Speed Limits for Large Vehicles

  In September 2007 the States of Jersey approved an amendment to the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 with regard to those vehicles which are subject to an all island 30 mph speed limit. Previously any vehicles having an unladen weight exceeding 2 ½ tons and vehicles drawing trailers were limited to 30 mph. The Law has now changed to be consistent with driving licence categories. Vehicles now subject to an all island maximum speed limit of 30 mph are: -

• Medium goods vehicles ( maximum weight between 3.5 and 7.5 tons)
• Large goods vehicles (maximum weight exceeding 7.5 tons)
• Large passenger carrying vehicles
• Vehicles drawing trailers

Full definitions for those vehicles are given in the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956. A lower limit for large vehicles only applies on roads subject to the all island maximum 40 mph speed limit. On roads designated as 30, 20 or 15mph, the relevant speed limit applies equally to all categories of motor vehicle.

From 1St January 2008 drivers of those vehicles were required to display a “30” sticker or plate at the rear of the vehicle (or the rear of the trailer) to indicate the speed restriction. This requirement was prescribed in the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No.9) (Jersey) Order 2007. However on 1st April 2008 a proposition to rescind that requirement from the Deputy of St Clement, Gerard Baudains, was approved by the States of Jersey, with immediate effect.

The requirement to display a “30” sticker therefore no longer applies, however the revised categories of vehicles subject to the 30 mph limit as described above remain in place.

The relevant law and regulations, which can be viewed on the website http://www.jerseylaw.je/are as follows: -

Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956
Road Traffic (No.58) (Jersey) Regulations 2007