DfT publishes HGV speed limit increase evaluation
The Department for Transport (DfT) has released its first-year evaluation of the impact of HGV speed limit increases in England and Wales, which took effect in April last year.
The changes saw an increase in the speed limit for trucks over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageways from 40mph up to 50mph, and from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways.
In the period following the introduction of the new speed limits, the DfT found preliminary evidence of a reduction in HGV collisions, estimated to be between 10 per cent and 36 per cent.
Collision figures had already been reducing on affected roads, albeit at a slowed pace in recent years – but the DfT said it was not possible to attribute the new figures directly to the speed limit changes.
The DfT’s research also demonstrated general awareness of the changes on single carriageways among HGV drivers, but not all were aware of the dual carriageway increase. There was also a low level of awareness of the changes among residents living adjacent to affected roads, the department found.
Analysis of traffic speeds and flows revealed that speeds of affected HGVs on single carriageways had increased between 2014 and 2015 by more than 1 mph on average, across a range of conditions – while the equivalent figure for dual carriageways was an increase of less than 0.5 mph.
Road Haulage Association policy director Jack Semple said the increases followed “years of lobbying” by his organisation, and were “strongly welcomed” by the industry.”We firmly believe that the industry has taken a responsible approach to the new limits,” he said.
“The study still has some time to run, and early data should be treated with caution. However, early results have not identified negative road safety impacts. Indeed the research so far confirms the industry view that modestly raising the speed limit would both improve road safety and operating efficiency.”
Semple continued: “There have also been clear benefits in terms of increased compliance and a reduction on the pressure on drivers and operators to stay within what were unrealistic speed limits. In addition we can reasonably assume a reduced frustration for car drivers caused by HGVs moving at unreasonably slow speeds.”
