Petition Increase the Category B driving license weight limit from 3,500kg to 3,650kg

[Millcourt]

Please consider signing this Petition. Although I am not convinced that Petitions to Parliament are often successful, this may be worth an attempt.

Petition: Increase the Category B driving license weight limit from 3,500kg to 3,650kg

Many modern motorhome chassis are capable of a maximum authorised mass of over 3,500kg. We believe existing weight limits for Category B licences are impractical, and many vehicles end up being overladen. Give everyone an extra 150kg.

petition.parliament.uk

 

[Dorset Diver]

I am all for an increase in B licence weight allowance but 3650 is neither here nor there. The licence category allowance needs to be raised to 4200kgs to be of any use in the real world. Just my thoughts so I won't be signing.

 

[Reallyretired]

Such a titchy increase doesn't seem worth the bother, why choose such a low figure. 4500 would be of great use.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

agree with others, why has such a small increase been suggested?

 

[mofurt]

There's been an increase to 4250 for electric vans (with some additional training) as the batteries on those reduce the load capacity. A general increase with that as the reason may be more likely to happen than a small rise because it's useful for motorhome owners.

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[cyberyacht]

I agree 3650 seems a daft figure. At least deal in round figures -4000Kg perhaps. Not sure how much I would benefit though. Max for mine is 3700 and you have the Continental restrictions set at 3500 so would I up-plate?

 

[Guigsy]

There are vehicle classifications based on weight. The reasoning is larger vehicles are potentially more dangerous and hence require drivers to reach a higher bar.

To get this law changed, there needs to be some reasoning as to why the existing limit is incorrect.

"Because I wanna drive a bigger motorhome" isn't a good legal argument.

 

[Southdowners]

I don’t understand why my husband and I can drive our motorhome which is 7.5 tonne just because we passed our test a long time ago. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that we didn’t have to take another test but it does seem strange.

 

[Mr Colpot]

Maybe a petition to reinstate the limits to pre 1997 would be better?

 

[Lenny HB]

Don't see the point why 3650, stupid figure. If you are going to do it needs to be 4250 or 4500kg only way to get a decent payload.

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[Pablotti]

There are vehicle classifications based on weight. The reasoning is larger vehicles are potentially more dangerous and hence require drivers to reach a higher bar.

To get this law changed, there needs to be some reasoning as to why the existing limit is incorrect.

"Because I wanna drive a bigger motorhome" isn't a good legal argument.

Exactly right.

There is a process in place to drive heavier vehicles, and there is no argument in the petition demonstrating why current process is incorrect or not working.

The petition is essentially saying ‘I want to drive a heavier weight vehicle but don’t want to take the C1 test, so please change the law instead’

 

[Guigsy]

I don’t understand why my husband and I can drive our motorhome which is 7.5 tonne just because we passed our test a long time ago. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that we didn’t have to take another test but it does seem strange.

Because they changed the law but couldn't remove existing rights.

 

[68c]

Do that and they will put us all on a 60mph limit.

 

[Littlewheels]

There are vehicle classifications based on weight. The reasoning is larger vehicles are potentially more dangerous and hence require drivers to reach a higher bar.

This may be factual,however, it does alter the fact that anyone can take a simple family Car onto the road at 100mph using it as a missile.

A Motorhome that’s 3500 or 4500 can be same physical dimension with similar running gear, The limits at these lower levels simply do not make sense.

 

[Guigsy]

A Motorhome that’s 3500 or 4500 can be same physical dimension with similar running gear, The limits at these lower levels simply do not make sense.

More weight means potentially harder to control and more dangerous in an accident. There needs to be an argument or data to suggest that 4.5t is not significantly different from 3.5t for this to succeed.

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[mofurt]

A car running at 100mph is probably still comfortably within the design limits (unless it's a 1.0 eco box) - much lower mass, suspension designed for fast driving not load carrying, low centre of gravity for cornering, less surface area for catching gusting side winds, far less momentum to get rid of when braking or in an accident. They are a different beast.

There may be an argument that a 4500kg vehicle today is much safer and easier to drive (brakes, suspension, engine performance, mirrors and cameras for manoeuvres) than a 3500kg vehicle 40 years ago, but comparing to a car doesn't really make the safety case.

 

[Littlewheels]

More weight means potentially harder to control and more dangerous in an accident. There needs to be an argument or data to suggest that 4.5t is not significantly different from 3.5t for this to succeed.

Agreed, that’s my point ,we are currently have vehicles today licensed at these weights but they are pretty much exactly the same,therefore,the data is already in place.
These weights/standards were set yonks ago and in that period vehicles in handling/braking/suspension have moved on but the standard set for “Lorry’s” are what we are limited to.
l believe it to be a simple Paper overall to move the limits up.

 

[Otter Spotter]

I don’t understand why my husband and I can drive our motorhome which is 7.5 tonne just because we passed our test a long time ago. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that we didn’t have to take another test but it does seem strange.

Better driving instructors then and testing. Many people now don’t want to pay for full driving course, s9 they are just taught to pass the test and no more.

 

[Lenny HB]

Do that and they will put us all on a 60mph limit.

Won't have any affect at all, speed limit is determined by unladen weight.

 

[joe and sue]

I am all for an increase in B licence weight allowance but 3650 is neither here nor there. The licence category allowance needs to be raised to 4200kgs to be of any use in the real world. Just my thoughts so I won't be signing.

Same here this needs to be increased to include most British / European Motorhomes and being used for Private use,
There should be a requirement for a specific licence for anything over 3500kg being driven for commercial use

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[Guigsy]

Same here this needs to be increased to include most British / European Motorhomes and being used for Private use,
There should be a requirement for a specific licence for anything over 3500kg being driven for commercial use

The reason for carrying load doesn't affect the laws of physics, so why would driving for leisure make your vehicle more safe? And there's the additional issue that it'd more complicated to enforce.

 

[grumps147]

Ok, so going against the so far majority opinion of going higher than 3650 Kg as suggested in the OP by Millcourt, but I support this. So my reason why is my vehicle is built to a 3650Kg spec, but for me wanting it to be 3500 it could be upgraded immediately. No questions of what the testing to get the COC approval involved, no uprating of wheels, tyres, suspension, a straight and immediate upgrade that for me would go on a spare wheel, possibly a second leisure battery and the ability to arrive on site with water.
Yes, wouldn't it be great to go to 3850, 4000 or 4500, but for a quick and immediate fix with no hassle and no expense 3650 would do nicely.

 

[Lenny HB]

More weight means potentially harder to control and more dangerous in an accident. There needs to be an argument or data to suggest that 4.5t is not significantly different from 3.5t for this to succeed.

Nope, my 4.5t van is about the same size as my previous 3.5t van. The brakes & handling are better on the 4.5t.

 

[Guigsy]

There's two separate issues. One is whether your vehicle is built to take over 3500kg. If it's only rated for 3.5t, then that should be all it can carry.

The other is whether you're licenced to drive drive over 3.5t.

A licencing change should not automatically increase the payload of all 3.5t plated vehicles.

 

[Guigsy]

Nope, my 4.5t van is about the same size as my previous 3.5t van. The brakes & handling are better on the 4.5t.

Not the point. It'd handle better and brake a shorter distance if the same van was only loaded to 3.5t.

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[Lenny HB]

Not the point. It'd handle better and brake a shorter distance if the same van was only loaded to 3.5t.

It the point as the 3.5t chassis has smaller brakes and different suspension. Couldn't run a 4.5t at 3.5t not mine anyway as its about 3.4t before I load it.

 

[mofurt]

The reason for carrying load doesn't affect the laws of physics, so why would driving for leisure make your vehicle more safe? And there's the additional issue that it'd more complicated to enforce.

Also, a commercial driver who is driving the vehicle every day is more likely to be comfortable, experienced and safe driving it in all traffic conditions than someone who does a couple of thousand miles a year for leisure (ignoring any issues of a commercial driver being under pressure to meet timescales).

 

[Lenny HB]

Also, a commercial driver who is driving the vehicle every day is more likely to be comfortable, experienced and safe driving it in all traffic conditions than someone who does a couple of thousand miles a year for leisure (ignoring any issues of a commercial driver being under pressure to meet timescales).

By that logic it must be safer to drive the Motorhome. I drive between 1000 to 2000 miles a year in the car where as I drive 8000 to 10,000 miles in the motorhome.

 

[Guigsy]

It the point as the 3.5t chassis has smaller brakes and different suspension. Couldn't run a 4.5t at 3.5t not mine anyway as its about 3.4t before I load it.

But if your 4.5t van is in an accident with a car, it's likely there's going to be more kinetic energy and transfer of momentum than an accident involving a 3.5t van. Even if it handles just as well, when it does have an accident, it's going to have greater consequences. Hence drivers need to have a higher grade licence to drive more dangerous vehicles.

 

[mofurt]

By that logic it must be safer to drive the Motorhome. I drive between 1000 to 2000 miles a year in the car where as I drive 8000 to 10,000 miles in the motorhome.

In the general case, I'd contend that's not true, as most people drive their cars more for commuting. And laws have to deal with the general - if they are written for a specific case they tend to be poor.
Strangely, my wife can drive all sorts of big vehicles, and put a 15 seater minibus or large van into a really tight parking space. Ask her to park a Mini or similar small vehicle, not a chance of it going in central and square!

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