HGV SPEED LIMIT INCREASE APPROVED BY MANY IN THE INDUSTRY Posted on: July 29, 2014 The road transport sector has shown its support for the government’s plan to increase the speed limit on single carriageways from 40mph to 50 mph, a move that is set to boost the haulage sector by £11 million a year. The decision taken by Transport Minister Claire Perry and the Department for Transport (DfT), after six weeks of consultation, sees the speed limits for trucks over 7.5 tonnes amended for the first time since the 1960s. Perry said that with advances in vehicle technology and an improvement in road safety, using 50-year-old speed limits for HGVs is causing motorists to undertake risky manoeuvres due to the 20 mph difference between trucks and cars. “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 £11 million a year.” The upping of speed limits for HGVs on both single and dual carriageways, from 50mph to 60mph, will see haulage firms able to travel at the same speed as other heavy vehicles, including coaches. Truck manufacturer Volvo has shown its support to the government’s plans to introduce the new speed limits in April 2015, by stating that the increases could improve road safety and also have benefits for the environment. Arne Knaben, Managing Director for Volvo Trucks, said, “It is good news for road safety as it should keep traffic flowing more smoothly. Modern trucks have fast reacting disc brakes and EBS. I believe that the safety technology that is built into the latest trucks provides a counter argument that the increased road speed could adversely affect safety.” He added that the increased speeds will also have both environmental and operational benefits, as there is the potential to save fuel, which cuts down on the amount of emissions produced. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) have also supported this decision, as they believe it will be beneficial to the industry and road safety.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 16:53:54 +0000