HGV 40mph single Cariagway Limit

[srhutch]

How many of you new that HGV's over 7.5 tonnes are only allowed to do 40mph on single carriageways?

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/hgv40.html

The reason I highlist thi sis that three time in the last week I along with 20+ cars and vand have been stuck behind either a Waitrose or ASDA lorry going to or from work. On all three occasions this has been on the A22 in sussex which isnt the best road for overtaking, fine if you are just behind the lorry or a few cars back, but when you are at the back you stand no chance.

This limit if enforced for safety reasons, but my argument is that it will cause accidents as nearly happend this morning as drivers get impatient stuck behind these HGV's for mile after mile.

I am guessing more organisations are fitting restrictors to prevent their drivers from breaking the limit or installing trackers to record the speed.

When is common sense going to be restored? :x

 

[RichardG]

I knew about it, did you know van's have a speed limit of 60mph on dual carridgeways,
Think of it another way how much over it's speed limit is a HGV and failing to trigger a speed camera on a National Speed road when you or I trigger that same camera by straying by within the same margin of error.

 

[srhutch]

Dual carraigeways HGV's are limited to 50 and 60 on motorways, but this isnt so much of an issue as it's easier to overtake, I belive there are two main issues though and that is increased congestion and increase in accidents where drivers become impatient and ovetake when they shouldnt.

 

[RichardG]

I was'nt disagreeing with you, just trying to put a different spin on it, I forget who the first haulage firm was who fitted the limiters to their trucks but it was done as fuel saving excerise rather than a safety one, you are definately right about the cause of accidents though and that's what the current anti-speed lobby are using to try and lower the speed limit on these roads to 50mph as it's the cheap option rather than tackle the real cause which is poor road design, plus people don't know how to overtake properly, rather than hang back and giving yourself a view of the road ahead and room to accelerate to go past the truck at speed they sit 6" from the truck and can't see when it's clear so just sit there mile after mile.

 

[srhutch]

Dont worry, I didnt take it that way, I just think it's very difficult to enforce two different speed limits on a single carriageway, and this is easily observed with a queue of 20+ cars that were stuck behind the HGV this morning not able to overtake as the road in question isnt the easiest to overtake at the best of times, but with rush hour traffic coming the otherway makes it even harder.

I guess we are stuck with it though. :x

 

[Spikey]

I think equally anoying is the"Im going to pass you" truckers who decide that as they can do 3mph more than the truck in front of them hold everyone up for 5 mins in the second lane as they snail past the other truck....and this time is extended if a hill gets in the way.

I do have some sympathy for truckers though, they have to put up with some really crappy and dangerous behaviour from our fellow car drivers who think trucks can stop / manoever as easily as cars, but the truckers don't help themselves by hogging the second lane!

 

[mc.d]

Just to add to this,
yes LGV's are restricted to 60mph on motorways (highwaycode etc) but in reality they are running at 56mph. Some company trucks i could mention are limited to 52/54mph as you say it helps fuel economy.
The drivers themselves have complained,as certain drops are still expected to be delivered in the same time scale.
It is also a little known fact that certain police forces welcome the 40mph LGV restriction on single carrigeways as it helps to keep the traffic "20+ cars behind"
Again its interesting to see these national speed limits being reduced for all vehicles by 10mph across the board? it will make some of those overtakes even more death defiying :thumbsdown:
Some of the speed cameras are now able to pick up the different vehicles passing so Lgv's will trigger them.Again companys will not tolerate speeding as its bad for their image and they can face heavy penaltys as well as the driver.

MD

 

[Mr Whippy]

Pants really, but the simple solution is to vote against the idiots who come up with this crap!

Blame the Labour voters, and those who vote for councillors who pamper to groups like BRAKE and TFL etc...


Support common sense groups like these:
http://driversalliance.org.uk/

and you might get some common sense road policy


Dave

 

[bigshurv]

40 is far too slow IMO, they should be able to do 50, then the traffic behind is more likely to simply stay there and not try to get past.The supermarket truckers are policed internally by their employers, often hardline, so they dare not speed,making tham a pain in the arse to be stuck behind. :headbang:

 

[a11y]

Thing being most roads will have some overtaking opportunities but because so many drivers seem to think overtaking is illegal, you end up at the back of a queue of 15 cars unable to make progress!

Thing is, 40mph on some A-roads is too slow (I'm thinking the A75 Dumfries to Newton Stewart, Richard) but on other A-raods its too fast. But truckers should be capable of figuring out what speed is safe themselves, as should any driver really. Reading the road is sooooo under-rated these days...

 

[Mr Whippy]

But truckers should be capable of figuring out what speed is safe themselves, as should any driver really. Reading the road is sooooo under-rated these days...

Truckers more than anyone should be able to.

It worries me however, when you see truckers doing dumb stuff. It literally should be one strike and you are out! (I know things are pretty strict, but there are no bloody Plod out there to see some of the retarded stuff some get up to, which is ultimately giving them a bad name and meaning they get this stupid limit imposed)

Dave

 

[stevedruidstone]

In the same vein has anyone noticed the growth of these average speed limit devices set up for miles of roads without roadworks? They look like it will be the next big thing to converting roads into railways ie no overtaking stuck in a moving queue. I found the best solution is to drive a Zed because at least you can enjoy sitting in the thing. This was following a carefully controlled research project driving my daughters crappy old heap along the same road- guess which I enjoyed more?

 

[Mr Whippy]

In the same vein has anyone noticed the growth of these average speed limit devices set up for miles of roads without roadworks? They look like it will be the next big thing to converting roads into railways ie no overtaking stuck in a moving queue. I found the best solution is to drive a Zed because at least you can enjoy sitting in the thing. This was following a carefully controlled research project driving my daughters crappy old heap along the same road- guess which I enjoyed more?

Good point. I just like the Z4 full stop. One of the main reasons I got it. Even when you are not driving it fast, it has plenty of other admirable qualities that I can enjoy. The roof down alone transforms the car for example.

As per the anpr speed camera zones, well, I have tended to find myself not using routes that are clearly set up to slow you down. Where councils and road planners have had their retarded reverse logic way, and engineered roads to cause congestion and delay (yes, they actually do it on purpose in guidelines given to councils from central government), I simply find alternatives.
Stupidly, in places, this now means I use the non-main roads which are quicker, safer, quieter and more enjoyable to drive along, than the fast direct main roads that have been bunged up with pedestrian crossings (rather than a foot bridge) or aggressively angled, sight line barricaded roundabouts that slow what should be flowing traffic to a stop etc...

And breathe

I share your view. The Z4 makes a traffic jam or what were tedious journeys seem ok, because I'm in a Zed