I wrote a while ago about the common mistakes drivers make with van speed limits – it seems the problem is not getting any better.

A new survey by Vauxhall has found that as many as 85% of van drivers don’t know the correct speed limits for their vans, according to this RoadTransport.com article.

Vauxhall found that many van drivers assume that the limits are the same as for cars. In fact, all vans over 2 tonnes maximum gross weight are subject to separate speed limits for goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonne.

Only car-derived vans with a maximum weight of under 2 tonnes are subject to the same speed limits as cars. In other words, all Transit-sized vans (and some smaller ones) are subject to a different set of speed limits to cars.

Here are the correct speed limits for most vans:

• Single carriageways: 50mph (72% didn’t know this)
• Dual Carriageways: 60mph (52% got this wrong)
• Motorways: 70mph (56% got this wrong)

As the figures in brackets show, a great many van drivers don’t know (or perhaps don’t care) about the correct speed limits for their vans. Police forces around the country are tightening up on these breaches and van drivers can expect to be ticketed if caught.

How Do I Know Which Speed Limits Apply To My Hire Van?

The easiest solution is to ask your hire company when you pickup the vehicle. All but the smallest, lightest vans have a maximum gross weight over 2 tonnes, so the chances are yours will too.

Examples of vans that fit into the car speed limit category are:

Vauxhall Astravan and Corsavan, Ford Fiesta Van

Examples of smaller vans with a max weight over 2 tonnes and lower speed limits are:

Ford Transit Connect, Peugeot Expert, Citroen Dispatch, Ford Transit SWB, Vauxhall Vivaro SWB