Then the same max speed limit as apply to cars is applicable..
That's my understanding from reading and discussions... daft as that might seem..
Andy
 

andy63

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I was told by a work colleague (ex Strathclyde traffic division) that the weight listed in section G is what defines whether or not I would get done for speeding. Good enough for me so I stick to the lower limits. (y)
That's sounds sensible to me ,but if you wanted to argue the point ..see the definitions above ..they are different.. that surely can't be disputed.. it's off the government Web site..
Andy

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andy63

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You dont get off that lightly....over 3500kg is classed HGV and is restricted to 50mph and 60mph on dual/motorway anyway.

I dont believe that's right John. . That would apply if the vehicle was a goods vehicle ..and certain mh''s may fall within that definition depending on what they carry and their use ,but if they are registeed as a motor caravan the oly criteria that governs their max allowed speed is seating capacity which doesn't usually come into the equation and their unladen weight..
Andy..
 
Oct 29, 2008
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I dont believe that's right John. . That would apply if the vehicle was a goods vehicle ..and certain mh''s may fall within that definition depending on what they carry and their use ,but if they are registeed as a motor caravan the oly criteria that governs their max allowed speed is seating capacity which doesn't usually come into the equation and their unladen weight..
Andy..
So whats the right answer?
 

vwalan

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well i say 30mph . on duall drive at 40mph . on motorways still drive slowly 50mph .
enjoy the drive .

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