Y NO TO 50
Page 43
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A 50mph limit would do serious harm to road haulage and to the UK's economy. That's why CM is saying no to 50.
regulations are the sole perogative of Parliament.
It could be argued that in the face of such a fundamental question as national sovereignty, arguments over whether a 50mph truck limit would ease congestion, cut pollution or improve safety pale into insignificance.
The debate is not a new one. In the past the UK has accepted Euro laws on hours and vehicle lengths — but has trod its own path on gross and axle weights.
All well and good; but is the DTp the best judge of what's best for the industry? In the case of gross weights the answer is obviously no.
In any case, we shouldn't forget that if enough European Transport Ministers back the 50mph legislation they could force it through on a majority vote, leaving the UK with no option but to implement it. In theory, at least. In the real world the UK and the EC have been at loggerheads for years. Our government regularly breaks Euro laws which it doesn't like, so why not on limiters?
Alternatively the DTp could introduce the Euro limiter legislation while blaming Brussels Eurocracy. What it will probably do is test the water, as it has done so with so many other dubious changes to road transport law. If there is effective opposition from the road transport industry the DTp will have more of a reason to fight the British corner.
But that opposition won't come out of thin air. If hauliers and drivers are really against a 50mph motorway speed limit they're going to have to stand up and be counted with the sort of hard-hitting campaign that we're used to seeing from the anti-road transport lobby.
Now is the time to join CM's Say No to 50 campaign and prove that when the chips are down the road transport industry is capable of speaking with a single voice.
111 by Brian Weatherley