40 mph for HGV's on A roads.

[gtr-gaz]

This has been bugging me for years now, but is there a reason why HGV's are restricted to 40 mph on all A roads?. It seems incredibly slow.

Today there was a queue a mile long following one in Norfolk. Not many opportunities to overtake, espeically in a van!

[biker boy]

As a HGV driver myself this really pisses me off your right 40 is way to slow unless you have a really heavy load on.

[Mr Will]

I actually prefer HGV's doing 40mph as it makes them much easier to overtake than when they are doing 50.

It only becomes a problem when you end up with a huge tail of numpties who won't overtake and won't let anyone else move down the queue so they can overtake.

[justamin]

You'll notice that the OP mentioned Norfolk - there's hardly any opportunities to overtake here! Also, the A17 is notorious for no overtakes and Morrison's and Sainsbury's truck HAVE to do 40 mph along there. Most trucks though will do 50 mph normally on A roads and VOSA don't often take a dim view of this practice, especially if you mention you were "making progress"

[cptsideways]

IMHO One of the must frustrating & dangerous activities on the roads today. My bet is 90% of death accidents on trunk roads involve frustrated overtakes (by the largely untrained) passing HGV's stuck at 40mph.

40mph on small single carriageway roads maybe but not trunk roads

Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 20th November 18:28

[Targarama]

Remember that most truck drivers value their licenses, so in places like the A14, which are rich picking ground for the tallivans, you can't blame them for not exceeding the limit.

I agree that 40mph is too slow on 'open' single carriageway roads.

[G51CAV]

Targarama said:

Remember that most truck drivers value their licenses, so in places like the A14, which are rich picking ground for the tallivans, you can't blame them for not exceeding the limit.

I agree that 40mph is too slow on 'open' single carriageway roads.

TALLIVAN's, I like that simple yet so fitting!!!!!!
40 is to slow these days with the vehicles being so much more advanced it should not just be down to road classification, each limit should be imposed depending on the layout, accident areas etc.

[Flash Git]

G51CAV said:

Targarama said:

Remember that most truck drivers value their licenses, so in places like the A14, which are rich picking ground for the tallivans, you can't blame them for not exceeding the limit.

I agree that 40mph is too slow on 'open' single carriageway roads.

TALLIVAN's, I like that simple yet so fitting!!!!!!
40 is to slow these days with the vehicles being so much more advanced it should not just be down to road classification, each limit should be imposed depending on the layout, accident areas etc.

then you wouldn't know where the you were with regards to speed limits.... you'd be wondering what the limit was on the particular bit of road you're on was.... instead of thinking "it's a single carrigeway road, must be 40mph"

My same argument applies to speed limits, some say that you should have variable speed limits with regards to what the road is, you could have any number of speed limits in a single mile of road depending on how the road was, a lot of people wouldn't know what the the limit was at any given point on a road....at least with the current system you know where you stand, and if you go over, you've certainly got no one else to blaim for it

[Flash Git]

biker boy said:

As a HGV driver myself this really pisses me off your right 40 is way to slow unless you have a really heavy load on.

so, you think trucks should have two speeds limits, one for empty and one for loaded?

[mark69sheer]

I live in North Yorkshire and the hgv's round here drive at 60 on trunk roads.
Are they supposed to be doing 60?

My actual bigger worry is the local bus the number 36 that drives between Harrogate and Ripon that thing is driven like its stolen and its only a matter of time before there is a fatality.
Its bad enough when you use it that your bags or suitcases end up sliding up and down the aisles but even passengers have fallen from their seats or onto the floor.
idiots

[Jasandjules]

Flash Git said:

biker boy said:

As a HGV driver myself this really pisses me off your right 40 is way to slow unless you have a really heavy load on.

so, you think trucks should have two speeds limits, one for empty and one for loaded?

Working on the principle that a laden vehicle would be substantially heavier, thereby the simple laws of physics requiring a lot more energy to stop, which translated into the brakes would mean a longer stopping distance, then yes, it does seem rather logical.

[Hooli]

Jasandjules said:

Flash Git said:

biker boy said:

As a HGV driver myself this really pisses me off your right 40 is way to slow unless you have a really heavy load on.

so, you think trucks should have two speeds limits, one for empty and one for loaded?

Working on the principle that a laden vehicle would be substantially heavier, thereby the simple laws of physics requiring a lot more energy to stop, which translated into the brakes would mean a longer stopping distance, then yes, it does seem rather logical.

or a sensible limit that means you can travel when empty & take more care loaded. after all you fill your car with stuff your aware it takes longer to stop so are more careful.
i think its daft, HGVs seem to stop as well as cars so they should have the same limits on mainroads. coaches should too, they are limited to 50 on single carriageways.

[fluffnik]

gtr-gaz said:

This has been bugging me for years now, but is there a reason why HGV's are restricted to 40 mph on all A roads?. It seems incredibly slow.

Once upon a time something and someone wailed "Somethingmustbedone!" and some fktard politician did Something, not because it would do any good but because it mustbedone! and it might further their sorry little selfserving "career".

...just like the vast majority of pointless, vicious laws under whose boot we all live.

[fluffnik]

Flash Git said:

My same argument applies to speed limits, some say that you should have variable speed limits with regards to what the road is, you could have any number of speed limits in a single mile of road depending on how the road was, a lot of people wouldn't know what the the limit was at any given point on a road....at least with the current system you know where you stand, and if you go over, you've certainly got no one else to blaim for it

That's one of the many reasons I regard all blanket arbitrary speed limits as bad.

[Hooli]

fluffnik said:

gtr-gaz said:

This has been bugging me for years now, but is there a reason why HGV's are restricted to 40 mph on all A roads?. It seems incredibly slow.

Once upon a time something and someone wailed "Somethingmustbedone!" and some fktard politician did Something, not because it would do any good but because it mustbedone! and it might further their sorry little selfserving "career".

...just like the vast majority of pointless, vicious laws under whose boot we all live.

i believe back in that sort of time HGVs did about 50-55mph flat out & couldnt stop in under a week so it was a useful idea. like most limits its outdated & needs revising though.

[Plastic chicken]

I've argued for a long time that the 40mph limit is outdated & needs revising - on some roads. I have to use the A9 Perth-Inverness road (all 105 miles of it) regularly in my truck & I'm faced with the constant dilemma: stick to 40 and have an impatient queue behind me (including other trucks), or travel at 50ish & risk being pulled over by the unmarked plod that patrol this road. Yes, I do pull in to let people pass, but very quickly the queue builds up again. It's a no-win situation.

[tigger1]

Flash Git said:

G51CAV said:

Targarama said:

Remember that most truck drivers value their licenses, so in places like the A14, which are rich picking ground for the tallivans, you can't blame them for not exceeding the limit.

I agree that 40mph is too slow on 'open' single carriageway roads.

TALLIVAN's, I like that simple yet so fitting!!!!!!
40 is to slow these days with the vehicles being so much more advanced it should not just be down to road classification, each limit should be imposed depending on the layout, accident areas etc.

then you wouldn't know where the you were with regards to speed limits.... you'd be wondering what the limit was on the particular bit of road you're on was.... instead of thinking "it's a single carrigeway road, must be 40mph"

My same argument applies to speed limits, some say that you should have variable speed limits with regards to what the road is, you could have any number of speed limits in a single mile of road depending on how the road was, a lot of people wouldn't know what the the limit was at any given point on a road....at least with the current system you know where you stand, and if you go over, you've certainly got no one else to blaim for it

Why can't we have "other" sings for lorries, much in the way trams have their own speed limit signs etc Certain routes could have a separate posted limit for HGVs, on a different coloured sign. Worst case scenario for ordinary motorist misunderstanding it is that they would drive 10/20mph under the speed limit - no biggy, given that said "ordinary motorist" who is easily confused would already probably be doing 40mph!

This is an issue on the A52 Grantham to Skegness - where unfortunately the good overtaking spots seem to be fewer and fewer (with the introduction of more cameras in recent years).

Edited: because my own spelling hurt my eyes!

Edited by tigger1 on Thursday 22 November 09:16

[justamin]

Hooli said:

Jasandjules said:

Flash Git said:

biker boy said:

As a HGV driver myself this really pisses me off your right 40 is way to slow unless you have a really heavy load on.

so, you think trucks should have two speeds limits, one for empty and one for loaded?

Working on the principle that a laden vehicle would be substantially heavier, thereby the simple laws of physics requiring a lot more energy to stop, which translated into the brakes would mean a longer stopping distance, then yes, it does seem rather logical.

or a sensible limit that means you can travel when empty & take more care loaded. after all you fill your car with stuff your aware it takes longer to stop so are more careful.
i think its daft, HGVs seem to stop as well as cars so they should have the same limits on mainroads. coaches should too, they are limited to 50 on single carriageways.

Actually, in many instances trucks can stop QUICKER than many cars, in a shorter distance. But common sense prevails usually I normally drive on open a roads at 50, slowing down to 40 in built up areas, especially if they're signed at a 50 mph limit

[mko9]

Mr Will said:

I actually prefer HGV's doing 40mph as it makes them much easier to overtake than when they are doing 50.

It only becomes a problem when you end up with a huge tail of numpties who won't overtake and won't let anyone else move down the queue so they can overtake.

So that would be all the time then

[Hooli]

justamin said:

Hooli said:

Jasandjules said:

Flash Git said:

biker boy said:

As a HGV driver myself this really pisses me off your right 40 is way to slow unless you have a really heavy load on.

so, you think trucks should have two speeds limits, one for empty and one for loaded?

Working on the principle that a laden vehicle would be substantially heavier, thereby the simple laws of physics requiring a lot more energy to stop, which translated into the brakes would mean a longer stopping distance, then yes, it does seem rather logical.

or a sensible limit that means you can travel when empty & take more care loaded. after all you fill your car with stuff your aware it takes longer to stop so are more careful.
i think its daft, HGVs seem to stop as well as cars so they should have the same limits on mainroads. coaches should too, they are limited to 50 on single carriageways.

Actually, in many instances trucks can stop QUICKER than many cars, in a shorter distance. But common sense prevails usually I normally drive on open a roads at 50, slowing down to 40 in built up areas, especially if they're signed at a 50 mph limit

i didnt realise trucks could out brake cars to be honest. my only experience with large toys is coaches & at best they'd equal a decent car for stopping power. i guess you lot carry more weight so get better brakes.