- 3,5 T speed limits

[Cheshirecat57]

It will be interesting to read their response, usually I find their replies to awkward questions of little help, they just quote the law and tell you it is your responsibility to comply. Let us hope you get something useful this time.

I suspect the DVLA knows that using unladen weights for speed limits on motorhomes presents enforcement problems. A year ago I drove passed a speed camera van at nearly 60MPH on a single carriageway road in my over 3500kg motorhome and have heard nothing from them. I very much doubt they even bothered to check out my unladen weight, which they might well not have access to anyway. They were probably getting plenty of 60+ hits on cars to make their day worthwhile without digging in difficult areas.

What are your concerns
Is your MoHo over 3050kg unladen weight or is it not registered as a motor caravan?

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I will do that but the DVLA must have a weight to set up their databases for speed cameras, well I assume they must.
I have found an email address for someone at the DVLA and sent off a request for clarification and received an auto response to say they will try and respond within ....20 days !.

Is your van not registered as a motor caravan?

 

[Pausim]

What are your concerns
Is your MoHo over 3050kg unladen weight or is it not registered as a motor caravan?

Me? I am not at all concerned. I think the Government Agencies know this is a dogs breakfast of a system and are not inclined to dig in murky areas just to nick the odd motorhome driver.

 

[34127]

Is your van not registered as a motor caravan?

Not yet, although ready for re-classifying I have a few bits to finish off and was going to wait for insurance renewal date and do it then.

 

[Jurrasic]

On my 3850 kg plated van the sales/technical brochure from the manufacturer quotes a weight net as 2846 kg so some manufacturers do Quote the unladen weight when manufactured and all the extras added. Might be worth contacting your manufacturer assuming they are still trading.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Not yet, although ready for re-classifying I have a few bits to finish off and was going to wait for insurance renewal date and do it then.

If van is registered currently as a van, then unladen weight is irrelevant- 60 on a dual carriageway applies

 

[The Flute]

Does anyone really think the DVSA/police are going to spend time checking speed limits/unladen weight when there is no easily accessible information? As it happens mine is quoted on my V5 as 3040kg so I'm not restricted to the lower speed limits, despite having upgraded the MAUW to 3850, which of course makes the whole UK situation a farce.

IMO the only time this would be taken into account is in the event of a serious accident or when the insurance assessor is looking for a way to avoid paying out.

They dont need to Anpr cameras do it all for them. Mate of mine got done in his van 68 on a dual carriageway.

 

[34127]

If van is registered currently as a van, then unladen weight is irrelevant- 60 on a dual carriageway applies

Yes but what will be the speed limit when registered as Motor Caravan. As far as I am aware, the DVLA don't ask for any proof of max laiden weight when changing to Motor Caravan so what figures do they use.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Yes but what will be the speed limit when registered as Motor Caravan. As far as I am aware, the DVLA don't ask for any proof of max laiden weight when changing to Motor Caravan so what figures do they use.

When converted to Motor Caravan, only the UNLADEN weight is part of the legislation( yes its nonsense)
3050kgs is the threshold weight,even if Plated weight is >3500kg
So as a ridiculous example:-
UW 3100kg- GVW 3500 .....speed limit = 50 on single carriageway
UW 3000kg- GVW 4500..... speed limit = 60 on a single carriageway ?

However I doubt if automatic cameras would recognise UW which doesn't have to be on V5

Suggest police on foot might be an issue especially if they dont know the detail of the law

Anyone under 3050, especially if over 3500kg gvw should get a weight slip laminated and carry for such a potential encounter

 

[34127]

Thanks for your reply.
I wait to see if I get a reply from the DVLA that makes sense.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Arzedby]

Thank you for your reply. Please excuse my ignorance on this but how do I find out what the unladen weight is when it does not seem to be on the V5C. This refers to a panel van conversion.

My understanding is that "Mass in Service" on the V5c is basically the Unladen Weight with the addition of 75Kg driver and 90% Fuel. Therefore if "Mass in Service" is under 3050 Kg then Unladen Weight must be also.

 

[Emmit]

When converted to Motor Caravan, only the UNLADEN weight is part of the legislation( yes its nonsense)
3050kgs is the threshold weight,even if Plated weight is >3500kg
So as a ridiculous example:-
UW 3100kg- GVW 3500 .....speed limit = 50 on single carriageway
UW 3000kg- GVW 4500..... speed limit = 60 on a single carriageway ?

However I doubt if automatic cameras would recognise UW which doesn't have to be on V5

Suggest police on foot might be an issue especially if they dont know the detail of the law

Anyone under 3050, especially if over 3500kg gvw should get a weight slip laminated and carry for such a potential encounter

About four years ago I had a conversation with a fellow Kernow resident while we were on hols in France.
He told me that he had just been on a 'Speed Awareness ' course as a result of a Speeding violation.
I enquired and asked him how fast and in what circumstances. I was told that he was doing 70+ (not much) on a Dual Carriageway in the county and received a ticket through the post for doing more than 60mph.

He went on to inform me that he took the course rather than getting points.
Now, this man had a PVC and I asked him what is V5C classification was. After a blank look he went off and got it from the 'van. It stated that his was a Motor Caravan.

I gently pointed out to him that he had not in fact been speeding as his classification meant that his speed limit was in fact 70mph. (We'll ignore the small amount in excess of 70mph)

I left him to consider trying to get the course costs reimbursed although I did point out that although the ticket was issued erroneously there was a snowballs chance in hell that he would get his money back.

It would appear that in these circs, the processing unit had taken a rear view shot of his 'van and assumed that he was a panel van and not a motor caravan.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

So the offence could have been appealed at the time

My real point is that if you have a weight ticket prior-dated to any alleged offence, that would help you in your process of denial/appeal

 

[Buster30]

My understanding is that "Mass in Service" on the V5c is basically the Unladen Weight with the addition of 75Kg driver and 90% Fuel. Therefore if "Mass in Service" is under 3050 Kg then Unladen Weight must be also.

Just looked at my ‘mass in service’ and it is the same as the revenue weight at 3850kg

 

[Arzedby]

Just looked at my ‘mass in service’ and it is the same as the revenue weight at 3850kg

Ha, not much consistency there then...My revenue weight is 3500 Kg and the Mass in Service is 2135. That's a Ducato Maxi Pro PVC which can theoretically be up rated to 4500 Kg.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Emmit]

So the offence could have been appealed at the time

My real point is that if you have a weight ticket prior-dated to any alleged offence, that would help you in your process of denial/appeal

The driver didn't know, at the time of the incident that he was innocent.
It would not be a case of simply appealing the 'Offence'. The man would have to jump through all sorts of hoops. (Probably involving Court) It should also be borne in mind that the incident didn't occur ten minutes before he spoke to me. From memory the incident occurred some months previously.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I agree that post payment of a fine , not a cats chance

Sorry, my point was to the questioner who is worried about being stopped

Im with you that overall, its a bit of a mess