Road safety charity have criticised the government’s new higher speed limits for lorries claiming the same as being “short-sighted”.
Under new regulations, which are to come into effect beginning Monday, speed limits in England and Wales for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5 tonnes will increase from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways and from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced the new speed limits back in July 2014. FTA supported the new speed limits for HGVs, stating that the change would lead to an improvement in road safety as the difference between HGVs and other road users would be reduced on Britain’s roads.
The Association added that the change in speed limits would ensure that single carriageway roads in the UK are used more effectively and safely.
Malcolm Bingham, Freight Transport Association’s Head of Road Network Management Policy, said “This is a move to improve safety for all on single carriageway roads where the 20mph speed differential between cars and trucks can lead to hasty overtaking manoeuvres that sadly often result in casualties.
“FTA believes 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.”
Criticizing the new change, 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.”
“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.”
Edmund King, the president of AA, the motoring association, said “Car drivers heading home at the end of the Easter bank holiday (Monday) may notice and wonder why big lorries are going faster than at the start of the Easter break.
“Hopefully, this speed increase will ease the frustration of drivers who find themselves ‘stuck’ behind an HGV on a winding single carriage road.
“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.”
“Drivers pulling caravans may worry that they will now find heavy lorries trailing them, although government analysis suggests that they will still have the edge on average HGV speeds.”
None of the fools who make up these rule changes ever put their years in behind the wheel of heavy trucks.I have though….I beleive its ok to raise the speed on dual carriadge ways…..but I can assure you most car drivers havent a clue what it is to stop a heavy truck from speed…there are times when 50 might be ok on a single carriadge way road…..but mainly it isnt safe……go and drive an old 16speeder one with even 38 tonnes on ….let alone 44tons…..and you will come to know that the huge kinetic energy will not be stopped quickly for anyone…they are a bit like trains….so lets not propagate the modern brakes blah blah myth……44 tons will not stop quickly for anyone….ever…..