HGV speed limits to rise to 50 mph?
Discussion
The Telegraph said:
The speed limit for lorries on rural roads will rise from 40mph to 50mph to reduce tailbacks and the risk of people dying in dangerous overtaking manouvers.
Ministers will today announce that they are ending the "antiquated" speed limit restriction on single-carriageway roads to bring Britain into line with other European countries.
The government will also consult on increasing the speed limit for lorries on dual carriageways from 50mph to 60mph.
Officials believe that move will save hauliers an estimated £11 million a year and "reduce congestion on busy rural roads with large numbers of lorries."
Claire Perry, the new transport minister, said: “We’re are doing all we can to get Britain moving and boost growth. This change will do exactly that and save our haulage industry millions a year.
“Britain has one of the world’s best road safety records and yet speed limits for lorries have been stuck in the 1960s.
"This change will remove a 20mph difference between lorry and car speed limits, cutting dangerous overtaking and bringing permitted lorry speeds into line with other large vehicles like coaches and caravans.
"Current speed limits for HGVs were introduced around 50 years ago and need to be updated given improved vehicle technology.”
In January, Jenny-Anne Stone died after trying to overtake a lorry on the A165 near Hull, Yorkshire. She collided with her sister's car, who was also trying to overtake the lorry, and hit a tree.
Ed King, the President of the AA, said: "We know from our members that quite often trucks doing 40mph on rural roads not only causes congestion but actually causes added danger.
"If the truck is doing 50mph, all the evidence suggests that the driver will be quite content to stick behind it rather than try to overtake.
"We think it is a positive step, but on narrower, rural roads which are popular with cyclists the local authorities should be able to apply for 40mph limits."
Jack Semple, of the Road Haulage Association said: “This evidence-based decision by Ministers, to increase the limit to 50mph will be strongly welcomed by hauliers and their drivers. The current limit is long out-of-date and the frustration it generates causes unnecessary road safety risks.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10985856/Speed-limit-on-rural-roads-to-rise-to-50mph.htmlMinisters will today announce that they are ending the "antiquated" speed limit restriction on single-carriageway roads to bring Britain into line with other European countries.
The government will also consult on increasing the speed limit for lorries on dual carriageways from 50mph to 60mph.
Officials believe that move will save hauliers an estimated £11 million a year and "reduce congestion on busy rural roads with large numbers of lorries."
Claire Perry, the new transport minister, said: “We’re are doing all we can to get Britain moving and boost growth. This change will do exactly that and save our haulage industry millions a year.
“Britain has one of the world’s best road safety records and yet speed limits for lorries have been stuck in the 1960s.
"This change will remove a 20mph difference between lorry and car speed limits, cutting dangerous overtaking and bringing permitted lorry speeds into line with other large vehicles like coaches and caravans.
"Current speed limits for HGVs were introduced around 50 years ago and need to be updated given improved vehicle technology.”
In January, Jenny-Anne Stone died after trying to overtake a lorry on the A165 near Hull, Yorkshire. She collided with her sister's car, who was also trying to overtake the lorry, and hit a tree.
Ed King, the President of the AA, said: "We know from our members that quite often trucks doing 40mph on rural roads not only causes congestion but actually causes added danger.
"If the truck is doing 50mph, all the evidence suggests that the driver will be quite content to stick behind it rather than try to overtake.
"We think it is a positive step, but on narrower, rural roads which are popular with cyclists the local authorities should be able to apply for 40mph limits."
Jack Semple, of the Road Haulage Association said: “This evidence-based decision by Ministers, to increase the limit to 50mph will be strongly welcomed by hauliers and their drivers. The current limit is long out-of-date and the frustration it generates causes unnecessary road safety risks.”
Notwithstanding the fact that raising the limit for HGVs on DCs from 50 to 60 won't make a jot of difference as they'll still be sitting at 56 mph on the limiter - does this mean we'll now have 44 tonners getting stuck behind Micras?
This may, however, soften the blow of the new A9 average speed cameras ever so slightly (ok, maybe not...).
Previously there would have been streams of car traffic stuck behind an HGV doing a constant 40 along a large proportion of the 113 mile stretch, petrified of overtaking lest they exceed an 'average' of 60 and get zapped.
Now the HGVs will be able to sit on the limiter at 56 (less than 50 + 10% + 2) and - frankly - many car drivers won't notice much of a difference compared to an average speed of 60.
This will, of course, just reinforce an ingrained habit of absolutely zero overtaking - even when necessary.
Previously there would have been streams of car traffic stuck behind an HGV doing a constant 40 along a large proportion of the 113 mile stretch, petrified of overtaking lest they exceed an 'average' of 60 and get zapped.
Now the HGVs will be able to sit on the limiter at 56 (less than 50 + 10% + 2) and - frankly - many car drivers won't notice much of a difference compared to an average speed of 60.
This will, of course, just reinforce an ingrained habit of absolutely zero overtaking - even when necessary.
[quote=Who me ?]
It's been possible to auto enforce by size for a long time. Don't know about other areas, but ABD have mentioned a few in Warks for some time.
[/quote]
If you drive past a GATSO (on an NSL SC) at 60 in a Ford Transit Connect, for example, where the limit is 50 for that class of vehicle, how does the GATSO tell that you're not driving a Land Rover Discovery, with a 60 limit?
I presume a standard GATSO isn't fitted with ANPR which compares every single reg number against their registered vehicle category?
It's been possible to auto enforce by size for a long time. Don't know about other areas, but ABD have mentioned a few in Warks for some time.
[/quote]
If you drive past a GATSO (on an NSL SC) at 60 in a Ford Transit Connect, for example, where the limit is 50 for that class of vehicle, how does the GATSO tell that you're not driving a Land Rover Discovery, with a 60 limit?
I presume a standard GATSO isn't fitted with ANPR which compares every single reg number against their registered vehicle category?
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