Health & Safety Department

Speed limits

Guidance on observing speed limits whilst travelling on University business.

Most people think that they know the speed limits that apply to different types of road, but do you know that the legal speed limit that you may drive at is also dependent on the type of vehicle that you drive? For example a van of the size of a Ford Transit, or similar, should not be driven at speeds in excess of 50mph on single carriageway roads, or speeds in excess of 60mph on dual carriageways. On motorways if such a vehicle is towing a trailer the speed limit is also restricted to 60mph.Vehicles that are pulling trailers that do not have a braking system are restricted to 50mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

If you drive a University vehicle, or drive your own vehicle on University business, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are driving within the law, make sure that you do so. If you are prosecuted for a speeding offence it is your licence that the penalty points will appear on and it is you who will have to pay the fine.

Speed limits

Remember!

You may not drive a University owned or leased vehicle if you have more than 8 penalty points on your licence. Licences of all drivers registered to drive University owned, or leased, vehicles must be checked annually by School/ Support Unit Vehicle Coordinators, to conform that this limit has not been exceeded and that the driver has no serious driving convictions e.g. a DR10 (drink/drugs) conviction in the previous 5 years precludes the driving of University vehicles.