paulob1 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I am taking a convoy of vehicles up to Coventry area, route will be via the M40 mostly. they will be the Kraz, max 40 mph, generally will be running at about 35mph, so this is the speed of the convoy, we will have the daf with trailer, the M62 wrecker with trailer, zil 131 and maybe a ural plus a couple of smaller vehicles. I am not aware of any rules and a quick check shows me that there is no minimum speed limit for the group.....however for those who have run convoys in the past I am thinking that we need to have at least four truck lengths seperation between vehicles so as not to hog the roads and make passing easy, especially on the a road sections. no one understands flags but wonder if I should not carry a sign or have a safety vehicle following with flashing lights... thoughts guys...don't want to be the cause of an accident. journey is about 100 miles...don't ask about the fuel bill... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Paul, there is guidance on distance between vehicles and the maximum length of an individual group of vehicles, can't recall what it is though. As you say, to make passing easy is a priority. On single lane roads I'd say a lot more than four vehicle lengths or keep it tight - four vehicle lengths isn't a big space for the idiots that will dash past you at any opportunity... You'll know all this already, but... Very few people seem to do it these days, but on single lane roads guidance says slow vehicles should pull in every so often to allow other vehicles to pass - think it's in the highway code. Might be worth looking up where there are suitable laybys (Google maps / streetview?) On the M40 you want as many signs, marker boards and flashing lights as you can get, and an escort vehicle might not hurt either. I still remember what happened to Joe Dawes' Scammell on the M40... If you've got an escort vehicle get them to keep well back from the last truck as they don't want to get sandwiched if hit from behind. Flags probably meaningless to most people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbrook Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Military convoy distances used to be 50m between vehicles on A roads and 100 m on dual carriageway. That said other road users were made aware that it was a convoy by the front and rear vehicles carrying blue/green flags respectively (or was that the other way around?). Headlights on. Now life in civvy street is a little different, and I might even go so far as to say that you might usefully increase those distances by half as much again. At other times, for instance in town, pretty much nose to tail is the best, right up to the first set of lights or junction!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustexpert Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I used to drive for a chap with a collection of vehicles; we did Beltring more than once with several vehicles including G.M.C., White Scout Car from Shropshire. He always insisted on leaving home about 8p.m. and travelling south via M40 in the dead of night arriving about 4a.m. I can't remember setting up flashing beacons on the vehicles; as I remember it is very quiet at that time of night and the other traffic on the motorways at that time are lorries and travelling about 40m.p.h. didn't cause any issues then. Coming home he liked to leave about 2p.m. on the Saturday which usually meant we would get snarled up in traffic on the M25 and usually hot summer days the petrol trucks didn't like idling and hanging around in traffic. But would get better as we headed up M40 and evening drew in and everything/everybody cooled down. Had to change G.M.C. rear wheel on hard shoulder one trip but luckily it blew out just by an area of extra wide hard shoulder and all vehicles could shelter away from the live lanes. Have all your gear to hand, spares in order and even practice your "drill" for such an eventuality. The problem with the Scammell that got rear ended is that 20m.p.h. is a completely different ball game as far as modern motorway is concerned; may as well be stationary in the slow lane. I have roaded some distance with my timber tractors at 25m.p.h. kind of speed and wouldn't think of straying onto the motorway (once crossed old Severn Bridge but was instructed by bridge officials that it was o.k. as long as it was quiet); but I can think of at least one gentleman who travels all over the place with Diamond T and living van at similar speed who I don't believe ever considers a longer detour to avoid the motorway. As I remember the 40m.p.h. speed military vehicle wasn't really a problem. A rear escort vehicle with flashing beacons is just as likely to get swiped as a heavier convoy vehicle with the same warning beacons. One thing to bear in mind; if you drive a lot you may have noticed that there is so many rotating orange beacons on vehicles now that you tend to just not notice them. So several in a distinctive array stands out much better; slightly different colours and out of synch flashing even better. I wouldn't say any particular convoy spacing was desirable but in those days not everyone had a mobile so convoy spacing was more to be adjusted to keep in line of sight; and generally we had a policy of if one stops everyone stops (if safe to do so) until a plan of assistance is decided/problem sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulob1 Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 thanks Guys that is very useful..... okay so on the last vehicle we will have loads of flashing lights, no convoy vehicle, all vehicles will have flashing lights, will get a mix of colours red and amber 50-100 m separation is about the norm, which is about 4 truck lengths average... flags useless no one understands them except the military folk...we will likely travel on Friday morning, return Sunday afternoon... okay list to remember spare tyre for the daf...must take. jacks for the trucks and heavy torque spanners for wheel changes dont have a spare kraz wheel yet... others okay... all great fun but with today's roads safety has become a real issue. not least to ensure that we are not accused of being culpable, if we take all the precautions we can we should be okay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbrook Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I seem to recall that amber flashing lights should only be used to warn of a static hazard, although they do get used for very slow or very wide loads too. The thought did occur to me though that it might be worth informing your local police force - on a "just letting you know" basis. They may offer some advice too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulob1 Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 yes was thinking about contacting the police, just adds to the cover doesn't it, he did all he could to ensure everything was safe... amber flashing lights should only be used, whilst moving, on vehicles that do less than 20 mph....however if the police tell me to turn them off we will. if someone hits me they cant have many excuses if we have amber flashing lights all over the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Go with flashing Amber beacons on especially if it's raining or lots of spray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatchFuzee Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Although the posts are from 2010 they are still interesting. http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64191#p581042 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volvoc303 Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 i would have a sign slow vehicle s ahead with flashing lights the word convoy means nothing to most people. hgv sit at 56 mph and most expect thats no body goes slower so anything that makes them notice you in advance so they can pull out and not leave it to the last moment, red flags do get notice as how many times do you see them makes people think whats that ahead have a save trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gas 44 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 thanks Guys that is very useful..... okay so on the last vehicle we will have loads of flashing lights, no convoy vehicle, all vehicles will have flashing lights, will get a mix of colours red and amber 50-100 m separation is about the norm, which is about 4 truck lengths average... flags useless no one understands them except the military folk...we will likely travel on Friday morning, return Sunday afternoon... okay list to remember spare tyre for the daf...must take. jacks for the trucks and heavy torque spanners for wheel changes dont have a spare kraz wheel yet... others okay... What you intent is not really a large convoy and simple road sense from drivers should be enough. But what I can tell you for sure is that a RED flashing light at the rear WILL atract MR plod as only Police cars are allowed to display red flashing lights at the rear. I would NOT advertise the fact of a "Convoy" legally its a minefield. You will need to inform the authorities of your starting point,route and finnish point. Best just say a few freinds out for a drive. As I said with the number of vehicles you are taking its not really into the problem area. Give every driver route plans and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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