Q for Safespeed
Discussion
Paul. It`s the middle of the night an the mind starts to wander.........
Are there any figures related to the number of accidents involving HGVs before and after the introduction of speed limiters? KSI figures may not help, due to the huge improvements in cab safety.
Given our schedules (down to the minute with some parcel companies) we are little more than steering wheel attendants - get on the trunk road / motorway , floor it up to the limiter and hit the cruise button.
My wrecker had the limiter disconnected (blind eye from BiB for obvious reasons) and I was far more alert when travelling over the limit but within the design capabilities of the truck.
I fear that motorway driving will soon become a case of "set the cruise for 70" and relax i.e. fall asleep for the general public. That doesn`t seem to have been given as much publicity as the risks when braking for cameras, but is far more dangerous.
Steve
Are there any figures related to the number of accidents involving HGVs before and after the introduction of speed limiters? KSI figures may not help, due to the huge improvements in cab safety.
Given our schedules (down to the minute with some parcel companies) we are little more than steering wheel attendants - get on the trunk road / motorway , floor it up to the limiter and hit the cruise button.
My wrecker had the limiter disconnected (blind eye from BiB for obvious reasons) and I was far more alert when travelling over the limit but within the design capabilities of the truck.
I fear that motorway driving will soon become a case of "set the cruise for 70" and relax i.e. fall asleep for the general public. That doesn`t seem to have been given as much publicity as the risks when braking for cameras, but is far more dangerous.
Steve
Steve, can you please confirm my memory of the salient dates.
Weren't they introduced in stages, ie new vehicles at one point then aftermarket fit by a later date?
Does this sound right?
1988 Coaches first used since 1974 to have 70 limiters fitted by 1992.
1992 All new HGV >7.5t fitted with 60 mph limiters, dunno about aftermarket fit except as follows.
1994 All bus coaches to have 65mph, hgv to have 56mph.
Any more detail?
Major job to trawl through the stats for collisions and vehicle miles though. Somebody might have enough time.
Incidentally this is Paul Smith's page on the matter
www.safespeed.org.uk/arousal.html no stats though.
arousal? hmmmm thought it might have been something about Gillian Taylforth
FiF
>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Friday 15th April 16:05
Weren't they introduced in stages, ie new vehicles at one point then aftermarket fit by a later date?
Does this sound right?
1988 Coaches first used since 1974 to have 70 limiters fitted by 1992.
1992 All new HGV >7.5t fitted with 60 mph limiters, dunno about aftermarket fit except as follows.
1994 All bus coaches to have 65mph, hgv to have 56mph.
Any more detail?
Major job to trawl through the stats for collisions and vehicle miles though. Somebody might have enough time.
Incidentally this is Paul Smith's page on the matter
www.safespeed.org.uk/arousal.html no stats though.
arousal? hmmmm thought it might have been something about Gillian Taylforth
FiF
>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Friday 15th April 16:05
I heard that fatalities were up 25% in the first year of introduction, but no evidence.
Seen one or two rogues driving over 60 - how things flow!
Another way to tackle this is to look at number of accidents involving HGVs before and after?
Most of this is down to EU tomfoolery anyway l- I love being harmonised!
Seen one or two rogues driving over 60 - how things flow!
Another way to tackle this is to look at number of accidents involving HGVs before and after?
Most of this is down to EU tomfoolery anyway l- I love being harmonised!
From:
www.safespeed.org.uk/serious2.html
I have anecdotal evidence that the DfT have twice started and twice backed away from assessing the effect of HGV speed limiters.
I fairly often drive the Scotland route late at night. (M6 / M74) Sometimes about 1 in 5 HGVs is wandering about in L1 - losing concentration or about to fall asleep.
Fell asleep crashes are often big crashes because sleeping drivers don't brake before impact.
safespeed said:
From:
www.safespeed.org.uk/serious2.html
I have anecdotal evidence that the DfT have twice started and twice backed away from assessing the effect of HGV speed limiters.
I fairly often drive the Scotland route late at night. (M6 / M74) Sometimes about 1 in 5 HGVs is wandering about in L1 - losing concentration or about to fall asleep.
Fell asleep crashes are often big crashes because sleeping drivers don't brake before impact.
Paul have you got the raw data from which you drew those graphs?
I have some which goes back to 50s which might be possible to extend the timeline back. Just want to sure that not comparing apples to oranges.
The problem with the data I have is that the split of collision data and vehicle kilometeres and passenger km is at the 3.5t gvw mark. Therefore there is a real mix of vehicles with / without limiters.
I suspect it will be inconclusive. There is no surprise in the upward trend of the graph if the increase in freight vehicle miles covered is taken into account.
FiF
Flat in Fifth said:
Paul have you got the raw data from which you drew those graphs?
I have some which goes back to 50s which might be possible to extend the timeline back. Just want to sure that not comparing apples to oranges.
The problem with the data I have is that the split of collision data and vehicle kilometeres and passenger km is at the 3.5t gvw mark. Therefore there is a real mix of vehicles with / without limiters.
I suspect it will be inconclusive. There is no surprise in the upward trend of the graph if the increase in freight vehicle miles covered is taken into account.
FiF
I do have the data (all basic stuff from offical sources). It's supposed to be linked from the page, but I see that it isn't. I must have been distracted!
I'm REALLY busy just now, but I'll try and dig it out within 24 hours or so.
It will certainly be inconclusive, although the important conclusion: There's no visible benefit, and a strong suspicion of increased danger, from HGV speed limiters. will be well supported.
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