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Many of our members have staff driving as part of their job, we have become aware that companies are not fully aware of the differences in the national speed limit when driving vans/delivery vehicles. Please ensure that if you have any employees driving vehicles over  7.5 tonne that they are aware of the reduced maximum speeds on the carriage ways.

It is very important for drivers to bear in mind that vans (and all goods vehicles not exceeding 7.5 tonnes) are subject to lower national speed limits than cars on both single and dual carriageway roads.

Whilst a car may travel at up to 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriageways vans are only allowed to travel up to 50 mph on single carriageway roads and 60 mph on dual carriageway roads.

The speed limits quoted here are national limits, a lower speed limit will apply in built up areas and on many local roads.  Where a lower speed limit is signed you must comply with those lower limits.

The national speed limits are set out in Schedule 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act of 1984 and they are summarised in regulation 124 of the Sept 2007 version of the Highway Code. 

The main reason for these lower speed limits is that goods vehicles are designed to be able to carry heavier loads and when laden they will tend to take longer to slow down than a car travelling at the same speed.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that if a van is in the same tax or registration class as a car then it is subject to the same speed limits.  However the two issues are unrelated and they are governed by different legislation.  National speed limits are set out in the 1984 legislation are based on the possible load capacities of the vehicle and whether or not it is used for carrying passengers.  

These speed limit rules have been in place for well over 20 years and there are no plans to change these limits to allow vans to be driven at higher speeds because ministers remain to be convinced that it would be safe to do so.

You can find speed limit controls at the following link on the Government Website http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304