Many courier van drivers unaware of new speed limiter rules
Date: 28 February 2008
Many van drivers, including couriers and owner drivers, are unaware of the new speed-limiter rules that came into effect at the beginning of this year, according to a survey.
Around eight in ten van drivers do not know about the new regulations, which require light commercial vehicles (including courier vans) over 3.5 tonnes to have speed limiters restricting them to a top speed of 56mph.
As well as this, nine in ten drivers do not understand the penalties they face for not adhering to the rules.
Duncan Colman, product manager of website Vansunited, which carried out the study, said: "The worst element of this legislation is the fact that Vosa (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) hasn't provided any period of grace for van owners and doesn't feel obliged to promote the intrusive measures."
He added that, according to various studies, van drivers are already very careful on the roads.
Meanwhile, the Department for Transport has clarified the speed limit rules relating to van drivers, such as couriers and owner drivers, on roads in the UK.
On single carriageway roads, vans not exceeding 7.5 tonnes must stick to a 50mph limit, and on dual carriageways they must not go above 60mph.
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