Limiters are 'pointless'
Page 7
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11'EED LIMITERS would be *pointless and wasteful" on brrics, Freight Transport As:ociation president Dennis Hutchings warned the Govmullein last week.
He was making the indusry's first public statement on he subject since Transport Minister Lynda Chalker Warned (CM,November 23) hat the move to fit limiters o coaches could be followed )y compulsory fitting of hem to lorries, too, if lorry 'riving standards do not umrove.
"The FTA doesn't want :ompulsory governors when he culprit is not speed done." Hutchings said at List week's annual dinner of the :TA's Scottish region.
It would be a "pointless Ind wasteful" measure, but le said the industry must get ts own house in order if it is o avoid any such moves.
Drivers must be trained to irive at a safe speed relative .o the distance they drive belind the next vehicle.
Hutchings said the FrA
■ upported the current DepartTient of Transport campaign igainst speeding by lorry drivers, but said it believed he problem needs to be :ackled by better road signing md more effective enforcenem.
The Road Haulage Associa:ion says there is no case for fitting speed limiters at preient, as lorries are less prevaent speeding offenders than coaches appear to be.
But it has no objection in principle to speed limiters, and in the event of lorry speeding becoming a greater problem would press for new lorries to be fitted with limiters. It would resist a retro-titting programme.
It told CM this week that it does have doubts about the technical reliability of speed limiters, particularly over the necessity for drivers to accelerate out of an accident. "Those at present on the market are suspect as regards proof against tampering by disreputable operators," it added.
• Freight Rover is now offering the Econocruise Electric Motor Actuated (EMA) speed limiter (see page 14) as a dealer-fit option on all 200 and 3(H)-Series Sherpa vans fitted with the two-litre 63kW (85hp) '0' Commercial petrol engine.