And another thing - 95 mph white vans and others up to 7.5t? Safe? Or plain daft?

ozvaldinho

Mercedes sprinter (old model) driven flat out gives 18mpg, driven carefully 31 mpg.

scbk

Gatso's can't tell between different vehicles, but I have heard of them being set to the 7.5t limit then the cars ones being manually sorted out.

SPEC cameras can read plates and know your speed limit, as can a manually operated camera van/radar gun

goldspanners

there is a difference in a van under 3.5 ton as to regarding the rear window,if the van has rear windows it can do 70mph on the motorway,but if it doesnt it should only be doing 60mph,dont ask me why,as i dont know.
i have a merc vito for work supplied by the company,i must admit i drive it without care for fuel consumption,and rarely see under 80 if the road is clear.the van goes quicker than a lot of cars and handles just as well.

ozvaldinho

goldspanners wrote: »

there is a difference in a van under 3.5 ton as to regarding the rear window,if the van has rear windows it can do 70mph on the motorway,but if it doesnt it should only be doing 60mph,dont ask me why,as i dont know.

I never heard this one before. As the law stands, the definition of a 'car-derived van' is the key defining point in speed limits. The limits for your Vito are the same as for my sprinters and boxers, so watch out. The limit on single carriageway A roads is only 50mph!!!

mikeouk

peterbaker wrote: »

Thanks for that ... but here's some possibly interesting counter-data:

I have a 2002 Fiat Ducato ... it is plated at 3.5 tonnes. It is actually supposed to be safe up to over 4 tonnes and can be re-plated at 4.150 I think without any modifications, merely a bit of paperwork and fee paying. That would then require a pre-1997 car licence to drive, but I don't think it drops the max speed limit on a motorway. Judging from the number of 'Ford Cargo' and 7.5t Iveco trucks with tail-lifts found at 70mph plus in the fast lane, I don't think there's any effective restriction until you get into formal HGV categories.


It is legal at 70mph on a motorway same as a car.

if you take the gross vehicle weight above 3.5 ton it will need a tachograph. A 3.5 ton van cant legaly do 70mph, it should be 60mph

scbk

Goods vehicles under 7.5t can do 70 on the motorway - aslong as they don't have a trailer.


Lets not go into tachos - that's another can of worms! A large transit pulling a large trailer (gross train over 3.3) for hire & reward needs a tacho! And trailers over 1020 empty need an o-licence

goldspanners

ozvaldinho wrote: »

I never heard this one before. As the law stands, the definition of a 'car-derived van' is the key defining point in speed limits. The limits for your Vito are the same as for my sprinters and boxers, so watch out. The limit on single carriageway A roads is only 50mph!!!

i know this,but the vito is a fun van when it actually works and it is hard not to put the foot down,it will only be a matter of time before i get another ticket, i know.

Conor_3

scbk wrote: »

Gatso's can't tell between different vehicles,

Not correct. There's many that'll detect HGVs. The A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh has some.

goldspanners

Conor wrote: »

Not correct. There's many that'll detect HGVs. The A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh has some.

true,my dad got caught in his lorry here.

scbk

Learn something new everyday! Can't say I use the A1 often, usually the A68 - quieter road, slightly shorter and there's a nice chineese takeaway in Jedburgh

Fortunatly the gatsos on the A9 can't tell the difference, most lorrys do 56 the whole way up
You gotta watch out for the camera van they put out once every few weeks though. Rather handily, the fellow van and truck drivers flashing their lights give you plenty of warning :A