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Let's push for a 50mph limit on single-carriageway A-roads.•
Page 34
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I READ with interest the article headed More haste, more speed (CM 13 April) and congratulate Commercial Motor on its efforts in campaigning for a 50mph limit on single-carriageway A-roads.
The DfT's figures clearly illustrate that with 77% of trucks exceeding the 40mph limit it's time to take positive action in raising the limit for efficiency, safety and environmental reasons.
Operators are now purchasing Euro-4-engined vehicles with reduced emissions: at the current 40mph, many trucks aren't running at the most economical engine speed or temperature to achieve the environmental benefits.
Here in Lincolnshire we're blessed with many single-carriageway A-roads. Motorists are frustrated when following slow trucks and take risks in attempting to pass them, leading to collisions, accidents and deaths. I'm convinced that motorists would be slightly less anxious to take these risks if the trucks they were following were travelling at a reasonable speed.
We have drivers who have received speeding offences for travelling at 45mph along A-roads in open countryside.Although we don't condone speeding we have to take an open view on minor offences, as trucks are often 'pushed' by other motorists trying to pass.
Further to revised speed restrictions on A-roads,we also need to adopt a 'fair' system of penalties for drivers caught exceeding these limits.We would propose that fines only are imposed following minor speeding offences to protect the drivers from losing their licence and livelihood, and the hauliers who employ them losing valued members of staff.
If, however, the speed is excessive it should of course be regarded as reckless and dealt with more harshly by both fines and licence endorsement as per the current method.
Geoff Hill Rase Distribution Lincolnshire