The volume of HGV traffic on the UK's roads continued to increase last year, as did the number of trucks breaking the speed limit. The Department for Transport's Road Statistics 2007 reveal that HGV traffic has increased since 2006 by 0.8%, to 29.4bn vehicle-kilometres (v-km). Geoff Dossetter, director of external affairs at the Freight Transport Association, says the figure is not surprising as it is in line with economic growth in 2007.
But Dossetter warns: "It has been said that road haulage is the barometer of economy. It will be interesting to see how the economic slowdown will affect this traffic." The report also showed that the number of HGVs exceeding the 50mph speed limit on dual carriageways rose by 82%. In addition, almost three quarters went over the 40mph limit on single-carriageway non-built-up roads.