Just wondered how many TNUK members actually bother with the 40mph limit for LGVs?
I am somewhat more fortunate than most, in that the limit on S/C can be up to 65mph with no split speed between cars and lorries in most cases, so generally I cruise at 64mph as long as conditions allow 
I don’t see the point in breaking the law in a works vehicle, they’re not going to thank you for it are they ? 
the firm i work for and anouther local one both have policies of 40 mph for the first and last 30 mins of a journey, the thinking is that it takes that long to reach a duel carriageway. to the anoyance of a couple of timber wagon drivers 
66kmh set on the cruise
Ahhh single carriageways, this one really used to bug me a lot. I’m pretty much certain every other trucker out there hates me by now. I know from seeing all the artics who always overtake, but I couldn’t give a toss any more.
My licence has been clean since day 1 and as far as I’ve got anything to do with it - it’s staying that way.
40 whats the rush?
i can’t see the point of holding people up.
if 50+ is safe, then it’s safe. there are areas that even 40mph would be far too fast. i think looking at the road instead of the speedo is the safest thing to do.
limeyphil:
i can’t see the point of holding people up.
if 50+ is safe, then it’s safe. there are areas that even 40mph would be far too fast. i think looking at the road instead of the speedo is the safest thing to do.
I’ll tell you why I don’t do 50+ Phil. We go along an sc in convoy, come around a bend, I slam the anchors on when I see a camera van, too late I’m already nicked. By the time it sees you in the radar line, you’re only doing 40 and get away Scott free. 40 all the way I’m afraid
3 out of 4 choose to risk their licence! Proof, if proof were needed, PEANUTS=MONKEYS!
limeyphil:
i can’t see the point of holding people up.
if 50+ is safe, then it’s safe. there are areas that even 40mph would be far too fast. i think looking at the road instead of the speedo is the safest thing to do.
By and large I’m in agreement with Phil here. I don’t stick to any one thing, much can depend on my mood/workload/driving time left or the chances of turning up at my next drop in time for a cuppa. Then again I’m fortunate to have a boss who doesn’t hassle me so long as I get my work done.
Tried a week of sticking strictly to the limits, and yes you do spend more time looking at the speedo than normal. i just try to drive reasonably carefully these days; got my last ticket in 2008 whilst out in the puddle-jumper, and in 4 months time I can get it removed from my licence which will then (first time for god knows how long) be perfectly clean. That’s a good incentive to take a bit of care.
Certain speeds do get hard-wired into your head though, I bet I’m not the only one who sometimes finds himself doing 56 in the car down an empty dual carriageway!
44 Tonne Ton:
3 out of 4 choose to risk their licence! Proof, if proof were needed, PEANUTS=MONKEYS!
i don’t agree.
pay peanuts, get jobsworths.
pay top dollar, get the job done.
It would be great (although rather foolish) to think that we could ALL have a ‘National 40mph on S/C’ week, where everyone does no more than the legal 40mph and see whether anything (apart from getting us an even worse reputation) happens.
As it is at the moment, a rather small percentage of us travel at the 40mph limit, and I guess the powers that be are aware of this (they seem to be aware of everything else we do) and are quite happy with the situation. They don’t have to upset the public en masse by introducing a ‘lethal’ 10mph rise of death trap LGV’s speed limits, and they get to pick-off as many or as few 43+ drivers as they wish to raise their income, whilst the roads keep moving at a pace most non-LGV drivers can live with (i.e. 50+) without turning into crazed lunatics and undertaking suicidal overtaking manoeuvres. It’s a win-win situation for the government!
That’s my take on it anyway, but maybe I’m just a crazed and untrusting conspiracy theorist.
I don’t see a problem with it being raised to whatever 70km is, 43/44? Our tachos work in km anyway. Big wide roads I’ll sometimes do 75km but very rarely.
I personally think the 40 limit is stupid, BUT I stick to it if only to save my licence. Plus if I worked faster I expect I would get more work to do…
limeyphil:
Certain speeds do get hard-wired into your head though, I bet I’m not the only one who sometimes finds himself doing 56 in the car down an empty dual carriageway!
Guilty as charged! 
I’m an owner driver and I drive to the conditions of the road. I won’t speed through 30 and 40 zones if it’s built up etc. if I’m on a nice wide open road with good visibility I’ll push it over 50 but then if I’m running my time out on a night I’ll knock it back to 47/48ish to save on fuel. Really all depends on visibility, reputation of the road and also workload.
By the way, the one person who voted for just less than 40mph should be shot! No need to take the ■■■■!
xfmatt:
I’m an owner driver and I drive to the conditions of the road. I won’t speed through 30 and 40 zones if it’s built up etc. if I’m on a nice wide open road with good visibility I’ll push it over 50 but then if I’m running my time out on a night I’ll knock it back to 47/48ish to save on fuel. Really all depends on visibility, reputation of the road and also workload.By the way, the one person who voted for just less than 40mph should be shot! No need to take the ■■■■!
They can’t reply at the moment; They’ve had chalk drawn around them at a Tesco somewhere.
i tend to sit at 40 on single track roads, I do feel quite guilty when there is a huge queue of traffic behind me though.
Its not really the car drivers that make me feel bad about doing 40, its the other LGV drivers revving up behind me trying to push me on. I know that they are getting frustrated with it but 40 is the limit, its that for a reason.
Sorry, Law is Law and i dont want points on my licence and a fine. I come to work to earn money, not to lose half of it paying fines.
Some drivers tend to rush round for the company I work for, why? you dont get paid any extra for it and they certainly wont pay your fines.
Normally set CC at 70kph = 43mph i.e., just under 45 mph to avoid camera detection, but a bit more than dead-on 40.
Also (depending on the wagon) sits better in top gear at that.
I do 40 - 43. Just attended a speed awareness course that cost me £90.00 because I got scamerad doing 46 on a SC where the limit is 60 for cars etc.
Last night I had a numpty in a Scania right up my chuff on the A43 going into Corby 
Not the best of roads for overtaking…A lovely bit of road, nice and twisty with some slight undulations in the countryside 
I slowed to 25MPH before the ■■■■■ got the message I got to see more of the countryside, he got to his destination 4 seconds later…So tempting to slam on and watch him die as I call for the emergency services…The Deer just ran off into the woods 
Always do 40 now. If I was involved in an accident and I was doing 45 or 50 regardless of whose fault it was who do you think would get the blame? The HGV driver no doubt. And If I was involved in an accident doing 50 and it was my fault and someone died I would probably be looking at a prison sentence.
What would be nice would be a separate road sign just for truck speed limits. eg a national speed limit sign on its own on a single carriageway would mean 60 for cars and 40 for lorries, but a national speed limit sign with a separate truck sign showing 50 beneath could mean 60 for cars and 50 for trucks.