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Chalker clamps down on M-way speeding
Page 5
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BUS AND COAC11 operators are to be compelled to fit speed limiters on motorway coaches, Transport Minster Lynda Chalker has announced. And she warned that lorries may be brought into the scheme at a later date.
This stems directly from last month's M6 pile-up, in which 13 died, three of them passengers on a Scottish Citylink coach. But her threat then to reduce the 70mph limit to liOmph and to ban coaches from the outside lane has been dropped as "counter productive".
Discussions are to start with manufacturers and operators to develop the speed limiters proposal and to work out as •quickly as possible a timetable for fitting them. Chalker pointed out that the quality of speed limiters has improved in the past two years.
"The discussions will cover all relevant aspects of the devices. including their effectiveness at controlling maximum speeds accurately, their failsak characteristics and arrangements to make them co in pletel y ta m perproo she said.
Limiters will later have to be fitted to all 30,000 public service vehicles that use motorways and are capable of operating at more than 70mph.
She said she had urged the Bus and Coach Council two years ago to put its house in order. While many responsible companies have made a real effort to conlbrun with the code of practice and the great majority of drivers gave a first-class service to the public, "they have been let down by an irresponsible minority".
Confining coaches, which were more manoeuvrable than lorries, to the inner and middle lanes on motorways could lead to more bunching and tailgating, she said.
Chalker warned she is considering taking action against operators whose drivers consistently flouted the law and said that those in the road haulage lobby now knew that if they did not put their house in order they might receive similar treatment in the future.
-I hope it will not be necessary to take a similar step, because road haulage drivers are, generally, very safe. If only they would signal rather earlier, those who sometimes have unpleasant words to say about lorries would cease to say them."
Junior Labour spokesman Peter Snape, welcoming the move, said there was a case ibr titling them to lorries as well, because a minority of HGV drivers switched lanes without signalling or liarrassed motorists by tailgating.
The Bus and Coach Council said it welcomes the Government's decision not to ban coaches from the third lanes of motorways, but expressed reservations about the reliability of speed limiters.
Sonic operators and drivers are concerned about the absence of an over-ride control to help a driver speed out of trouble being potentially dangerous. But others say it has improved fuel economy and gives passengers a smoother ride.
Inevitably, the speed limiter manufacturers have welcomed the move.
• Romatic, of Salford is introducing its new System 90 speed limiter this week, for between 4:285 and 4:375.
It has a kick-down device which allows the driver to accelerate beyond the set limit tor a short time, typically 30 seconds, although this can be adjusted.