Weight limit signs

[Panic Button]

I believe that a weight limit sign (eg 7.5 ton, pictured on a black lorry) only refers to goods vehicles.

However someone told me recently that it applies to passenger carrying vehicles aswell.

Who is right please?

[hc4361]

It applies to all vehicles

[Panic Button]

After posting this question I investigated further.

In the on line highway code you can download a document about road signs, and the weight limit signs are labelled as restricting goods vehicles over certain weights.

I therefore remain to be convinced.

[sddsddean]

They only refer to goods vehicles PB, I suppose because most buses/coaches are under 10T anyway. The only 'limit' sign for a bus is 'No Passenger carrying vehicles' which is a picture of a bus on a red circle. This applies to buses over 16 passengers.

[SlackAlice]

The signs are relative to Goods Vehicles and do not apply to PCV vehicles. I often drive a Trident Double Decker Bus (weight about 16tons unladen) and on a couple of routes actually cross bridges with a much lower weight limit.
Basically if the bus route has been approved by the local council/police authority/transport authority for that type of bus then it's ok.

Basic rule of thumb for me when running 'Out of Service' and coming upon weight limit signs is whether it's an approved bus route. If I don't know or am not sure then I don't go there!!

[Panic Button]

Contradicting yourself a bit there Alice!

If your first paragraph is correct, then your worries in the second paragraph are groundless.

To my mind the majority of weight limits are nothing to do with weak bridges or roads. It is the local councils resricting lorry access to parts of their towns, and making them use approved routes to industrial areas.

Weak bridges are signed up with other signs anyway.

[SlackAlice]

I still don't go there!!!