Road Legal

Speed limits

The maximum speed limits for all UK vehicles, including HGVs, are listed in the Highway Code. The 30mph limit on most residential roads for all motor  transport is no arbitrary figure; according to figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), there is a substantial increase in the risk of causing death or serious injury when driving just a few miles above 30mph.

However, speed limits alone cannot prevent the 36,000 serious injuries and 3,400 deaths that happen every year on Britain’s roads. The Road Safety Bill, which received its Royal Assent in November 2006, is intended to take a firmer line on those that flout the law. It has introduced graduated penalty point endorsement for speeding, e.g. two, three or six points depending on the seriousness of the offence.  See the Bill summary by Tim Ridyard of law firm Barker Gotelee for more information on the new legislation.

For goods vehicles not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, the speed limit for built-up areas is 30mph; for single carriageway A-roads it is 50mph; on dual carriageways it is 60mph and on motorways it is 70mph, though this is reduced to 60mph if they are towing a trailer or are articulated.

For goods vehicles heavier than 7.5 tonnes the maximum speeds are, respectively, 30mph, 40mph, 50mph and 60mph.

Speed limiters

Equipment fitted to vehicles to prevent them from being driven above a certain speed has been in use for more than 30 years. But it is only since 1994 that they have been mandatory on commercial vehicles to prevent them from exceeding 70mph. However, they have been set at 56mph; four miles per hour less than the motorway speed limit for HGVs (see Points to ponder).

According to DfT information on speed limiters, the UK was the last EU nation holding out against introducing fixed speed limiters to medium-sized commercial vehicles. From 2005 these became mandatory.

VOSA has published a leaflet on the new speed-limiter regulations, covering the changes to vehicles requiring speed limiters, the laws surrounding speed limits and motorway driving.

More information on the requirements for the fitment of road speed limiter equipment can be found on Speedlimiter.co.uk.

Overtaking 

In October 2005 the Highways Agency (HA) announced it was introducing an 18-month trial overtaking ban on trucks over 7.5 tonnes on the M42. The pilot project, between Junction 10 and 11, has not been well received within the haulage industry; the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association  have both complained about the "nonsensical" approach, which on anecdotal evidence, appears to have had an impact on vehicle journey times.

However, undeterred, the HA is now considering introducing a similar ban on the A14, something the FTA has expressed its concern about. See also the BBC news story on these plans.

Points to ponder

The maximum speed limits for heavy goods vehicles has divided many associations, campaigning bodies and hauliers. Most speed limits were introduced in the 1960s and are now viewed as anachronistic by those who also believe a review of the limits following advances in technology is long overdue.

Coupled with this belief are concerns that speed limits of 40mph on single-carriage A-roads and 56mph on motorways is leading to ‘rolling roadblocks’: long lines of bunched-together trucks, all traveling at virtually the same speed, which cause congestion and frustration among other motorists. This can lead to dangerous overtaking manoeuvres by cars and motorbikes, resulting in further accidents and deaths. As a consequence, the 'Safe Speed' campaign has lobbied for a change to the speed laws for HGVs and Commercial Motor has also campaigned for an increase in the speed limit on single-carriage A-roads, to 50mph. 

On the other hand, road safety charities such as Brake have been outspoken in their views against any rise in the current limits. For the moment at least, the government has resisted calls to increase the speed limit for HGVs.