Route Planner for Minibus

hollie.weimeraner

I have been asked to drive a minibus for a trip to Scotland (I have D1 entitlement) and am struggling to find a route planner specifically for speed restricted vehicles (Minibuses are restricted to a max 62mph max).

Any suggestions as I am wanting to try and time the journey a bit more precisely than google maps which is obviously for cars.

I know it sounds nerdy but it means a really early start and I want to stay in bed as long as possible:rotfl:

takman

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

I have been asked to drive a minibus for a trip to Scotland (I have D1 entitlement) and am struggling to find a route planner specifically for speed restricted vehicles (Minibuses are restricted to a max 62mph max).

Any suggestions as I am wanting to try and time the journey a bit more precisely than google maps which is obviously for cars.

I know it sounds nerdy but it means a really early start and I want to stay in bed as long as possible:rotfl:

You could use a route planner designed for caravans. But the problem you will then get is that you won't get the benefit of google maps estimated traffic delays. So you may improve accuracy due to speed but loose accuracy due to traffic.

BeenThroughItAll

Why does a 62MPH limit mean you need a special route? You can use all the same roads as anyone else, you just drive slower - the quickest route in a car doing 120MPH is still likely to be the quickest route in a minibus doing 60MPH, it's just going to take twice as long.

Andy_L

At, say, a 400 mile journey that 8 mph difference on M-way/Dual-carriage is going to make no noticeable difference.

hollie.weimeraner

Andy_L wrote: »

At, say, a 400 mile journey that 8 mph difference on M-way/Dual-carriage is going to make no noticeable difference.

8 mph over 4 hours might mean an extra 20 minutes in bed as we have to set off at stupid o'clock for a football tournament

hollie.weimeraner

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Why does a 62MPH limit mean you need a special route? You can use all the same roads as anyone else, you just drive slower - the quickest route in a car doing 120MPH is still likely to be the quickest route in a minibus doing 60MPH, it's just going to take twice as long.

I don't want a "special route" I am just trying to estimate slightly better timings due to speed restrictions so I can spend a bit more time asleep

AdrianC

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

I don't want a "special route" I am just trying to estimate slightly better timings due to speed restrictions so I can spend a bit more time asleep

If you're relying on the estimated timings from a route planner, you're going to be late anyway.

Where are you going from and to?

hollie.weimeraner

AdrianC wrote: »

If you're relying on the estimated timings from a route planner, you're going to be late anyway.

Where are you going from and to?

Sheffield to Glasgow and need to arrive before 10-45am on a Saturday so traffic should be pretty light.

To be fair my sat navs are always pretty accurate with route timings even on long journeys.

BeenThroughItAll

May I suggest a much easier solution; just go to bed half an hour earlier. Or sleep fully clothed in the minibus' drivers' seat so as to reduce time spent getting ready.

Rover_Driver

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

I have been asked to drive a minibus for a trip to Scotland (I have D1 entitlement) and am struggling to find a route planner specifically for speed restricted vehicles (Minibuses are restricted to a max 62mph max).

The speed restriction will depend on the length of the minibus. - Road Traffic Regulation Act, Sch.6, Part 1, s. 1. (Under or over 12 metres).

AdrianC

Rover_Driver wrote: »

The speed restriction will depend on the length of the minibus. - Road Traffic Regulation Act, Sch.6, Part 1, s. 1. (Under or over 12 metres).

If it's a D1-driveable minibus, then it's 8m and 16 passenger seats maximum. Anything longer than 8m, let alone 12m, would need a D licence.