WAS SPEED SURVEY FAIR?
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• So speed limiters on new lorries are to become compulsory from August 1992. I suppose this was inevitable given the convergent pressures arising from the perceived benefits in terms of fuel savings, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, fewer and less serious accidents; not to mention the industry's backing for the move and the political attractions of legislating in this area.
But how realistic is the Department of Transport's estimate that when all HGVs have speed limiters there could be 25 fewer deaths and 400 fewer injuries each year? I fear it is over-optimistic, perhaps even dangerously over-optimistic, for two reasons.
Firstly, the Dip's evidence of "widespread speeding by HGVs" appears to be gleaned from the National Speed Survey figures which were last published in 1987. However, one vitally important point has been ignored.
The survey says: All sites (for speed measurements) were on non-built-up stretches of road which were essentially straight with good sight lines free from gradients, junctions, roadworks or congestion." In other words the drivers were not in busy nose to tail, foggy or icy conditions, but had the road to themselves.
Of course breaking the speed limit can never be condoned, but it must not be assumed that the evidence of speeding apparent in the National Speed Survey is directly transferable to less than optimum road conditions.
Secondly, I believe another important factor has been overlooked: that those HGV drivers referred to in your Editor's Comment (CM 7-14 February) who have been bullying their way up and down the motor way will continue their bullying ways but on other roads where they will be trying to make up for time lost by an enforced 60mph limit on the motorways.
Your editor rightly says that speed limiters won't stop an HGV driver from travelling at 50mph in a built-up area on a foggy afternoon when the local primary school turns out.
Let's pray that speed limiters don't actually encourage such behaviour by the unscrupulous minority.
D McIntyre, London NWI.