Police checking motorhomes and caravans on M5

[headlight]

 

[Tony50]

Can you wonder at it ? They are checking weights after all the harping on here about overloading, I said previously that this would happen so I suspect we have started something which at the very least will cause convenience, or do we all weigh our vehicles every time we go out ? Hoping we don't get pulled before entering weighbridge.

 

[Jim]

They are checking weights after all the harping on here about overloading,

People have been harping on here about motorhomes sold to an unwary public with not enough legal payload. Sorry about bringing that to light.

 

[Tony50]

People have been harping on here about motorhomes sold to an unwary public with not enough legal payload. Sorry about bringing that to light.

That's right I not realising this in 2007 I bought a Rapido A class and later found out that my wife would have to sit in the back, to prevent over loading the front axle she weighed 8 Stone !!

 

[Apacheman]

I think once the penny drops how many are overloaded and the potential cash cow this could create we shall see more of these checks. I may sound cynical and I am in no way advocating driving with an overweight vehicle, but these days it has very little to do with safety and more to do with revenue collection. It gets my why they can call speed camera vans “safety units” if they had anything to do with safety they would scream at you and force you to slow down and make your journey safer. Sending you a fine through the post 10 days later has done nothing to promote your safety. They are revenue generators and nothing more, just another form of tax.

Imagine the sort of society we would live in if individually we could all pick and choose what to, or not, comply with in law. Where do you draw the line?

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[stewartwebr]

Imagine the sort of society we would live in if individually we could all pick and choose what to, or not, comply with in law. Where do you draw the line?

Not sure why you make the assumption I advocate picking and choosing compliance with laws. If you refer back to my comment you shall see that the parallel I draw is between the effectiveness of risk removal by issuing fines via speed vans and the use of the term “Safety Camera” when in reality the van does nothing to improve safety when covertly lurking behind a bush and makes no intervention to stop the occurring risk. It merely issues financial penalty at a later date.
I could go on and open the conversation about LEZ charges, do they really improve the environment or create yet another revenue stream similar to these speed vans.

 

[Apacheman]

And following any penalty you would hope that a person would learn and do something different. Not everybody does! In many cases drivers are offered speed awareness courses in an effort to educate. An operation like this would be addressing a range of issues from stolen vehicles, no insurance, licensing, and construction and use. I doubt it would make much money.

 

[Nigel P]

There you go again, trying to spoil a tired narrative by providing actual facts and details - outrageous

I must also confess to a vested interest, one of the reasons I comment on this type of thread. I have been on both sides of the fence with DVSA! Worked with them and been checked by them, perfectly civilised encounters on either side of the fence. I have also benefited from speeding detections as I used to run speed awareness courses, in no position to direct any enforcement but daily had two classes of 24 clients so an opportunity to try and influence a reasonable number of drivers each day. I also conduct driving tests and commercial vehicle safety assessments; one of the stand-out factors is the limited understanding of the driving environment. Poor driving attitudes combined with poor/limited capability can reasonably expect poor outcomes. We consistently kill 5 people every day through our driver behaviour, almost all of them avoidable! I try my best to be compliant but accept I make mistakes just like everyone else, but the fault would lie with me not any enforcement regime in operation that I fall foul of.

 

[Montezuma]

This reminds me of a strange/stupid tale that I heard during my first visit to France, back in about '83, while towing a caravan.

We were on a Caravan Club Rally to Carnac, and met this chap who told me a tale of woe. His van had flipped on the journey to the docks in England, and he thought that his his holiday was over. However, through the good offices of the Caravan Club and his insurance policy, he had managed to get a replacement 'courtesy' caravan for the duration of his holiday.

He was busy describing this tale of woe to me as I was getting prepared to hook up and depart for the journey home. (something I hated, was people talking to me as I was trying to hook up and make sure that everything was shipshape and Bristol fashion).

I was checking the nose weight, when he informed me that I was "Doing it wrong", and he was most emphatic.

He advised that I should move some of the internal weight further to the rear so that the van could be lifted onto the tow-ball with no effort whatsoever. (I can lift mine with my little finger, he said).

I could not believe what I was hearing, and tried to put him straight as to why his own van had flipped on the outward journey, but he was having non of it, and refused to accept my advice

Whenever I see the sad wreckage of a caravan by the roadside, I wonder if it was that same idiot.

 

[poppycamper]

Obviously it’s not ok, no argument there. That said, are some of these vans not built on base vehicles which were initially designed/specced to run at higher weights? Hence why many can be uprated to some degree via nothing but a paper exercise?

The Movano I have comes in two variants....
The 3.5t and the 4.5t and as far as I am aware there is no... or very little differance between the two models...

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[RowleyBirkinQC]

The Movano I have comes in two variants....
The 3.5t and the 4.5t and as far as I am aware there is no... or very little differance between the two models...

Conversely, I think our 3.5t registered Hymer came out of the factory good for 3.85t (whether you can utilise all that with axle loading is a different question).

 

[mikeg40]

payload is serious problem with dealers not interested in telling potential buyers about it and most hire companies not even mentioning it. overweight vans are common and I've said for years that it was only a matter of time before the authorities realised how much money could be made. vehicle insurance is also invalid if the van is found to be overweight - potentially a very expensive accident. how many 6 berth hire vans are under 3500kg?

 

[Pausim]

payload is serious problem with dealers not interested in telling potential buyers about it and most hire companies not even mentioning it. overweight vans are common and I've said for years that it was only a matter of time before the authorities realised how much money could be made. vehicle insurance is also invalid if the van is found to be overweight - potentially a very expensive accident. how many 6 berth hire vans are under 3500kg?

The EU now has regulations regarding minimum payload and some manufacturers are applying this to UK sales as well.

Not sure about your statement
“vehicle insurance is also invalid if the van is found to be overweight”
Is your vehicle insurance automatically invalid if you break other laws such as the speed limit? Not suggesting anyone should drive an overweight vehicle of course.

 

[akadingbat]

My local garage always weigh the van when they do the MOT. Very handy as it’s easy to keep adding ‘just in case’ stuff to it, especially planning for weather! I was very surprised the first time they checked as I was 20kg over but was able to sort it out very easily just taking a couple of things out. Funnily enough I had just fitted a new kitchen unit weighing 20kg.
On several roads here in Scotland they use average speed cameras, the most crucial one is on the A9 from Dunblane to Inverness, works very well on what can be quite a dangerous road. There is also a fixed vehicle check point on the M9 between Dunblane and Stirling.

 

[Adeydub]

Perhaps, if it is genuinely about ensuring that all are safe then perhaps it should be combined with some sort of educational publicity?

Not sure that revenue generated by needs the investment in equipment and manpower or the fact that scarce resource is being taken away fro other important areas

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[Hobbyhorse]

Perhaps you’re not aware of the sadly inevitable and regular accidents, overturned caravans, etc that happen during the holiday periods down here on the A38, A361, and A30?

I’ve seen too many families with their P&J scattered over the hard shoulder, not to mention the major disruption to other road users, to equate it to the speed cameras. If these operations prevent even one of those occurring then the authorities can crack on with them.

Thanks Orion. Good message. I used to travel the UK roads heavily when working and every week of the year saw smashed up caravans (and tow cars) and some mohos too! Summertime was even worse. Overweight is not just about fines and penalties, it’s about broken holidays , spinning children, personal belongings reduced to a pile of rubbish and injured people too. Foolish behaviour, and a menace to all road users.

 

[Orion]

Thanks Orion. Good message. I used to travel the UK roads heavily when working and every week of the year saw smashed up caravans (and tow cars) and some mohos too! Summertime was even worse. Overweight is not just about fines and penalties, it’s about broken holidays , spinning children, personal belongings reduced to a pile of rubbish and injured people too. Foolish behaviour, and a menace to all road users.

Thank you for the reply.

I don’t understand why this thread has spun off into discussions about speed cameras, revenue raising, and comparing them to these initiatives! In this area, (Mid Devon), the DVSA Traffic staff and Police run these operations all year round, with an obvious increase during the holiday periods as we are the gateway to the North and South coasts and further afield into Cornwall. And it’s certainly not just targeting mohos and caravans for being overweight as plenty of other vehicle classes are pulled with other offences coming to light - no MOT, no insurance, no licence, driver under the influence, drugs, etc. etc.

 

[Hobbyhorse]

Yesterday lunchtime M5 southbound stationary around Bristol from Thornbury down to goodness knows how far. I wonder how the police were picking off MHs to direct them off? Must have been adding to driver frustrations.

We were there on M5 around 2.00pm en route to Devon. Queue stretched from Thornbury J14 to Taunton J25. 15 to 20 worst stretch. Added nearly 2 hrs to the journey. C,est la vie oh for the open mways of France and Spain. And of course their picnique airesx mmmm

 

[Hobbyhorse]

Thank you for the reply.

I don’t understand why this thread has spun off into discussions about speed cameras, revenue raising, and comparing them to these initiatives! In this area, (Mid Devon), the DVSA Traffic staff and Police run these operations all year round, with an obvious increase during the holiday periods as we are the gateway to the North and South coasts and further afield into Cornwall. And it’s certainly not just targeting mohos and caravans for being overweight as plenty of other vehicle classes are pulled with other offences coming to light - no MOT, no insurance, no licence, driver under the influence, drugs, etc. etc.

Wholeheartedly agree, there’s rule ,bending, and downright stupidity.

 

[Spriddler]

or do we all weigh our vehicles every time we go out ?

My m/h stays ready to go, fully loaded with the same stuff for every trip except for adding clothes and basic fresh food. Fully loaded the weighbridge weight leaves me a spare 130kg of payload so it's highly unlikely that I'll ever exceed my max permissible. I don't treat it like a garden shed or keep piling more 'essential' or 'handy' stuff into it as if the max permissible was a target. In fact, after the first couple of naïve trips, 25+ years ago, loaded with 'must have' stuff I tended to gradually remove much of it after finding that I never needed it.

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[MichaelT]

No so much for VWE as he’s is now suspended from upplating while he gets reassessment for the necessary certifications
Not sure why but his certificate was revoked

I was told he didn't know what he was doing or understand the specifics of such things as VB air assist limits etc.

 

[Mleabon]

I think once the penny drops how many are overloaded and the potential cash cow this could create we shall see more of these checks. I may sound cynical and I am in no way advocating driving with an overweight vehicle, but these days it has very little to do with safety and more to do with revenue collection. It gets my why they can call speed camera vans “safety units” if they had anything to do with safety they would scream at you and force you to slow down and make your journey safer. Sending you a fine through the post 10 days later has done nothing to promote your safety. They are revenue generators and nothing more, just another form of tax.

Yes and if it was about safety they would ensure the roads were safe and not full of dangerous potholes. I also think they've cut right back on maintaining grass verges making it difficult to see out of junctions sometimes. Not many police catching dangerous drivers just blanket reliance on speed cameras. Lastly , (I don't know the answer) do all the immigrants that have learnt to drive in the 3rd world have to pass a British driving test to drive here?

 

[Emmit]

We were there on M5 around 2.00pm en route to Devon. Queue stretched from Thornbury J14 to Taunton J25. 15 to 20 worst stretch. Added nearly 2 hrs to the journey. C,est la vie oh for the open mways of France and Spain. And of course their picnique airesx mmmm

On ANY given Friday and Saturday (and other days as well )from the end of June to the beginning of September you will encounter what you experienced.
It's simply a case of two motorways in close proximity to a large conurbation feeding a large volume of traffic.
Add to that, poor driving going out and doing a lastminutedotcom approach to changing lanes resulting in braking to accommodate them and tailbacks going backwards at a similar speed.

 

[gus-lopez]

I am not sure what a “ valid warrant card” has to do with it?

Difference between police and a peasant.

I wonder if it was that same idiot.

No there's 000's of them.

oh for the open mways of France and Spain.

 

[gus-lopez]

they would ensure the roads were safe and not full of dangerous potholes.

Council muppets say it is"traffic calming"

I also think they've cut right back on maintaining grass verges making it difficult to see

Along with any type of signs.

do all the immigrants that have learnt to drive in the 3rd world have to pass a British driving test to drive here?

Aah the donkey stranglers & camel herders. Inn Spain they recently rounded up 00's who had false licenses.

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[Bobbejaan]

On several roads here in Scotland they use average speed cameras, the most crucial one is on the A9 from Dunblane to Inverness, works very well on what can be quite a dangerous road.

Likewise for the twisty Stranraer Ferry road.

PS ..... akadingbat = LOVE your avatar picture >>> COOL !!

 

[TheBig1]

I am not sure what a “ valid warrant card” has to do with it?

No warrant card proves they are not police and not on official police business. Therefore have no more right to park on a pavement etc than any member of the public. To be prosecuted a police officer has to report you for the offence. If they were not there, how can they be certain an offence occurred? Plus why are the speeding wombles allowed to break the law with immunity?

 

[TheBig1]

This reminds me of a strange/stupid tale that I heard during my first visit to France, back in about '83, while towing a caravan.

We were on a Caravan Club Rally to Carnac, and met this chap who told me a tale of woe. His van had flipped on the journey to the docks in England, and he thought that his his holiday was over. However, through the good offices of the Caravan Club and his insurance policy, he had managed to get a replacement 'courtesy' caravan for the duration of his holiday.

He was busy describing this tale of woe to me as I was getting prepared to hook up and depart for the journey home. (something I hated, was people talking to me as I was trying to hook up and make sure that everything was shipshape and Bristol fashion).

I was checking the nose weight, when he informed me that I was "Doing it wrong", and he was most emphatic.

He advised that I should move some of the internal weight further to the rear so that the van could be lifted onto the tow-ball with no effort whatsoever. (I can lift mine with my little finger, he said).

I could not believe what I was hearing, and tried to put him straight as to why his own van had flipped on the outward journey, but he was having non of it, and refused to accept my advice

Whenever I see the sad wreckage of a caravan by the roadside, I wonder if it was that same idiot.

Reminds me of an incident at a camping & caravanning club rally a few years back.

A twin axle caravan was being hooked up, but before the hitch was over the ball, the jockey wheel collapsed snapping the bracket. 4 men tried to lift the hitch but couldn't. Looking inside, the full awning and God knows what else was piled up in the front. He believed that more noseweight was better.

Generally it is 75kg and maximum 100kg. Heavy items like a huge awning being placed above the axle(s) in a neutral position. The incident actually was useful in educating a few people in the dangers of too much or too little nose weight and worse too much tailweight. Both can be deadly

 

[Louis]

Isn’t there a thread on here somewhere about “have you ever been stopped and weighed”? So now we know it does happen. Actually haven’t they done caravan checks before on the M5 but a bit further north?

Yes they did, over 12yrs ago, at the first or second services after joining M5. had a caravan then, all good though

 

[Barclaybasher]

I'm surprised the authorities (tax collectors) haven't introduced MOTs for caravans and trailers.
Not an MOT issue but many must be running on original tyres....

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[corconx]

Isn’t there a thread on here somewhere about “have you ever been stopped and weighed”? So now we know it does happen. Actually haven’t they done caravan checks before on the M5 but a bit further north?

It was done by Junction 27 no Tiverton a few years ago, and M5 before

Carol