HGV speed increase announced for dual carriageways

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that it intends to go ahead with an increased national speed limit for heavy goods vehicles on dual carriageways in England and Wales, following a public consultation.

HGVs of more than 7.5 tonnes will be subject to a new national speed limit of 60mph on dual carriageways, increased from 50mph. But such vehicles will still have to obey the maximum speed for a road if it is set at a lower speed than 60mph – for example on specific local or urban routes.

Vehicle-specific speed limits in Scotland and Northern Ireland are devolved to local administrations in Edinburgh and Belfast respectively.

The changes are planned to take effect from 6 April 2015 should they succeed in their journey through parliament, and existing limits continue to apply until the proposals have been implemented.

In practice, HGV speeds will also for the most part continue to be determined by speed limiters, which in most circumstances must be set at 56mph in order to comply with EU rules – and the proposed changes will not allow such devices to be recalibrated to reflect the new 60mph limit.

An alternative proposal was also considered to set the new limit at 55mph, just below the speed limiter threshold – but this option was rejected since it would introduce yet another different limit. The 60mph decision on which the government has settled was supported by 68 per cent of respondents to the consultation, DfT said.

“The main reasons given for supporting this option were potential improvements in traffic flow, congestion and road safety as a result of a reduced speed differential between HGVs and other traffic, that the existing limit does not reflect modern vehicles’ technical capabilities and that they can safely travel faster, and that the proposal reflects the current reality of HGV use on our roads,” DfT said in its consultation response document.

Meanwhile, 14 per cent of respondents supported the retention of current limits, citing road safety, enforcement and environmental concerns.

The department argued that the move would “modernise an outdated regulation dating from the 1980s, better reflecting the capabilities of modern HGVs”, and was “part of a wider package of associated measures that the government is bringing forward to continue to increase economic efficiency and remove outdated restrictions.”

The decision follows a previous announcement made earlier in the year announcing that the speed limit for the same vehicles on single carriageway roads would be raised.

Transport minister Claire Perry said: “The change will ensure that HGV speed limits are proportionate and better aligned with the limits for HGVs on motorways and single carriageways, and with other vehicles such as coaches and cars towing caravans.”

“Our evidence indicates that actual average speeds are unlikely to change in response to the change in national speed limit. Our impact assessment, which has been scrutinised by independent experts, concludes that there is not expected to be an adverse effect on road safety, but we will be monitoring the impacts closely.”

But Brake, the road safety charity, expressed disappointment at the plans.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive for Brake, the road safety charity, said: “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.

“The government itself admits that, at best, there will be no economic or road safety benefit. At worst, it risks increasing deaths and serious injuries on our roads if the largest vehicles are allowed to reach higher speeds more often.

“The relationship between increased speed and increased casualties is a proven one, so why take the risk?

“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.”