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M42 ban doesn't go far enough RICHARD SKINNER is quoted
Page 18
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in your news story headed "End of overtaking on A14?" (CM 8 December) as saying:"I feel it would be more dangerous. Everyone would be going along at the speed of the slowest vehicle and that causes frustration among drivers" Isn't that exactly what an overtaking ban is intended to do—to stop the rolling roadblock of two lorries that are unable to pass each other? What about the frustration of hundreds of drivers, legally able to travel at 70mph,all bottled up at 55mph, bumper to bumper, raring to be let loose for miles at a time?
I use the M42/A42 every day between 4pm and 8pm.The overtaking ban has made no difference to my journey time at all.The M42 ban does have its faultsthough.
Firstly, it is only a trial! Why? Surely it would be possible to use Continental examples as evidence without the cost of a long trial?
Secondly, it isn't policed well enough. It needs cameras as it is widely ignored at present.
Thirdly, and most importantly, it simply isn't long enough.
Last night I followed two artics through the ban section. Immediately as the ban ended, the second attic barged out into the right-hand lane, causing cars to brake with the immediate bunching.
After a couple of miles, the second driver had almost got alongside the artic he was overtaking. When he did get alongside, the status quo was maintained all the way to the Mi . Only when the vehicle being overtaken had to ease off to avoid going into Nottingham instead of onto the threelane section of the MI was the overtaking manoeuvre completed.
Up hill and down dale, side by side, mile after mile, the benefits of the overtaking ban were nullified by a rolling 55mph roadblock!
I've no doubt that the usual excuses of "it's limiters that cause the problem" and "time is too shortwill be used to excuse such behaviour.
The limiter cannot ever be the excuse for not driving within the capabilities of the vehicle, and what time saving is there in gaining 100 feet in 20 minutes? If it takes 20 minutes to overtake, then it shouldn't even be attempted.
Why isn't the offence of 'driving without due care and consideration to other road users' ever used in such circumstances?
It is the behaviour of so-called professional drivers that has created the need for overtaking bans.The sooner all two-lane roads on busy main routes have a properly enforced ban during peak times, the better it will be.
The frustration of a few lorry drivers who are too stupid to drop back a few feet, open up a gap and relax is not relevant compared with the hundreds of drivers bottled up for mile after mile behind a rolling roadblock that's achieving nothing but anger and delays.
Roy Larkin Birmingham