Tailgate and speed

Paradigm

smashingyour... wrote: »

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.

Maybe so but I've not seen a TC fine... it wouldn't surprise me though, they have a fair bit of muscle as the above shows

redmike123

I travel on the M25 to and from work most days. I join it at j6 and leave at J4, and for much of the journey there is an average speed limit of 50. I do low 50's as registered on my speedo and on my navman and I usually sit happily in the inside lane, because there is no point in trying to weave in and out to get ahead, the difference in speeds between the 3 lanes is minimal.

The number of HGV's who drive to within 3 feet of my back bumper before pulling in to middle lane to overtake me at 51 mph is amazing.

I know I'm not a perfect driver, I just want to get home safely in one piece so I just let them get on with it.

Jamie_Carter

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?

Actually with more and more HGVs being automatic, it is the retarder that will slow it down with some HGVs. When retarders are fitted, they usually take the place of the exhaust brake.

Paradigm wrote: »

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

You don't know what I was thinking.

Jamie_Carter

Ultrasonic wrote: »

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?

It used to be really busy when it was just two lanes. Now it is brilliant for getting past long lines of HGVs and caravans.

Jamie_Carter

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.

The biggest clue is the wheel size. 7.5 tonners have much smaller wheels.

Jamie_Carter

redmike123 wrote: »

I travel on the M25 to and from work most days. I join it at j6 and leave at J4, and for much of the journey there is an average speed limit of 50. I do low 50's as registered on my speedo and on my navman and I usually sit happily in the inside lane, because there is no point in trying to weave in and out to get ahead, the difference in speeds between the 3 lanes is minimal.

The number of HGV's who drive to within 3 feet of my back bumper before pulling in to middle lane to overtake me at 51 mph is amazing.

I know I'm not a perfect driver, I just want to get home safely in one piece so I just let them get on with it.

If you drive at the 50mph limit, then trucks won't pull up close behind you, and then have to pull out to overtake you. If everyone did this then the traffic would flow much better.

smashingyour...

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

The biggest clue is the wheel size. 7.5 tonners have much smaller wheels.

What does wheel size have to do with whether there is a limiter fitted or not?

Dimey

redmike123 wrote: »

I travel on the M25 to and from work most days. I join it at j6 and leave at J4, and for much of the journey there is an average speed limit of 50. I do low 50's as registered on my speedo and on my navman and I usually sit happily in the inside lane, because there is no point in trying to weave in and out to get ahead, the difference in speeds between the 3 lanes is minimal.

The number of HGV's who drive to within 3 feet of my back bumper before pulling in to middle lane to overtake me at 51 mph is amazing.

I know I'm not a perfect driver, I just want to get home safely in one piece so I just let them get on with it.

Thank you Redmike
Absolutely, it's a normal everyday occurance

Paradigm

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Actually with more and more HGVs being automatic, it is the retarder that will slow it down with some HGVs. When retarders are fitted, they usually take the place of the exhaust brake.

I drive trucks for a living & know what a retarder is In all the trucks I have driven I have yet to find one where the retarder/engine brake can't be turned off..... automatic or manual.

When driving on slppery surfaces the last thing any driver wants is braking applied to the drive wheels automatically, in fact it's dangerous!

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

You don't know what I was thinking.

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

You can be prosecuted for exceeding the national speed limit from tacho records, because they would show that you exceeded it. This is one of the things that tachos exist for.

A bit of a clue there if you don't mind me saying

Catnapper

It was only when I got a satnav that I realised that speedos underread your actual speed.
My car mechanic says every car he's seen does it.
I've tried it in three cars and they all underread.
If my current car says I'm doing 70 I'm actually doing about 66mph.
Tachos in wagons have to be calibrated, so are likely to be more accurate.