Motorhomes 3.5t lane 3 on motorways
I always assumed that us boys over 3.5t were not allowed in lane 3 on the motorway. But having read some law today it only refers to goods vehicles and buses.
Today coming up the M5 to Bristol lane 1 & 2 had lorrys and it would have been lovely to have overtaken in lane 3 but I didn't think I was allowed.
Lane 3 would rarely be used by me in a 4.24t 8m MH but it would be brills to have your opinion on whether you think I'm allowed on there.
Over to you.
Comments
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The restriction is 3.5t for goods vehicles in lane 3.
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Hi PI, your heavy MH, over 3.5t but not over 7.5t, is only classed as an HGV if you are carrying heavy goods. Your normal user load for motorhoming is not considered as heavy goods. Drive in lane 3 to overtake, then get back lane 2 or 1. This is all laid out in the highway code and on gov.uk web site.
I recently overtook a police car on the M5 using lane 3 doing about 65mph. If I had done wrong I am sure the police would have stopped me. My van is 4.25t.
BillC
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BillC. Having read the law now, which I should have done yonks ago, you're 100% correct. It nice to know that I can use lane 3 on the rare occasion that I need to.
Motorhoming......you never stop learning new things.
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'It is an offence to drive a vehicle in the outside lane of a motorway which is:
towing a trailer; or
a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes; or
a goods vehicle between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes without a speedlimiter being fitted; or
a passenger vehicle which can carry 8 or more passengers with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes; or
a passenger vehicle which can carry 8 or more passengers with a maximum laden weight between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes without a speedlimiter being fitted.'There are circumstances when anyone can use the third lane 'momentarily'. Such as in order to overtake exceptionally wide vehicles, avoid a hazard (example debris in the road), in order to prevent an incident. If you are in that third lane and your vehicle is normally restricted from it its just that you may need to 'prove' your legitimate reason for being there.
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You may be in the third lane - but when we're off to France you'll often find my wife overtaking other traffic in the Motorhome in lane four of the M1 and M25 in her haste to get to Eurotunnel.
I keep telling her but .........
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Hi DD,
I did not say the police were doing 65mph or that they were in lane 3. The police car was in lane 2, over taking trucks in lane 1. He was doing about 60mph. I was behind him and decided to use my right to go faster in lane 3 and passed the police doing 65mph. When passed him I was able to return to lane 1.
Another problem at the moment is that old trucks who have not had a tachometer upgrade are restricted to 56mph limit, but newer trucks with the new tachometer can now do 60mph, so we get more trucks overtaking each other and blocking the middle lane for ages. Thats bad news for those with caravans in tow, but not a problem for motorhomers who can use the outside lane.
I have to say though, that since retiring I am not usually in a hurry and cruise on the motorways at around 60/62 mph. That gives me 26/27 mpg, which suits me.
BillC
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When did the law change for hgv lorry speed limits. The motorway speed limit has been 60mph for as long as I can remember although the limiter needs to be set to no more than 56 (90km)
the law did change a few years ago for hgv on single carriageway and duel carriageway from 40mph to 50mph and 50mph to 60mph respectively.
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I wasn't aware of any new legislation on speedlimiters either?
I thought trucks were still set at 56...?
Can someone point us in the right direction....?
This still appears to be current on the government website...?
https://movingon.blog.gov.uk/2015/03/18/reminder-hgv-speed-limit-changes-in-england-and-wales/
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Hi Kev, the speed limit increased from 56 to 60 mph on 6 April 2015, the same time as the other road speed limits were changed. Google The Highway Code, or UK Speed Limits at gov.uk.
The speed limiters are, in the main still required to be set at 56mph, but this was introduced to reduce emissions. The speed limit is 60 mph on motorways in the UK for HGVs over 7.5 tonne. Many EU countries do not recognise the emissions restriction. It is clear that many do not have a limiter on, or they would not be able to go over 56, unless going downhill.
I did read recently that new trucks do not have a limiter.
BillC
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I drove a lorry for 10 years and ran training courses along with pc courses for 5 years until joining camc. The speed limit on a motorway has been 60 for at least all that time, as I posted earlier the single and duel carragway changed recently (2015)
the speed limit in Europe has been 90kph (56mph) for a long time but not here.
I wasn’t aware limiters were no longer being fitted, and if they are look out Caravaners as there will be a lot of lorries overtaking you.
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I wasn’t aware limiters were no longer being fitted, and if they are look out Caravaners as there will be a lot of lorries overtaking you.
I just let them, but don't expect me to slow down going up hill when the HGV starts to run out of steam (like other HGVs
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