The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has hit back at government plans to review speed limits on single-carriageway roads and introduce 20mph zones in urban areas.
RHA chief executive Roger King says: "Currently on single-carriageway A-roads, HGVs are limited to 40mph. This often leads to tailbacks of traffic behind trucks as motorists queue up to overtake. But at least there is a 20mph speed separation between HGVs and other road users.
He adds: "Under the new proposals that will become just 10mph - not enough of a cushion to allow safe, legal overtaking. What we propose is that HGVs be permitted to travel at up to 50mph as road conditions permit to allow traffic to flow at the new limit."
Regarding the proposed changes, Department for Transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick says it is "intolerable" that eight people a day die on Britain's roads.