What is the Standard UK Vehicle Classification Scheme?
When recording the movements that vehicles make at a junction or roundabout in the UK, the COBA 7 classification scheme is usually used. The categories are explained below.
Car (Car/Taxi)
Cars, taxis, 'people carriers' and other passenger vehicles (for example, minibuses motorhomes and camper vans), normally ones which have less than 16 seats. Three-wheeled cars, Land Rovers, Range Rovers and Jeeps and smaller ambulances with windows are included. Cars towing caravans or trailers are counted as one 'Car'.
LGV (Light Goods Vehicle)
All car type delivery vans and those of the next larger carrying capacity such as transit vans. Included here are small pickups, ambulances which look like vans without windows and milk floats. Most of this group are delivery vans of one type or another and goods vehicles (middle-sized trucks) with single rear wheels. Also includes LGVs towing a trailer or caravan as one 'LGV'. If a vehicle has sideguards fitted between axles, or four wheels on the rear axle it should NOT be included in this category.
OGV 1 (Ordinary Goods Vehicle 1)
All larger rigid vehicles with two or three axles including larger ambulances with double rear wheels, tractors (without trailers), road rollers for tarmac pressing, box vans, similar large vans and middle-sized trucks which have double rear wheels (if the rear wheels are single, the vehicle should be classified as LGV).
OGV 2 (Ordinary Goods Vehicle 2)
Includes all rigid vehicles with four or more axles and all articulated vehicles. Also included in this class are OGV1 goods vehicles towing a caravan or trailer.
PSV (Public Service Vehicle)
Includes all public service vehicles and works buses with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or more, usually vehicles with more than 16 seats.
MC (Motorcycle)
Includes all types of motorcycles and also those with sidecars.
PC (Pedal Cycle)
Includes all types of pedal cycles and those carrying one or more passengers.
.
Common Causes of Confusion
Minibus (Car class) or Small Bus (PSV class)
A minibus is a vehicle with less than 16 seats, and it should be recorded in the Car class. A small bus with 16 seats or more should be recorded as a PSV. Where it is difficult to quickly see which category should be used, it is normally best to use the Car class.
Van/Middle-sized truck with Single Rear Wheels (LGV class) or Van/Middle-sized truck with Double Rear Wheels (OGV1 class)
A van/middle-sized truck with single rear wheels should be classified as a LGV, but if it has two rear wheels on each side, it should be classified as an OGV1. Sometimes it is very hard to see whether there are double wheels at the back or not. If the van is large, it is more likely to have double wheels. If you cannot see well enough, please classify the vehicle as an OGV1.
Tip: when it's not really visible whether the rear tyres are single or double, you can look at the tyres and see whether the wheel rim is flat or concave (hollowed inward). When it's flat the vehicle is LGV (single tyres; for example see the 4th image from the LGV section - the yellow one). When it's concave the vehicle is OGV1 (double tyres; for example see the 4th image from the OGV1 section - the blue one).
Ambulances
Ambulances can be classified as Cars, LGV and OGV1 depending on the type of the ambulance. An ambulance is a Car when it looks like a small van with windows (please refer to the 3rd image of the 'Car' section). It is a LGV when it looks like a small van without windows. It is an OGV1 when it looks like a box-van/middle-sized truck with double rear wheels (please refer to the 7th image of the 'OGV1' section).
Not Recording Vehicles
In most surveys, all motor vehicles must be recorded as one of the classes above. Whilst accuracy is important when classifying vehicles, it is even more important not to miss any vehicles. If you are not sure which class of vehicle to record, pause the video and check. If you still don't know for sure, please make your best guess at the correct category.