HGV speed limits rise

Speed limits for lorries over 7.5 tonnes have risen from 40mph to 50mph on single carriageways and from 50mph to 60mph on dual carriageways. The change is intended to modernise an antiquated restriction, according to DfT. The department claims the previous speed limit did not work, saying that it is broken by about three quarters of HGV drivers at any particular time when they are not constrained by other traffic or the road layout.

Director of Policy and Research at the IAM, Neil Greig, said, ‘Driver awareness is the key if this policy is to deliver safer roads. There is widespread ignorance about current speed limits leading to frustration and road rage as platoons build up behind lorries being driven legally. The new limits should reduce stress and ease bad overtaking. This has been proven in the first few months of higher limits on the A9 in Scotland.’