nope!
ANY VAN unless car-derived AND less than 2tons
gross. As a "rule of thumb" any van larger than a Vauxhall Astra van will have a gross weight in excess of 2 tonnes and is therefore subject to the reduced "class of vehicle" speed limits. Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Mercedes Vito, Peugeot Expert and Ford Connect, for example, are restricted vans.
It is immaterial that a goods vehicle may be unladen at the time it is detected exceeding the speed limit. The construction of the vehicle that enables it to be used up to the 7.5 tonnes maximum weight is the relevant criteria.
Know Your Speed Limits
"What is a "car derived van"?
Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, a "car derived van" is defined as:- "A goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes."
The important word in this definition is "and" as there are goods vehicles that look as if they are based on a passenger vehicle, but when the manufacturer puts a gross laden weight on the goods vehicle, which is the design weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load that it is designed to carry, and this exceeds 2 tonnes, that vehicle is no longer a car derived van. The van becomes an ordinary goods vehicle under 7.5 tonnes gross weight, and is therefore subject to the speed limits as shown in the Highway Code.
As a "rule of thumb" any van larger than a Vauxhall Astra van will have a gross weight in excess of 2 tonnes and is therefore subject to the reduced "class of vehicle" speed limits. Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Mercedes Vito, Peugeot Expert and Ford Connect, for example, are restricted vans.
It is immaterial that a goods vehicle may be unladen at the time it is detected exceeding the speed limit. The construction of the vehicle that enables it to be used up to the 7.5 tonnes maximum weight is the relevant criteria.
Well for once I'm going to wade in on the side of a Trade Member who does make a genuine contribution to the SD site .... when he's not trying to flog something.
I drive a Ford Connect T230 hi-top van. I bought it from new, so it was very much a conscious decision (with £5K VAT to forego on my side which companies get back) for my dogs & kipping in. I did try 4x4's including Land Rovers but found there wasn't much usable space, and the garage bills outweighed the pose value.
My twin brother drives like a 'tit possessed' so is in the band of harassing motorists who snort up my exhaust. Perhaps I should fit trailing entrance ramps like the 'Italian Job' film so they can drive in for a cuppa, and be slavered over by spaniels as a punishment. I'm limited to 50mph on all roads apart from dual carriageways (60mph max), and the standard 70 on motorways. The van is a lot smaller than a LR 110, SUV, or estate.
My twin, who like me is no chicken, just didn't know these DOT limits existed.Not many do, and he just didn't believe me but as I popped out 10 minutes later he's senior. He just had to check it out on a bet so I'm £50 richer. Believe me, the police are aware of speed restricted traffic like LGV's & ANPR technology isn't outsmarted as your Reg. No. is logged on A-roads. I have been warned twice now for doing 55mph.
It seems to me that drivers are pressured to keep up with traffic, so there's a ripple effect in that everyone goes with the flow. Unreasonable slowness is just as much of a menace as speeding like a lunatic, but if you stick to the statutory limit you can't be faulted.
There needs to be some perspective on here. Far from being schoolboy ticking-offs, Speed Awareness courses are there to teach you to consider others, but mainly stopping distances and your likely reaction times when you're hoofing it or in a hurry. This is to deal with the dog or kid who might run onto the road, and in my case the added momentum from the weight of the load that I'm permitted to carry in an LGV but never do.
Also it's worth pointing out that usually the added costs of increased insurance premiums (+ the increased 9% Premium Tax from this month) are avoided for 3-5 years if you face an SP30 fixed penalty, and can do a SAC. Not everybody in the UK is offered this cop-out so (again) the system isn't fair for all.
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