ADUK Archive

My new associate asked me a question yesterday which stumped me. The other car she drives is a long wheelbase Landrover with 11 seats. It's privately registered.

What category does this fit into for speed limits?

I would say its classed as a minibus so pcv class 1

did she get her licence before 1997 if not she needs to have completed an additional test.

martine wrote:My new associate asked me a question yesterday which stumped me. The other car she drives is a long wheelbase Landrover with 11 seats. It's privately registered.

What category does this fit into for speed limits?

It is subject to the speed limits that apply to a bus.

From memory if she removed 3 of the seats it would be the classed car. If I am not mistaken.

Of the top of my head I would say minibus limits.

If you want the regs they are here

It appears the vehicle is classed as having been 'adapted for carrying more than 8 passengers'. (It also appears that the term 'adapted' includes 'constructed' as there is no such separate class)

The limits therefore appear to be the same as a minibus. That is 70 60 and 50.

Note that buses longer than 12 metres are restricted to 60 60 50.

I believe the 'adapted' term rather than 'constructed' allows you to remove seats, as mentioned above, to change the class of the vehicle.

PS Not sure how the speedlimiter regs affect such a vehicle but if required it should be restricted to 62mph

PPS shouldn't this thread be under 'Legal/Legislation'

A Land Rover 110 Defender is classified as a "Dual-Purpose Vehicle" if I remember correctly.

11 seats! That must be quite cosy!

Chris

Renny wrote:A Land Rover 110 Defender is classified as a "Dual-Purpose Vehicle" if I remember correctly.

As per the regs that doesn't affect vehicle class speed limits although it might affect speed limiter rules.

ScoobyChris wrote:11 seats! That must be quite cosy!

Chris

They used to be 12 before they removed the front middle seat. The passenger in that seat either had to be small, or willing to help by changing gear if they wanted to avoid being elbowed by the driver frequently.

MGF wrote:

Renny wrote:A Land Rover 110 Defender is classified as a "Dual-Purpose Vehicle" if I remember correctly.

As per the regs that doesn't affect vehicle class speed limits although it might affect speed limiter rules.

I think that they are indeed exempt from the limiters. However, there were serious problems if you took them abroad as they needed tachographs.

MGF wrote:I believe the 'adapted' term rather than 'constructed' allows you to remove seats, as mentioned above, to change the class of the vehicle.

I believe you'd have to notify the DVLA to have the change in class recognised (you'd still be sent a NIP taking advantage of the extra 10mph past a gatso...

Cheers & God bless
Sam "SammyTheSnake" Penny

SammyTheSnake wrote:you'd still be sent a NIP taking advantage of the extra 10mph past a gatso...

This is something I've often wondered. I didn't think Gatso's had any kind of ANPR in them so they would only trigger for any vehicle exceeding the speed limits set for cars so you could drive a truck past one at 70mph and not trigger it?

Or am I being naive

Chris

Gatsos can certainly identify an HGV as they can detect its size but I am not sure they are clever enough to identify, eg a minibus or van where the difference is size may be less significant.

The Defender will probably be even more difficult to distinguish.

MGF wrote:The Defender will probably be even more difficult to distinguish.

Can't they use the pictures to help with that?

Just doing a bit of reading up on how they work. It seems that they detect the speed first (either via radar or sensors embedded in the road) and then snap the vehicle twice if it's above the set threshold while it is on the painted markings on the road. Presumably, the ones with sensors in the road are the ones that can easily detect HGV's?

It seems that the only distinction is between cars/vans and HGVs and so it wouldn't be able to tell if you were in a car towing a trailer, caravan, etc?

Interesting stuff!

Chris

Does it make a difference if any of the seats are not forward facing