Speed Limits (again)

[Davenjo]

Same as the road tolls, variable speed cameras, fixed cameras, man in van - it is all done via ANPR and your registration plate and what the DVLA have it recorded as - mine has been re-registered as a "Motor Caravan" so higher speed limits will apply.

 

[Pauly]

Any weigh bridge that can give you a print out should do as the paperwork will have your VRN on it, remember this won’t stop you getting done for exceeding the reduced limits but will be a piece towards the puzzle to show you are allowed to drive at the regular limits (if your vehicle satisfies the dual purpose category)

 

[TEESIXY]

I did know about this as a colleague was caught doing 70mph on a national speed limit dual carriage way and was more than angry about it.

I don’t see the point in it to be honest. Is it due to the vehicle weight? As @Pete C pointed out the speed limits don’t apply to camper vans I’ll be trying to get mine changed over ASAP.

Its hard to see what purpose it serves with modern vehicles. If it was adhered to fully, things could be chaotic.- I travel on the A1 most days, and lane 1 is usually littered with lorries doing exactly 56mph. A van driver has only an additional 4mph to pass them, which means passing them could take ages.

 

[Murdoch]

Given that plod ignore most drivers on dual carriageways and motorways who are doing up to 10 mph over the limit I'm hoping I'm safe!

 

[G12RYX]

Given that plod ignore most drivers on dual carriageways and motorways who are doing up to 10 mph over the limit I'm hoping I'm safe!

That’s my thinking but when you come over the brow of a hill one day and a camera van is on the horizon then that’s when I’ll panic

 

[Captain Mainwaring]

Agreed that the whole thing is ridiculously confusing. Presumably the logic behind the lower limits for vans is that they can be carrying up to 1.2 tonnes of moveable load which could shift in emergency situations. A camper van or shuttle won’t have that much extra weight and it’s all securely locked down

 

[DaveyB]

However what is even more ironic is that my T32 has the bigger brakes, and is generally empty. It is not used as a commercial vehicle but a leisure one. Whereas a fully converted T28/30 sat on smaller brakes, close to its maximum load can travel at a higher speed than I can. Wonder which one will stop quicker?

 

[Dieseldonkey]

However what is even more ironic is that my T32 has the bigger brakes, and is generally empty. It is not used as a commercial vehicle but a leisure one. Whereas a fully converted T28/30 sat on smaller brakes, close to its maximum load can travel at a higher speed than I can. Wonder which one will stop quicker?

I aint no Professor Donkey, but there's some odd things in vehicle dynamics where you would assume something would be the case, but it's sometimes cancelled out by the balance of compromises being shifted.

An increase in speed has a far greater effect on the vehicles total kinetic energy than you get by increasing its weight. Maximum braking efficiency occurs just at the point before a wheel/tyre starts to lock up. Usually at the point where your ABS kicks in. If you can achieve this condition with wee brakes then having big brakes doesn't really shorten the stopping distance. We'll perhaps maybe fractionally if less pedal effort is required to reach maximum braking efficiency. You would get to that point sooner with larger diameter discs. But then again you have bigger brake piston to fill and that could take longer an...... aaaaarghhh.......The compromises are the voices in my head!!!! See what you've gone and done @DaveyB .

Can't you stick to cutting roofs off?

I mean folk moan daily about duff headlights. But we all think our brakes are just dandy. Big or small...............

 

[Murdoch]

My T32 fully loaded would stop far quicker than my son's 2005 fiesta ....

Go figure

 

[Loz]

I mean folk moan daily about duff headlights. But we all think our brakes are just dandy. Big or small...............

...and then they go oversize on the tyres and reduce the efficiency even more...

 

[DaveyB]

I aint no Professor Donkey, but there's some odd things in vehicle dynamics where you would assume something would be the case, but it's sometimes cancelled out by the balance of compromises being shifted.

An increase in speed has a far greater effect on the vehicles total kinetic energy than you get by increasing its weight. Maximum braking efficiency occurs just at the point before a wheel/tyre starts to lock up. Usually at the point where your ABS kicks in. If you can achieve this condition with wee brakes then having big brakes doesn't really shorten the stopping distance. We'll perhaps maybe fractionally if less pedal effort is required to reach maximum braking efficiency. You would get to that point sooner with larger diameter discs. But then again you have bigger brake piston to fill and that could take longer an...... aaaaarghhh.......The compromises are the voices in my head!!!! See what you've gone and done @DaveyB .

Can't you stick to cutting roofs off?

I mean folk moan daily about duff headlights. But we all think our brakes are just dandy. Big or small...............

We could always start talking about physics and laws of motion and all that sort of stuff.

Nah, that’d be nuts. Let’s go back to talking about shiny expensive stuff.

 

[Gavandi]

Did we ever get to the bottom of the actual correct Speed limits?

I had to attend a speed awareness course this pm ( Tut Tut!) Not caught speeding in van I hasten to add!!
Discussion on speeds etc and I questioned the 70/60 MPH on a motorway as I had assumed it was fine to do 70MPH.
Course leader adamant that it was 60MPH! I begged to differ but was slapped down!

Then he starts about Commercial/Vat/LGV/weight etc.
My V5 states "Body Type = Motor Caravan" but Vehicle class says " Light Goods Vehicle"

So ….? Is it 60 or 70 MPH on M'Way?

 

[Tourershine]

Did we ever get to the bottom of the actual correct Speed limits?

I had to attend a speed awareness course this pm ( Tut Tut!) Not caught speeding in van I hasten to add!!
Discussion on speeds etc and I questioned the 70/60 MPH on a motorway as I had assumed it was fine to do 70MPH.
Course leader adamant that it was 60MPH! I begged to differ but was slapped down!

Then he starts about Commercial/Vat/LGV/weight etc.
My V5 states "Body Type = Motor Caravan" but Vehicle class says " Light Goods Vehicle"

So ….? Is it 60 or 70 MPH on M'Way?

I can do 70 in my Motorhome on a motorway, and it's 3 times the size of a T6

 

[Davenjo]

Even as a van you can do 70 on motorway (60 on dual carriageway and 50 national). As a Motor Caravan it is 70/70/60:- Speed limits

 

[DaveyB]

I can do 70 in my Motorhome on a motorway, and it's 3 times the size of a T6

And there is the irony.
Like when you sit at 60 in your T6 and a coach with 50+ occupants comes belting past.

 

[Tourershine]

And there is the irony.
Like when you sit at 60 in your T6 and a coach with 50+ occupants comes belting past.

Why would you be doing 60?

 

[Peatey]

I can do 70 in my Motorhome on a motorway, and it's 3 times the size of a T6

I've never seen a motorhome do 70 before

 

[Tourershine]

I've never seen a motorhome do 70 before

I wouldn't sit at that speed because it just winds up car drivers, then they just start being daft, but it will happily cruise at 70, it's only 4hp lower than my T6.

 

[Gavandi]

Just been checking on DVLA etc.....
As @Davenjo : 30/60/70/70 if classified as a Motor Home or Motor Caravan under 3.05 tonnes.

If still classified as Goods vehicle under 7.5 tonnes then : 30/50*/60*/70

So guess APNR will work on V5 record

 

[Jay17cali]

I've never seen a motorhome do 70 before

We had a motorhome a while ago...a Karmann Colorado t5 180 dsg and it would do well above the speed limit I mean well above!!!!! It was scary how stable it felt at high speeds so easy to break the law