Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Section 86.

SCHEDULE 6 E+W+S Speed Limits for Vehicles of Certain Classes

Part I E+W+S Vehicles Fitted with Pneumatic Tyres on all Wheels(see application provisions below the following Table)

Table

1	2	3
Item No.	Class of Vehicle	Maximum speed (in miles per hour) while vehicle is being driven on:
		(a) Motorway	(b) Dual carriageway road not being a motorway	(c) Other road
1.	A passenger vehicle, motor caravan or dual-purpose vehicle not drawing a trailer being a vehicle with an unladen weight exceeding 3·05 tonnes or adapted to carry more than 8 passengers:
	(i) if not exceeding 12 metres in overall length	70	60	50
	(ii) if exceeding 12 metres in overall length	60	60	50
2.	An invalid carriage	not applicable	20	20
3.	A passenger vehicle, motor caravan, car-derived van or dual-purpose vehicle drawing one trailer	[F1 60]	[F1 60]	50
4.	A passenger vehicle, motor caravan, car-derived van or dual-purpose vehicle drawing more than one trailer	40	20	20
5.	(1) A goods vehicle having a maximum laden weight not exceeding 7·5 tonnes and which is not—(a) an articulated vehicle, or(b) drawing a trailer, or(c) a car-derived van	70	60	50
	(2) A goods vehicle which is—
	(a) (i) an articulated vehicle having a maximum laden weight not exceeding 7·5 tonnes, or (ii) a motor vehicle, other than a car-derived van, which is drawing one trailer where the aggregate maximum laden weight of the motor vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 7·5 tonnes	60	[F2 60]	50
	(b) (i) an articulated vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 7·5 tonnes, (ii) a motor vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 7·5 tonnes and not drawing a trailer, or (iii) a motor vehicle drawing one trailer where the aggregate maximum laden weight of the motor vehicle and the trailer exceeds 7·5 tonnes	60	[F3 50] [F3 60]	[F4 40] [F4 50]
	(c) a motor vehicle, other than a car-derived van, drawing more than one trailer	40	20	20
6.	A motor tractor (other than an industrial tractor), a light locomotive or a heavy locomotive—(a) if the provisions about springs and wings as specified in paragraph 3 of Part IV of this Schedule are complied with and the vehicle is not drawing a trailer, or if those provisions are complied with and the vehicle is drawing one trailer which also complies with those provisions	40	30	30
	(b) in any other case	20	20	20
7.	A works truck	18	18	18
8.	An industrial tractor	not applicable	18	18
[F5 9].	[F5 An agricultural motor vehicle]	[F5 40]	[F5 40]	[F5 40]

Textual Amendments

F1 Figure "60" in Sch. 6 Pt. 1 item 3 substituted by S.I. 1986/1175, reg. 2(1)(a)

F2 Figure "60" in Sch. 6 Pt. 1 item 5 substituted by S.I. 1986/1175, reg. 2(1)(b)

F3 Figure "50" in Sch. 6 Pt. 1 item 5 substituted (E.W.) (6.4.2015) by The Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3552), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(a)

F4 Figure "40" in Sch. 6 Pt. 1 item 5 substituted (E,W.) (6.4.2015) by The Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3552), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(b)

F5 Item 9 in Sch. 6 Pt. 1 added by S.I. 1986/1175, reg. 2(1)(c)

E+W+S

[F6 For a vehicle falling within class 5(2)(b) above, the maximum speed while the vehicle is being driven on a part of the M9/A9 Trunk Road specified in the Schedule to the HGV Speed Limit (M9/A9 Trunk Road) Regulations 2014 is 50 miles per hour (rather than 40 miles per hour as specified in column 3(c) of the Table above). ]

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in Sch. 6 Pt. I inserted (S.) (28.10.2014) by The HGV Speed Limit (M9/A9 Trunk Road) Regulations 2014 (S.S.I. 2014/274), regs. 1, 2

Application E+W+S

This Part applies only to motor vehicles, not being track-laying vehicles, every wheel of which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre and to such vehicles drawing one or more trailers, not being track-laying vehicles, every wheel of which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre.

Part II E+W+S Vehicles (Other than Track-Laying Vehicles) not Fitted with Pneumatic Tyres on all Wheels

(see application provisions below the following Table) E+W+S

Table

1	2	3
Item No.	Class of Vehicle	Maximum Speed (in miles per hour) while vehicle is being driven on a road
1.	A motor vehicle, or in the case of a motor vehicle drawing one or more trailers, the combination, where—(a) every wheel is fitted with a resilient tyre, or(b) at least one wheel is fitted with a resilient tyre and every wheel which is not fitted with a resilient tyre is fitted with a pneumatic tyre	20
2.	A motor vehicle, or in the case of a motor vehicle drawing one or more trailers, the combination, where any wheel is not fitted with either a pneumatic tyre or a resilient tyre	5

Application E+W+S

This Part does not apply to—

(a) a motor vehicle which is a track-laying vehicle; or

(b) a motor vehicle which is not a track-laying vehicle but which is drawing one or more trailers any one of which is a track-laying vehicle.

Part III E+W+S Track-Laying Vehicles(see application provisions below the following Table)

Table

1	2	3
Item No.	Class of Vehicle	Maximum Speed (in miles per hour) while vehicle is being driven on a road
1.	A motor vehicle being a track-laying vehicle which is fitted with—(a) springs between its frame and its weight-carrying rollers, and(b) resilient material between the rims of its weight-carrying rollers and the surface of the road,and which is not drawing a trailer	20
2.	A vehicle specified in item 1 above drawing one or more trailers each one of which is either—(a) a track-laying vehicle fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in that item, or(b) not a track-laying vehicle and each wheel of which is fitted with either a pneumatic tyre or a resilient tyre	20
3.A vehicle specified in item 1 above drawing one or more trailers any one of which is either—(a) a track-laying vehicle not fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in that item, or(b) not a track-laying vehicle and at least one wheel of which is not fitted with either a pneumatic tyre or a resilient tyre	5
4.	A motor vehicle being a track-laying vehicle which is not fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in item 1 above, whether drawing a trailer or not	5
5.	A motor vehicle not being a track-laying vehicle, which is drawing one or more trailers any one or more of which is a track-laying vehicle— (a) if every wheel of the motor vehicle and of any non-track-laying trailer is fitted with a pneumatic tyre or with a resilient tyre, and every trailer which is a track-laying vehicle is fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in item 1 (b) in any other case	20
[F7 6	A motor vehicle of a class specified in item 1 or 2 above, or in item 5 as a result of paragraph (a) of the class description of that item, which— (a) is being used for naval, military or air force purposes, (b) is being driven by persons for the time being subject to the orders of a member of the armed forces of the Crown, and (c) is being used in England or Wales.	40]

Textual Amendments

F7 Item 6 in Sch. 6 Pt. III inserted (E.W.) (1.10.2015) by The Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limits for Naval, Military and Air Force Vehicles) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1653), regs. 1(1), 2(2)

Application E+W+S

This Part applies to—

(a) a motor vehicle which is a track-laying vehicle, and

(b) a motor vehicle of any description which is drawing one or more trailers any one or more of which is a track-laying vehicle.

Part IV E+W+S Application and Interpretation

1 E+W+S This Schedule does not apply to a vehicle which is being used for the purpose of experiments or trials under section 6 of the M1 Road Improvements Act 1925 or section 283 of the M2 Highways Act 1980.

Marginal Citations

M1 1925 c. 68(108).

M2 1980 c. 66(59).

2 E+W+S In this Schedule—

• [F8 “agricultural motor vehicle” ] “articulated vehicle”, “dual-purpose vehicle”, “industrial tractor”, “passenger vehicle”, “pneumatic tyre”, “track-laying”, “wheel” and “works truck” have the same meanings as are respectively given to those expressions in Regulation 3(1) of the M3 Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1978;

• “car-derived van” means a goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes;

• “construction and use requirements” has the same meaning as in [F9 section 41(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1988];

• “dual-carriageway road” means a road part of which consists of a central reservation to separate a carriageway to be used by vehicles proceeding in one direction from a carriageway to be used by vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction;

• “goods vehicle” has the same meaning as in [F10 section 192(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988];

• “maximum laden weight” in relation to a vehicle or a combination of vehicles means—

  (a)

  in the case of a vehicle, or combination of vehicles, in respect of which a gross weight not to be exceeded in Great Britain is specified in construction and use requirements, that weight;

  (b)

  in the case of any vehicle, or combination of vehicles, in respect of which no such weight is specified in construction and use requirements, the weight which the vehicle, or combination of vehicles, is designed or adapted not to exceed when in normal use and travelling on a road laden;

• “motor caravan” has the same meaning as in Regulation 2(1) of the M4 Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1979;

• “motorway” has the same meaning as in Regulation 3(1) of the M5 Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982, as regards England and Wales, and Regulation 2(2) of The M6 Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1964, as regards Scotland; and

• “resilient tyre” means a tyre, not being a pneumatic tyre, which is soft or elastic.

Textual Amendments

F8 Words inserted by S.I. 1986/1175, reg. 2(2)

F9 Words substituted by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4 Sch. 3 para. 25(10)(a)

F10 Words substituted by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4 Sch. 3 para. 25(10)(b)

Marginal Citations

M3 S.I. 1978/1017.

M4 S.I. 1979/1092.

M5 S.I. 1982/1163.

M6 S.I. 1964/1002.

3 E+W+S The specification as regards springs and wings mentioned in item 6 of Part I of this Schedule is that the vehicle—

(i) is equipped with suitable and sufficient springs between each wheel and the frame of the vehicle, and

(ii) unless adequate protection is afforded by the body of the vehicle, is provided with wings or other similar fittings to catch, so far as practicable, mud or water thrown up by the rotation of the wheels.

4 [F11 (1) A vehicle falling in two or more classes specified in Part I, II or III of this Schedule shall be treated as falling within the class for which the lower or lowest speed limit is specified.] E+W+S

[F12 (2) A vehicle falling in the class specified in item 6 in Part III shall be treated as falling in that class (and not as also falling in any other class).]

Textual Amendments

F11 Sch. 6 para. 4(1): para. 4 renumbered as para. 4(1) (E.W.) (1.10.2015) by The Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limits for Naval, Military and Air Force Vehicles) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1653), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(a)

F12 Sch. 6 para. 4(2) inserted (E.W.) (1.10.2015) by The Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limits for Naval, Military and Air Force Vehicles) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1653), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(b)