New speed limit welcomed by Shropshire hauliers
Lorries in England and Wales will be able to drive faster from today after a new law raised their speed limits – a move described as long overdue by hauliers in Shropshire.
Starting today vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes will be able to travel at 50mph on single carriageway A-roads instead of the current 40mph, and will legally be allowed to do 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
But as the vehicles will still be physically limited to a maximum speed of 56mph they will not be able to take full advantage of the new rules.
Kevin Plews, chairman of the Road Haulage Association for Shropshire, said: "It's been a long, long time coming.
"The trucks have come so far in advances and the speed limits were well out of date."
Pressure to change the limits on HGVs grew as speed cameras multiplied and became able to target lorries as they broke their own particular speed limits
Police had previously been more flexible with lorries doing 50mph and motorists had felt less pressure to overtake.
"Before the speed cameras we were doing 50mph and cars were happy to sit behind us," said Mr Plews, of Plews Brothers Ltd in Market Drayton.
"Since the speed cameras appeared, a lot of trucks dropped to 40mph. It caused a lot of accidents as people overtook dangerously," he said.
"It's definitely a good thing in my opinion and it's been a long time coming. The major thing will be safety. You will get drivers willing to sit behind the lorries now rather than try to overtake," he added.
Transport Minister Claire Perry said that raising the lorries' speed limits would cut congestion, reduce dangerous overtaking and save road haulage firms £11 million a year.
The savings will be made as lorry drivers will be able to cover greater distances in the limited amount of hours they can drive.
It also means that the vehicles will have more chance of hitting their most efficient operating speeds and will find it easier to climb hills by starting them at higher speeds.
Elliot Blackmore, the former head of the Road Haulage Association for Shropshire who has been involved in haulage for 45 years, said the state of roads between main towns in the county was fine for doing 50mph.
"Fifteen years ago there were no speed cameras and no problems. Policemen and police cars, if you did 50mph there was no problem, 55mph yes, but not 50mph," he said.
"The roads are perfectly safe for driving more than 40mph," added Mr Blackmore of Blackmore Haulage, Shrewsbury.
The new speed limits will apply only in England and Wales.
