A-road speed fine plan
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by Grant Prior • The Government is considering hitting LGV drivers with swingeing new A-road speeding fines.
The Department of Transport has revealed it is looking at extending to tolled A-roads its proposals to penalise motorists per mile per hour over the limit on motorways.
Roads Minister Robert Key first mooted the idea last week.— drivers could be penalised 50p. for example, for every mile they travelled at 5 miles an hour above the limit.
Figures released by the DOT on the same day as Key's announcement show more than 60° of LGVs break the speed limit on Aroads.
The motorway plans would not affect trucks which are fitted with speed limiters.
Speeding LGVs could be netted as they pass through toll road control points and are identifed by their electronic payment tags. Their speeds would be recorded by roadside cameras on tolled roads.
Average speeds could also be worked out between two toll points and the fine calculated per mile.
Hauliers • have slammed the proposals. Owner driver Stephen Gee says: "I don't believe it's possible to do the job without speeding sometimes on A-roads because schedules are so tight. I also think there are too many restrictions and regulations surrounding us already."
Essex-based operator Derek Davis, director of Mann-Trans says: "It's getting ridiculous, soon you won't be able to go out on the roads without getting fined."
Mick Binns, secretary of the National Owner Drivers Association says: "There are too many civil servants sitting on their backsides dreaming up daft ideas like this."