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New higher speed limits for heavy goods vehicles criticised New higher speed limits for heavy goods vehicles criticised
(about 7 hours later)
Road safety campaigners have criticised new higher speed limits for lorries that are to come into effect on Monday as “short-sighted”.Road safety campaigners have criticised new higher speed limits for lorries that are to come into effect on Monday as “short-sighted”.
The new regulations in England and Wales for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5 tonnes will see speed limits rise from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways, and increase from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways. The new regulations in England and Wales for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5 tonnes will see speed limits rise from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways, and from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways.
Gary Rae, the campaigns manager for road safety charity Brake, said: “We are disappointed that the Government has gone against the advice of road safety groups on this issue. The decision to increase HGV speed limits is short-sighted and runs against work to more effectively manage traffic speeds and reduce casualties on our roads.” Gary Rae, the campaigns manager for road safety charity Brake, said: “We are disappointed that the government has gone against the advice of road safety groups on this issue. The decision to increase HGV speed limits is short-sighted and runs against our work to more effectively manage traffic speeds and reduce casualties on our roads.”
Rae added: “The relationship between speed and casualties is a proven one, so allowing the largest vehicles on our roads to reach higher speeds more often risks more deaths, serious injuries, and additional cost to the taxpayer.” Rae added: “The relationship between speed and casualties is a proven one, so allowing the largest vehicles on our roads to reach higher speeds more often risks more deaths, serious injuries and additional cost to the taxpayer.”
As her department announced the new limit, the transport minister Claire Perry said: “It is really important that speed limits for lorries reflect the needs of a modern transport network and improved vehicle technology.” As her department announced the new limit, the transport minister, Claire Perry, said: “It is really important that speed limits for lorries reflect the needs of a modern transport network and improved vehicle technology.”
Allowing the largest vehicles to reach higher speeds risks more deaths, serious injuries, and additional cost Allowing the largest vehicles to reach higher speeds risks more deaths, serious injuries and additional cost
She added: “Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world and I am determined to ensure this continues,” and said the change would ensure speed limits for lorry drivers are in line with other larger vehicles on Britain’s roads.She added: “Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world and I am determined to ensure this continues,” and said the change would ensure speed limits for lorry drivers are in line with other larger vehicles on Britain’s roads.
The changes to speed limits will update previous regulation dating back to the 1980s.The changes to speed limits will update previous regulation dating back to the 1980s.
Backing the new moves, Malcolm Bingham, head of road network management policy at the Freight Transport Association, said the old speeds sometimes led to “hasty overtaking manoeuvres that sadly often resulted in casualties”.Backing the new moves, Malcolm Bingham, head of road network management policy at the Freight Transport Association, said the old speeds sometimes led to “hasty overtaking manoeuvres that sadly often resulted in casualties”.
He went on: “We believe that it will benefit industry as it will allow operators to use the additional speed, where it is safe to do so, and gain running-cost benefits.”He went on: “We believe that it will benefit industry as it will allow operators to use the additional speed, where it is safe to do so, and gain running-cost benefits.”
The FTA pointed out that lorry technology had advanced considerably since the existing laws were introduced.The FTA pointed out that lorry technology had advanced considerably since the existing laws were introduced.
Edmund King the president of AA, the motoring association, said: “Car drivers heading home at the end of the Easter bank holiday may notice and wonder why big lorries are going faster than at the start of the Easter break.” Edmund King, the president of AA, the motoring association, said: “Car drivers heading home at the end of the Easter bank holiday may notice and wonder why big lorries are going faster than at the start of the Easter break.”
However, King added the speed increase may ease the frustration of drivers who find themselves stuck behind an HGV on a winding single carriage road. However, King added, the speed increase may ease the frustration of drivers who find themselves stuck behind an HGV on a winding single-carriage road.
He said: “For drivers who are confident enough and used to passing HGVs on single carriage roads, they may have to lower their overtaking expectations or adapt their ‘roadcraft’ in anticipation of big lorries going faster on the straighter stretches of road.”He said: “For drivers who are confident enough and used to passing HGVs on single carriage roads, they may have to lower their overtaking expectations or adapt their ‘roadcraft’ in anticipation of big lorries going faster on the straighter stretches of road.”