Tailgate and speed

Lum

Iceweasel wrote: »

I see this on the M6 with caravans - (Note -I'm not having a pop at caravans - I have one.)

I see many thoughtless folks with this attitude - they get up to 60 on their speedo, which is usually around 2mph more than the 56mph speed-limited trucks - they switch on the cruise-control - and then stay in lane 2.

Then the next caravan or trailer combo comes up doing a genuine 60mph (probably using a Sat-Nav to get it right) and is stuffed.

On my list of things that annoy me.

NSL for cars on motorway - 70mph
NSL for caravans, coaches and lorries - 60mph
Effective NSL for lorries - 56mph due to limiter

But yes the 58mph MLM with a caravan is particularly obnoxious. It must be even more annoying for vehicles that don't get to use L3, but even having to pull into L3 is not great as doing so immediately activates the Audi-attracting magnet in your rear bumper as you take your chances with the 90+ mph crowd.

Jamie_Carter

Lum wrote: »

On my list of things that annoy me.

NSL for cars on motorway - 70mph
NSL for caravans, coaches and lorries - 60mph
Effective NSL for lorries - 56mph due to limiter

But yes the 58mph MLM with a caravan is particularly obnoxious. It must be even more annoying for vehicles that don't get to use L3, but even having to pull into L3 is not great as doing so immediately activates the Audi-attracting magnet in your rear bumper as you take your chances with the 90+ mph crowd.

You should try driving the length of the A1 then, most of it is two lanes. And of course the limits for HGVs are lower on the non motorway sections.

Paradigm

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

That is why the limiters are set at 56mph, to allow for momentum. The speed limit for large goods vehicles on motorways is 60mph, and not 56mph as some people seem to think.

On many modern HGVs the limiter won't even allow momentum to take them over 60mph.

It would take a steep hill to push even an older HGV with a limiter fitted, well over 70mph.

HGVs are limited to 90kph (56mph) because it's a figure the EU lawmakers plucked out of the air in the interest of *cough* road safety, it has nothing to do with "momentum" although that's a nice idea.

Speed limiters merely cut the fuel at a preset point (some supermarket chains set the limiter to 50mph to save fuel) & have no influence on 44 tonnes being accelerated by gravity downhill... you may be getting confused with exhaust brakes?

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

And they could still lose their license when they submit their tachograph records.

Strangely you are almost correct but not in the way you think....

A tachograph isn't approved for the prosecution of speeding offences on it's own but it can be used to corroberate an approved detection device if need be.

However, if a VOSA inspection of Tacho records uncovers habitual speeding the local TC (Traffic Commisioner) can suspend the HGV entitlement for a period of days to months.

This doesn't involve court & therefore there are no points added to the licence... I was going to say "no fine" but not being able to work for the period of the suspension has the same result

Ultrasonic

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

You should try driving the length of the A1 then, most of it is two lanes.

Very true. Although I can never quite fathom the section south of Peterborough which for some inexplicable (to me at least) reason has 4 lanes for a bit. I've never seen this bit remotely busy. Did they have some spare tarmac or something?

smashingyour...

Paradigm wrote: »

HGVs are limited to 90kph (56mph) because it's a figure the EU lawmakers plucked out of the air in the interest of *cough* road safety, it has nothing to do with "momentum" although that's a nice idea.

Speed limiters merely cut the fuel at a preset point (some supermarket chains set the limiter to 50mph to save fuel) & have no influence on 44 tonnes being accelerated by gravity downhill... you may be getting confused with exhaust brakes?




Strangely you are almost correct but not in the way you think....

A tachograph isn't approved for the prosecution of speeding offences on it's own but it can be used to corroberate an approved detection device if need be.

However, if a VOSA inspection of Tacho records uncovers habitual speeding the local TC (Traffic Commisioner) can suspend the HGV entitlement for a period of days to months.

This doesn't involve court & therefore there are no points added to the licence... I was going to say "no fine" but not being able to work for the period of the suspension has the same result

I thought the traffic commissioner could issue fines following his enquiry. You can of course appear before him and offer evidence in your defence.

Iceweasel

Don't forget that a 7.5 tonne truck is allowed into lane 3 and has a 70mph speed limit on a motorway.

Unless they've changed the rules when my back was turned.

I do know some have speed-limiters these days so they would be restricted to lanes 1 and 2.

I don't know how to tell which is a 70mph 7.5 tonner and which is a 56mph 7.5 tonner, or why.

UK rules are truly strange - with so many exemptions from the EU regulations.

smashingyour...

Iceweasel wrote: »

Don't forget that a 7.5 tonne truck is allowed into lane 3 and has a 70mph speed limit on a motorway.

Unless they've changed the rules when my back was turned.

I do know some have speed-limiters these days so they would be restricted to lanes 1 and 2.

I don't know how to tell which is a 70mph 7.5 tonner and which is a 56mph 7.5 tonner, or why.

UK rules are truly strange - with so many exemptions from the EU regulations.

Why would a speed limiter keep them out of lane 3?

It's vehicles over 7.5 tonnes or drawing a trailer that restricts them is it not?

Paradigm

smashingyour... wrote: »

I thought the traffic commissioner could issue fines following his enquiry. You can of course appear before him and offer evidence in your defence.

Possibly they can issue fines but in the few cases I know of personally it's never happened.... the end result of a "meeting" has been a big slap on the wrist or a short suspension.

Maybe they think the suspension is worse than a £60 fine??

Paradigm

smashingyour... wrote: »

Why would a speed limiter keep them out of lane 3?

It's vehicles over 7.5 tonnes or drawing a trailer that restricts them is it not?

Any goods vehicle between 3.5 & 7.5 tonnes fitted with a limiter is not allowed to use lane 3.

smashingyour...

Paradigm wrote: »

Possibly they can issue fines but in the few cases I know of personally it's never happened.... the end result of a "meeting" has been a big slap on the wrist or a short suspension.

Maybe they think the suspension is worse than a £60 fine??

I've seen one lose his vocational entitlement and the ability to quota company for 12 months which is a big slap on the wrists. I'm also sure he was fined too.