Is this a sensible move..

[automaniaman]

HGV Speed Limit To Increase On Dual Carriageways

New HGV Speed Limit In England And Wales







The HGV dual carriageway speed limit will increase from 50mph to 60mph in England and Wales on April 6th 2015.
This follows recent confirmation that the limit for such vehicles on single carriageways will rise to 50mph in early 2015, rather than the current 40mph.
Improved Vehicle Technology
The change has partly been influenced by technological advances.
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.
“Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world and I am determined to ensure this continues.
“This change is about ensuring rules for lorry drivers’ speed limits are in line with other larger vehicles on our roads, creating a fairer and more proportionate system.”
Benefits Of Higher Speed Limit
Higher limits could have several benefits.
Firstly, reduced journey times could enable hauliers to make more deliveries. That could increase profits.
Increased revenue for hauliers could boost government coffers via extra income tax, value added tax, and duty.
Secondly, enabling hauliers to travel at speeds more consistent with other vehicles could reduce the number of people tempted to overtake in dangerous places.
New HGV Speed Limit Concerns Road Safety Charity
But Road Safety Charity Brake is concerned.
Deputy Chief Executive, Julie Townsend, said: “Increasing the HGV speed limit on single and dual carriageways sets a dangerous precedent, sending a message that if traffic laws are persistently flouted the government would rather change them than get tough with the law-breaking drivers putting everyone at risk.
“This decision runs against work to more effectively manage traffic speeds and reduce casualties and emissions on our roads.
“As with the decision to raise the HGV speed limit on single carriageways, the government is making a leap of faith in spite of the legitimate concerns of road safety groups.”

 

[Howard]

Yes , get it there quicker !

If you get hit by a 44 tonner at 50mph , you'd be just as dead as if it was 60mph.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Does that mean that the 56mph limiters on LGV's are going to be adjusted accordingly?

 

[Charles Morgan]

Having seen the overtaking manoeuvres attempted to pass these behemoths at 40mph on single lane roads an increase to 50mph will at least sort the men from the boys.

 

[Dryce]

Given the tendency to demand lower limits on single carriageway roads it does seem a little inconsistent to suggest raising them for the largest and heaviest vehicles ....

You might think there's been a bit of lobbying going on .... perhaps .... just a little bit.

 

[alzieboy]

Years ago the HGV driver were regarded as knights of the road, unlike nowadays FRIGHTS of the roads imho

 

[nb_racing]

I think it's fine as the drivers are generally a lot better trained than the avergae car driver who believes having a car licence is a right.

In addition, many HGV firms reduce the speed limiters to 54, 52, 50 mph to save on fuel costs and they may wish to maintain these limits.

i think this is an effort to boost the economy by getting frieght around the country faster, more freight jobs will get done, more drivers will be needed and so on.

And as has been said, you're dead at 50mph, no more so dead at 60mph.

 

[Dryce]

more freight jobs will get done, more drivers will be needed and so on.

Hmmmmmm. I think the actual logic is ..... *less* drivers will be needed.

And as has been said, you're dead at 50mph, no more so dead at 60mph.

Laws of physics suggest that 44 tonnes of momentum and kinetic energy at 50mph is rather more devastating than 44 tonnes of momentum and kinetic energy at 40mph.

Consider the image posted a while back of the W211 that hit the back of a truck at high speed. The truck driver would have had a jolt. The car was totalled.

That's *momentum*. And the truck had a lot. The car had a little. The combination of the two in an inelastic collision was that jolt to the truck and the destruction of the car.

The truck driver pulled over because he thought he had a puncture.

 

[st13phil]

Having seen the overtaking manoeuvres attempted to pass these behemoths at 40mph on single lane roads an increase to 50mph will at least sort the men from the boys.

Hehehe

The reality is that it's often impossible to safely overtake an artic travelling at 40mph on a single-carriageway road, but because it's travelling so much slower than the pace other traffic would normally travel at you get stupid, gung-ho, frustration overtakes that cause carnage. Increasing the truck's speed to 50mph should reduce the instance of that for two reasons: 1) It reduces the speed differential between the trucks and other traffic in free-flowing conditions thus reducing the desire to overtake; 2) It will be obvious to all but the most inept drivers that the "dodgy overtake" that they may have gone for if the truck was travelling a few mph slower really isn't viable.

Predictably, "Road Safety Organisation" BRAKE are yelling from the rooftops that we're all going to die as a result, so I reckon it'll probably be beneficial.

 

[moonloops]

There needs to be an outright ban on sending freight more than 50 miles by road. It needs to be on the railways overnight and transported shorter distances by local rail connected distribution centres.

 

[Giantvanman]

We can, to a certain extent, ensure British registered vehicles are all tickety boo and the drivers up to scratch but what about foreign drivers? The thought of Albanian/Bulgarian/Romanian etc lorries/driver being allowed to go faster legally does not make me think this is a wise idea.

And incidentally, it is a known phenomenon that drivers will invariably take a bit when it comes to limits. When was the last time you saw a 44t arctic obeying the speed limit for its size and then consider the same drivers 'taking a bit'. They'll end up chasing us down the road at this rate (I exaggerate for effect only).

 

[Giantvanman]

There needs to be an outright ban on sending freight more than 50 miles by road. It needs to be on the railways overnight and transported shorter distances by local rail connected distribution centres.

Cost and infrastructure. Sorry, can't think of another way to say it; too high and we don't have it.

 

[Darrell]

We can, to a certain extent, ensure British registered vehicles are all tickety boo and the drivers up to scratch but what about foreign drivers? The thought of Albanian/Bulgarian/Romanian etc lorries/driver QUOTE]

Albania are not in the eu. Why are their vehicles over in the UK?

 

[artyman]

At least on dual carriageways when they are doing the overtake at 0.0001 mph faster than the slower lorry we can now be travelling a bit quicker behind them.

 

[PXW]

At least on dual carriageways when they are doing the overtake at 0.0001 mph faster than the slower lorry we can now be travelling a bit quicker behind them.

Yup. Was behind a lorry this morning that took about 8 miles to pass another!

 

[Handydave]

The reason this happens is probably because both HGVs are sitting on the limiter. When the limiter on both is raised to 60mph, then......

 

[Giantvanman]

We can, to a certain extent, ensure British registered vehicles are all tickety boo and the drivers up to scratch but what about foreign drivers? The thought of Albanian/Bulgarian/Romanian etc lorries/driver QUOTE]

Albania are not in the eu. Why are their vehicles over in the UK?

Really?

 

[Dryce]

There needs to be an outright ban on sending freight more than 50 miles by road. It needs to be on the railways overnight and transported shorter distances by local rail connected distribution centres.

I suspect the RMT would rub their hands in glee at the hold they would have on the economy.

Meanwhile Braemar and Campbeltown would obviously have to be abandoned as goods and supplied would no longer be delivered under this ban.

 

[Howard]

Really?

Don't think they're full members yet ?

 

[sl55plymouth]

There needs to be an outright ban on sending freight more than 50 miles by road. It needs to be on the railways overnight and transported shorter distances by local rail connected distribution centres.

So you won't be getting your milk in the morning then.

There is no way that this amount of freight could ever be moved by rail, even if you took away all the passenger trains it still would not have the capacity.