Van Speed Limits
Van Speed Limits
Speed limit signs are only applicable to cars as they make up most of the vehicles on the road in the UK – so be careful when understanding the speed limit as a van driver. It is also important to know that you are liable up to £2,500 fine because of speeding, you could even be disqualified for up to 56 days.
It is different for every van as most people are following speed limits based on the weight of their individual vehicle. Often when driving a panel van with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3. 5 tonnes the following limits apply:
Built -up areas: 30mph – the same as a car
Single carriageway: 50mph – 10mph less than a car
Dual carriageway: 60pm – 10mph less than a car
Motorway: 70mph – the same as a car
The above also applies to vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, although you need B+E classification on your license to be able to drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
These can also change dependent local council speed limit restrictions, such as 20pmh zones or 40mph limit on single carriageways with sharp bends.
Variable Speed Limits
As smart motorways get implemented across the UK, variable speed limits are becoming increasingly common. These are usually implemented to reduce congestion.
For example, a lower temporary speed limit can be introduced to slow down traffic and ease congestion on the motorway.
Campervan Speed limits
The two types of sold from new campervans in the UK are Volkswagen California (motor caravan) and the Mercedes V Class Marco Polo (MPV). They are both legally allowed to drive as fast as a car, however, if you have a converted campervan you will need to check that the V5C has been changed to ‘motor caravan’ otherwise you are restricted to the same speed limits as the van it’s based on.
Towing Speed limits
It doesn’t matter what vehicle you are driving, the speed limit for any vehicle towing a trailer or caravan is 60mph on motorways. The same principle applies to single carriageway roads, if you are towing you must reduce the national speed limit by 10mph to 50mph.
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) does recommend giving drivers a so-called 10% plus 2 leeway to help police officers to exercise discretion. However, this is only a recommendation not a law, therefore if you are over the speed limit even by 1mph you are breaking the law. It is always best to say stafe and stick to the speed limit.