HGV's speed limits

[Nigel Crompton]

In days of yore when I used to drive thro' France every summer, the HGV's that used to pass me (tugger in those days) had stickers on the back 60-70-80-90 that I presumed indicated their lawful speed limits on different road classes.

Trundling along Spain's AP7 for 500km yesterday I noticed that not many trucks had them and, as far as I could see, no Spanish registered trucks did. Some other EU reg trucks did, but they seemed to be a minority too.

Was (is?) this an EU scheme, or just a requirement for HGV's using French roads.

Yours, curious

 

[TerryL]

I believe it's the law in some countries, notably Italy as we had to fit them to our coaches, but think France is the same. Spain obviously not.

Not, of course, that they actually stick to them..........!

 

[Fragle]

In days of yore when I used to drive thro' France every summer, the HGV's that used to pass me (tugger in those days) had stickers on the back 60-70-80-90 that I presumed indicated their lawful speed limits on different road classes.

Trundling along Spain's AP7 for 500km yesterday I noticed that not many trucks had them and, as far as I could see, no Spanish registered trucks did. Some other EU reg trucks did, but they seemed to be a minority too.

Was (is?) this an EU scheme, or just a requirement for HGV's using French roads.

Yours, curious

We could never work out what was required.

4 years ago when we up plated the van to 3850 I wondered if it would now apply to us as I'd seen numerous angle mort stickers vans with the speed stickers on the rear.

Even tried to buy them in France and couldn't find anywhere that sold them even motorhome dealers.

Seem to remember someone saying as you not required them in uk you don't need them. I haven't bothered. We rarely go above 80kph anyway and you certainly won't see me doing 110kph. imagine all the things you miss at that speed

 

[Nigel Crompton]

I believe it's the law in some countries, notably Italy as we had to fit them to our coaches, but think France is the same. Spain obviously not.

Not, of course, that they actually stick to them..........!

Most were trying to maintain 100kph. Star of yesterday's show was what looked like a 3500kg overhead-cab camper pulling a 4-wheel trailer with a small car doing at least 120Kph. Italian I think.

 

[gus-lopez]

Even tried to buy them in France and couldn't find anywhere that sold them even motorhome dealers.

here you can find them in tractor dealers? Why ,I've no idea?
on line as well from 60>100
https://unitrailer.es/spa_m_Accesorios-de-coche_Otros-accesorios-6470.html

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

 

[jongood]

We could never work out what was required.

4 years ago when we up plated the van to 3850 I wondered if it would now apply to us as I'd seen numerous angle mort stickers vans with the speed stickers on the rear.

Even tried to buy them in France and couldn't find anywhere that sold them even motorhome dealers.

Seem to remember someone saying as you not required them in uk you don't need them. I haven't bothered. We rarely go above 80kph anyway and you certainly won't see me doing 110kph. imagine all the things you miss at that speed

you only need them if you're registered in a country that requires them.

 

[gus-lopez]

Most were trying to maintain 100kph. Star of yesterday's show was what looked like a 3500kg overhead-cab camper pulling a 4-wheel trailer with a small car doing at least 120Kph. Italian I think.

& the limit in spain is 100kmh for motorhomes & any type of towing you are down to 80kmh

 

[Nigel Crompton]

& the limit in spain is 100kmh for motorhomes & any type of towing you are down to 80kmh

>>I<< know that!

 

[jongood]

& the limit in spain is 100kmh for motorhomes & any type of towing you are down to 80kmh

is it not 90kmj for >3500kgs

 

[Dorwyn]

In days of yore when I used to drive thro' France every summer, the HGV's that used to pass me (tugger in those days) had stickers on the back 60-70-80-90 that I presumed indicated their lawful speed limits on different road classes.

Trundling along Spain's AP7 for 500km yesterday I noticed that not many trucks had them and, as far as I could see, no Spanish registered trucks did. Some other EU reg trucks did, but they seemed to be a minority too.

Was (is?) this an EU scheme, or just a requirement for HGV's using French roads.

Yours, curious

In days of yore when I used to drive thro' France every summer, the HGV's that used to pass me (tugger in those days) had stickers on the back 60-70-80-90 that I presumed indicated their lawful speed limits on different road classes.

I was pondering on similar lines, they mostly seem to do similar speeds, normally aiming for 60 mph depending on load. Who can tell what speed they should be doing? Especially when there is no HGV overtaking allowed such as the N10 in France. I suppose the speed there must be the slowest. I will say lane discipline is much better since they introduced that rule. I don't mind being flashed by cameras when overtaking them, bring less than 3.5 t, but looking bigger from the front.

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

 

[TerryL]

Generally speaking, unless posted otherwise HGVs are limited to 90kph and PCVs (coaches etc) are 100kph throughout all of Europe. Over 3500kgs are usually the same as HGV's, under then car speeds.

 

[gus-lopez]

Well as they have fiddled with the limits here over the last few years I went fr a look & yes mh's under 3,5t are allowed 120 kph on the motorways again now. I also not they have increased the towing limit to 90 as well.That was a nonsense as lorries were doing a minimum of 90kph with many using the spanish limit of 100kph.

is it not 90kmj for >3500kgs

Yes it is also the same for vans . I always wonder whether foreign pvc vans would be stopped as my limit is 90kph

Generally speaking, unless posted otherwise HGVs are limited to 90kph

90kph on autovias & dual carriageways unless signed lower

Over 3500kgs are usually the same as HGV's, under then car speeds.

yes as above.
picture here;

View attachment velocidad-autocaravanascuadro-velocidades-1977511.webp



View attachment velocidad-autocaravanascuadro-velocidades-1977511.webp

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I did notice most lorries were pulling about 100kmh up the hills also Luckily I’m 3.5t so can do the 120kmh and overtake

 

[IRHP]

& the limit in spain is 100kmh for motorhomes & any type of towing you are down to 80kmh

90kph if over 3500kg. 100kph in Portugal

 

[Dall]

Interesting.... HGV,s are legally required to have a speed limiter set to 90kph or 56mph in the UK. It’s a EU thing from pre Brexit and (presumably) still applies EU wide. The limiter basically cuts the fuel off at the speed limit.
So pulling 100kph uphill suggests that the limiter is not operational and running empty or with a very powerful engine. 100kph or more is possible downhill, as gravity overcomes the limiter. I know as 38t downhill on Shap always blew the 56mph limit away.....

I did notice most lorries were pulling about 100kmh up the hills also Luckily I’m 3.5t so can do the 120kmh and overtake

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

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Interesting.... HGV,s are legally required to have a speed limiter set to 90kph or 56mph in the UK. It’s a EU thing from pre Brexit and (presumably) still applies EU wide. The limiter basically cuts the fuel off at the speed limit.
So pulling 100kph uphill suggests that the limiter is not operational and running empty or with a very powerful engine. 100kph or more is possible downhill, as gravity overcomes the limiter. I know as 38t downhill on Shap always blew the 56mph limit away.....

Plenty of them pulling 60mph+ on the flat and uphill during our recent trips away

 

[gus-lopez]

Interesting.... HGV,s are legally required to have a speed limiter set to 90kph or 56mph in the UK. It’s a EU thing from pre Brexit and (presumably) still applies EU wide. The limiter basically cuts the fuel off at the speed limit.
So pulling 100kph uphill suggests that the limiter is not operational and running empty or with a very powerful engine. 100kph or more is possible downhill, as gravity overcomes the limiter. I know as 38t downhill on Shap always blew the 56mph limit away.....

Or the limiter is set at the spanish limit?
I find here when travelling that most spanish trucks are sized for the loads they haul . It is rare that you come across a truck where it is obvious that the engine is not powerful enough for the weight it is hauling on inclines.

 

[Lenny HB]

& the limit in spain is 100kmh for motorhomes & any type of towing you are down to 80kmh

I know you live in Spain but they changed the limits for Motorhomes a few years ago.
Up to 3500kg it ia 120kph on motorways and over 3500kg it's 90kph.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Interesting.... HGV,s are legally required to have a speed limiter set to 90kph or 56mph in the UK. It’s a EU thing from pre Brexit and (presumably) still applies EU wide. The limiter basically cuts the fuel off at the speed limit.
So pulling 100kph uphill suggests that the limiter is not operational and running empty or with a very powerful engine. 100kph or more is possible downhill, as gravity overcomes the limiter. I know as 38t downhill on Shap always blew the 56mph limit away.....

I thought that was changed a few years back and the limit is now 60 for hgvs? Could be wrong though.

 

[Dutch 68]

Plenty of them pulling 60mph+ on the flat and uphill during our recent trips away

All tinkered with

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

 

[jongood]

I thought that was changed a few years back and the limit is now 60 for hgvs? Could be wrong though.

has been for years on Motorways and still is, the bit that changed was the limit on Dual carriageway upped fron 50mph to 60mph and on single carriageway from 40mph to 50mph.

limiters should be set at 85kph +/-5kph. but not every nation does this accurately, most noticable Irish and Portugese.

 

[TerryL]

To be honest I've not noticed trucks exceeding 56mph/90kph, except for the odd "rogue" operator (usually a local tipper) who probably doesn't use a tachograph anyway. This is probably because a driver can now be fined or worse just on tachograph evidence if "the ministry" decide to do an analysis of company records. Electronic tachographs are becoming the norm these days where a driver has to upload his card into a computer, for the moment just for his employer I believe but it's only a short step..............

 

[jongood]

To be honest I've not noticed trucks exceeding 56mph/90kph, except for the odd "rogue" operator (usually a local tipper) who probably doesn't use a tachograph anyway. This is probably because a driver can now be fined or worse just on tachograph evidence if "the ministry" decide to do an analysis of company records. Electronic tachographs are becoming the norm these days where a driver has to upload his card into a computer, for the moment just for his employer I believe but it's only a short step..............

sorry Terry but its a yebbut, if they set the tacho a bit low then it reads correctly but the road speed is much higher. its only rogue operators but it clearly does happen.

 

[bobnick]

Love these threads about speeds in different countrys, reminds of of those 2 party's in that big building on the Thames, cannot agree on anything.

 

[pagey]

I was following a loaded artic through some road works in Germany yesterday as we came out of the road works 50kph he put his foot down and was gone ,it accelerated up to 90 so quick it surprised me

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

 

[Dall]

I thought that was changed a few years back and the limit is now 60 for hgvs? Could be wrong though.

As #21. The speed limit for HGVs on motorways in the UK has always been 60mph, but the trucks have to be fitted with a 56mph limiter to satisfy EU directives. Single carriageways were upped to 50mph and you find most trucks bombing along on their limiters at 56mph as the drivers know that they are within the speed camera tolerance. Scotland (what a surprise) is different, as single carriageways are still 40mph, with a few exceptions, such as the A9 north of Perth.
Speed limiters are also the reason that trucks follow each other on the motorways nose to tail, they are all sitting at the limited speed and cannot pass each other.
The joys of earning your living driving driving trucks.

 

[Dall]

I was following a loaded artic through some road works in Germany yesterday as we came out of the road works 50kph he put his foot down and was gone ,it accelerated up to 90 so quick it surprised me

Probably the 500+ HP under his bonnet!

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Speed limiters are also the reason that trucks follow each other on the motorways

But what about the lorries that can do 1mph more and take 3 miles to overtake

 

[IRHP]

Probably the 500+ HP under his bonnet!

But maybe only 15hp per ton.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Probably the 500+ HP under his bonnet!

Some of the Scania trucks are coming out with 770hp now

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