Increasing Coach Speed Limits

[SF-02]

I remember reading a while ago that there was a proposal to increase the limit from 62.5 to 65 mph. Did this happen? And do people think there is a case for increasing to 70mph? There's been many coach trips I've been on where the road is clear and 70mph would be fine, and make coaches more competitive with rail.

 

[Liam]

The speed limit for coaches is already 70 mph. Some EU directive states that coaches should be installed with a limiter set to 100kph(~62mph).

 

[BestWestern]

The speed limit for coaches is already 70 mph. Some EU directive states that coaches should be installed with a limiter set to 100kph(~62mph).

It depends on the weight of the vehicle. Over a specified weight - about 7t rings a bell - you need a speed limiter, under that weight you don't. I believe the same applies to high level brake lights, hence the orginal shape Optare Solo has never had them.

 

[Mr Spock]

According to GOV.UK the maximum speed limit for buses, coaches and minibuses (not more than 12 metres in overall length) is 70mph on motorways, 60mph on dual carriage roads, 50mph on single carriageway roads and 30mph in built up areas. All subject to no local speed limit being in force.

It also says that passenger vehicles with more than 8 seats need to be fitted with speed limiters, presumably set at 70 mph.

 

[Liam]

According to GOV.UK the maximum speed limit for buses, coaches and minibuses (not more than 12 metres in overall length) is 70mph on motorways, 60mph on dual carriage roads, 50mph on single carriageway roads and 30mph in built up areas. All subject to no local speed limit being in force.

It also says that passenger vehicles with more than 8 seats need to be fitted with speed limiters, presumably set at 70 mph.

Coaches are usually 100kph limited (~62mph). Lorries are 90kph (~56mph), though some are 85 (~53mph), or lower. As I said above, this comes from the EU. IIRC EU says HGV's are supposed to be 80kph, but locally you can go 10kph above that, as we have chosen to do in the UK. I'm not sure if something similar is done with coaches, i.e. recommended 90kph, but we do 100.

 

[34D]

It depends on the weight of the vehicle. Over a specified weight - about 7t rings a bell - you need a speed limiter, under that weight you don't. I believe the same applies to high level brake lights, hence the orginal shape Optare Solo has never had them.

No legal requirement for high level brake lights at all. Two are required (just 1 or zero for very old vehicles)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

According to GOV.UK the maximum speed limit for buses, coaches and minibuses (not more than 12 metres in overall length) is 70mph on motorways, 60mph on dual carriage roads, 50mph on single carriageway roads and 30mph in built up areas. All subject to no local speed limit being in force.

It also says that passenger vehicles with more than 8 seats need to be fitted with speed limiters, presumably set at 70 mph.

Correct. More than 8 seats and first registered 1974 to 1988 req limiter set at 70mph or lower, and first req 1988 To present req one set to 62mph.

I forget the years for the smaller stuff

 

[notadriver]

I remember reading a while ago that there was a proposal to increase the limit from 62.5 to 65 mph. Did this happen? And do people think there is a case for increasing to 70mph? There's been many coach trips I've been on where the road is clear and 70mph would be fine, and make coaches more competitive with rail.

I'm a coach driver. The speed limiters must still be set at 62 mph and there are no plans to increase the limit. Many vehicles are longer than 12 metres and are subject to the 60 mph limit anyway?

To make coaches more competitive with trains - hmm well some of my coach driving colleagues have suggested all trains be restricted to 60mph as passengers don't need seatbelts and are often standing.

 

[34D]

I remember reading a while ago that there was a proposal to increase the limit from 62.5 to 65 mph. Did this happen? And do people think there is a case for increasing to 70mph? There's been many coach trips I've been on where the road is clear and 70mph would be fine, and make coaches more competitive with rail.

The proposal was defeated (partly by myself) and was to reduce the coach limit from 70 to 65 and increase coach+trailer from 60 to 65.

With the EU 62 limit it would have been pointless

 

[radamfi]

I remember the 'good old days' when coaches didn't have speed limiters and could use the outside lane. But I think nowadays there wouldn't be much benefit in increasing the limit as the traffic volumes are a much bigger constraint to quick journey times. What would be more useful would be to allow coaches to use the outside lane again as they are often held up by HGVs side by side in the left two lanes.

 

[GearJammer]

I find it quite strange that people want buses/coaches to go faster.

Buses/Coaches are loaded with people/lives that can't be replaced in the unfotunate event of an accident...

Trucks that carry freight which carry replacable freight are limited.

Surely coaches should be slowed down, not speeded up.

 

[quarella]

I find it quite strange that people want buses/coaches to go faster.

Buses/Coaches are loaded with people/lives that can't be replaced in the unfotunate event of an accident...

Trucks that carry freight which carry replacable freight are limited.

Surely coaches should be slowed down, not speeded up.:roll:

Cars are loaded with lives too and surely the aim is to get people onto public transport in it's various forms. In a simplistic form Where is there more likely to be a collision. 1 coach or the 10 - 40 cars it replaces.

I was driving coaches when limiters were introduced. There had been some nasty accidents with coaches capable of 80 - 100 mph. In my view limiting to 70 mph was right however the ban on the outside lane for certain classes which came later was not. What has been created is a recipe for accidents. Lorry 56 mph. Coach 62 mph. Car 70 mph perhaps. Coach catches up with lorry. Signals and moves to overtake. Car driver on autopilot hits the brakes causing concertina effect by those following.
Modern coaches on the whole can maintain the motorway speed limit so with possibly some exceptions due to gradient/traffic volume I have no problem with returning to 70 mph and outside lane running.

 

[notadriver]

I find it quite strange that people want buses/coaches to go faster.

Buses/Coaches are loaded with people/lives that can't be replaced in the unfotunate event of an accident...

Trucks that carry freight which carry replacable freight are limited.

Surely coaches should be slowed down, not speeded up.:roll:

Using that argument surely trains should be slowed down? No seatbelts, standing permitted and up to 1000 passengers in some cases.

 

[Bayum]

Using that argument surely trains should be slowed down? No seatbelts, standing permitted and up to 1000 passengers in some cases.

But trains are designed to cope with this with crumple zones and the like.

Wasn't there also a study a while back that proposed that it was safer to be in a crowded train, than a non-crowded train, due to the cushioning effect people would have on each other?