DfT examining speed limits for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5T
Have you ever been in a queue of drivers stuck behind a HGV lorry going slower than all the other vehicles on the road? How often do you curse the lorry driver who just won't speed up a little and you contemplate overtaking, sometimes not in the safest of conditions, just so you can get on your way? You have to give the lorry driver a bit of a break, as the speed limits for them are slower than for cars on the road. In fact, 40mph is the limit for them on most A-roads. They feel the stress right along with you. The announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT) of the consultation: Examining the Speed Limit for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5T on Single Carriageway Roads could soon see the limit increase to 50mph and according to the RHA, "raising the limit would lead to greater road safety and a reduction in death and injury."
The DfT policy* objective is to maximise the benefits of travel to society, taking into account the sum of economic, environmental and safety outcomes by considering a change to the current 40 mph maximum speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway roads. The intention is to ease unnecessary congestion which forces time delays for motorists whilst reducing the temptation for risky overtaking manoeuvres felt by motorists. The intention is also to level the playing field for businesses, as HGVs which are travelling above the maximum speed limit currently have a competitive advantage over those that are adhering to the maximum 40 mph speed limit.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) also welcomes the announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT). FTA has long campaigned on this subject, supporting the reduction of the speed differential between HGVs and other vehicles on single carriageway roads. The logistics industry is resolute in believing that a 40 mph speed limit causes unnecessary costs to vehicle operators, congestion, avoidable overtaking collisions and further still creates an uneven playing field for businesses.
Malcolm Bingham, FTA Head of Road Network Management Policy commented: “We believe that firstly it will reduce the number of incidents where drivers overtake or attempt to overtake slower moving HGVs who are simply complying with the national speed limit. We know from observations by FTA members drivers on these roads often become impatient and take unacceptable risk to get by goods vehicles. Another issue that has been raised is the acceptability of travelling at higher speed than set by the national speed limits. DfT figures indicate that many drivers may exceed that 40 mph limit on these single carriageway roads. Whilst our members would not want their drivers to disobey any speed limit and many feel that it is inappropriate behaviour to do so; it creates a stressful situation when driving a vehicle at a lower speed than others particularly when other road users try to encourage the HGV to move faster. Legitimising a new speed limit will take away the stress felt by all drivers in these circumstances which we believe will lead to improved road safety.”
*Launched on 9 November 2012, the Consultation runs until 1 February 2013, and is in response to a DfT commissioned report by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to provide an evidence-base, analysis and reasoned opinion on whether or not there is likely to be any road safety risk involved in increasing the speed limit of heavy good vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway de-restricted roads from 40mph to 50mph (or possibly 45mph).
For a more extensive look into this issue, you can read the "RHA Position paper- Raising the speed limit for HGVs to 50mph on appropriate A-roads" by clicking here.
The DfT policy* objective is to maximise the benefits of travel to society, taking into account the sum of economic, environmental and safety outcomes by considering a change to the current 40 mph maximum speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway roads. The intention is to ease unnecessary congestion which forces time delays for motorists whilst reducing the temptation for risky overtaking manoeuvres felt by motorists. The intention is also to level the playing field for businesses, as HGVs which are travelling above the maximum speed limit currently have a competitive advantage over those that are adhering to the maximum 40 mph speed limit.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) also welcomes the announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT). FTA has long campaigned on this subject, supporting the reduction of the speed differential between HGVs and other vehicles on single carriageway roads. The logistics industry is resolute in believing that a 40 mph speed limit causes unnecessary costs to vehicle operators, congestion, avoidable overtaking collisions and further still creates an uneven playing field for businesses.
Malcolm Bingham, FTA Head of Road Network Management Policy commented: “We believe that firstly it will reduce the number of incidents where drivers overtake or attempt to overtake slower moving HGVs who are simply complying with the national speed limit. We know from observations by FTA members drivers on these roads often become impatient and take unacceptable risk to get by goods vehicles. Another issue that has been raised is the acceptability of travelling at higher speed than set by the national speed limits. DfT figures indicate that many drivers may exceed that 40 mph limit on these single carriageway roads. Whilst our members would not want their drivers to disobey any speed limit and many feel that it is inappropriate behaviour to do so; it creates a stressful situation when driving a vehicle at a lower speed than others particularly when other road users try to encourage the HGV to move faster. Legitimising a new speed limit will take away the stress felt by all drivers in these circumstances which we believe will lead to improved road safety.”
*Launched on 9 November 2012, the Consultation runs until 1 February 2013, and is in response to a DfT commissioned report by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to provide an evidence-base, analysis and reasoned opinion on whether or not there is likely to be any road safety risk involved in increasing the speed limit of heavy good vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway de-restricted roads from 40mph to 50mph (or possibly 45mph).
For a more extensive look into this issue, you can read the "RHA Position paper- Raising the speed limit for HGVs to 50mph on appropriate A-roads" by clicking here.
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