AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Take it to the limit

7th September 2006
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 36, 7th September 2006 — Take it to the limit
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Will universal speed limiters be a godsend or a curse? For a taster of what the industry thinks we turned to our reader panel — and it seems their opinions are mixed... Pat Hagan reports.

Few operators would argue against antispeeding measures of any kind — they and their employees want the roads to be a safe as possible. After all, this is their working environment.

But does making every new CV in the country travel at the same maximum speed really equate to improved safety, or could it make things worse?

This issue has split Commercial Motor's operator panel, as it addresses the planned introduction of speed limiters for all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.

Under an EU initiative, speed limiters set to 56mph arc to be phased in for all new light CVs above 3.5 tonnes. LGV drivers have been used to limiters for several years and trucks over 7.5 tonnes also have limiters, currently set to 60mph.

But from 1 January 2008 every new vehicle over 3..5 tonnes must have a limiter calibrated to 56mph and they will he banned from the outside lane on motorways.

The government believes this will reduce the accident rate and cut harmful emissions But operators using vans that exceed 3.5 tonnes for urgent deliveries might have to radically rethink their schedules.

So what does the panel think? Some look forward to enhanced safety; others fear endless convoys of speed limited CVs. Most see a mixture of benefits and problems — particularly with the advent of the Working Time Directive. • ADAM PURSHALL TM Logistics Martley, Worcs The bulk of the firm's 150-strong fleet already has limiters fitted so the new legislation is unlikely to have a major impact on it, But Purshall believes the measures could have widespread benefits for the industry in terms of safety and fuel savings: "On the face of it. I think this is a good thing. Safety has to be a priority and some of these vehicles flying along the outside lane of the motorway are definitely not safe.'' Purshall also disagrees with those who predict a bunching effect on motorways and dual carriageways when most CVs are capped at 56mph: "I'm not so sure about that. In fact, limiters may help traffic flow in much the same way as variable speed limits keep it at a consistent speed," However, Purshall was not the only panel member to point out the potential clash between longer journey times caused by limiters and the restrictions imposed by the Working Time Directive: "Drivers' time is scarce and needs to be managed carefully. Operators are going to have to deal with that."

PHILIP BAKER AJ Baker & Son Hastings, East Sussex Owner-driver Philip Baker fears the limiters will cause more problems than they will solve. Although he too believes there is a need to curb the speed of large, powerful vans, he fears that having every vehicle doing the same speed might cause bunching and, consequently, more accidents.

"In certain spots it's already bad, such as the M26 between the M25 and the M20, where it has only two lanes," he points out. "Now they're talking about bringing a lot more vehicles into the equation." t.

Philip Baker

Baker backs the UK position supported by industry bodies and the government but rejected by Brussels that these smaller vehicles should be capped at a higher speed; probably 60mph, This would allow them to overtake larger, slower trucks but not to break the speed limit.

That would have made a lot of sense. They could still get past but would not be doing 100rnph."

PAUL ATHERTON

Paul Atherton Transport Norfolk

UK and international nauller Paul Atherton is in two minds on limiters. As a professional clever he is not a fan, but in terms of road safety, he believes they do have a role to play' They take control away from the clever, if you're driving an artIc on a parcel job in the middle of the night and you're doing 56mph on an empty M6, that's ridiculous. That lorry could run just as fuelefficient at 65mph.

"But I accept we do need limiters because the likes of those Sprinter vans can be lethal weapons "

Atherton thinks limits should be weight

based, with artios set at 60mph and smaller vehicles at 70mph.

But his key criticism is that the new measures will do nothing to address the issue of speeding in built-up and urban areas, where the danger of injury or death is greater given the number of pedestrians.

"You can still speed dangerously at well below 56mph," he warns. "I think, for example, that the limit around schools should be set at 20mph for all vehicles."

MALCOLM MILLARD

MGM Haulage Flexion!, Southampton

A veteran ot the haulage industry and a specialist mover of classic cars and trucks, Millard Is far from convinced about the new measures, but in the end he comes down on the side of limiters for all new CVs A key benefit, he believes, Is that they will lessen the impact should a vehicle be involved In an accident.The chances of a driver or passenger surviving a collision at 56mph might be better than at 75mph. 'I'm just about in favour of It,' he says. "Overall, I think it's an advantage because It will reduce the damage on impact."

CHARLES BURKE

IRS Engineering Rhonda Valley

A truck dealer who also runs one truck, Burke is with most other panel members in backing the use of limiters but not at 56mph: "We get a lot of bunching already and it's going to add to that problem."

He also fears that, as with many EU-led initiatives, small operators will be hit harder than the larger fleets: "There is a need in this industry to be able to deliver goods quickly and small trucks or vans are a good way of doing that. This will just be another burden on small businesses they always suffer most from this kind of thing.

"I accept the principle of limiting overall speed, but I'm against setting it at the same speed as heavy trucks" KEVIN BROOKE Managing director FleetMaster Operational Support Services Leeds As head of a business that is involved in driver training and agency drivers, Brooke has a slightly different perspective: "I think it's an excellent idea. I'm not completely sure about the speed limit, but banning vehicles over 3.5 tonnes from outside lanes is a good idea.

"I live in Yorkshire and there are a lot of big companies that use these kinds of vehicles. They have a lot of volume but not necessarily a lot of weight, so when they get on the motorway at speed they are blowing all over the place."

Brooke shares the view that a slightly higher limit for smaller trucks would make sense. One of the biggest dangers, he suggests, is the potential for sleep-related accidents among drivers plodding along at the same speed: "56mph is the most mind-numbing speed you can do. The most difficult task an LGV driver faces these days is maintaining his concentration level.

"I'm just not sure it's also the right speed for smaller trucks."

NICK MATTHEWS Logistics manager Denholm Industrial Services Yeovil, Somerset Matthews is not only convinced that limiters are a good safety feature; he predicts that 56mph will actually improve journeys by ending stop-start traffic flow on motorways.

And as a former police traffic officer on the M25, he should know: "I was a patrol officer on that motorway for a number of years so I can see the effect that altering speed limits has on traffic flow.

"It can even it up a lot. As soon as you get some people going really fast and others going really slow, it changes.

This isn't just a good road safety measure; it could also help traffic flow more evenly. The only danger is that the driver gets into a nice warm vehicle, hits cruise control and then starts to nod off."

The firm already has limiters fitted to smaller vehicles, calibrated to 70mph. Drivers, Matthews admits, are "not great lovers" of them, but at least he can be sure his vans are not being thrashed.

MARTIN BARNES Project manager Logistical Support Services Bristol Barnes fears limiters do not address a more fundamental problem in terms of road safety the standard of driving: "Driving standards have deteriorated in the past 10 years; the whole lot has just slid.

"It's not the machine that's the problem, it's the driver. You can still drive dangerously without ever going near a motorway."

He also has concerns about how limiters will be policed, and points out that even calibrated machines have 'Inconsistencies' that mean not all vehicles do precisely the same maximum speed.

ED PARGETER Director, EP Training Leatherhead, Surrey Training provider Pargeter is firmly on the fence on this one: "Limiters are a good idea, but fitting them to all new commercial vehicles could be a hazard. It could encourage riskier behaviour by other drivers."

Pargeter fears motorists faced with a wall of slow-moving CVs will get too close before overtaking, or cut in and out of lanes at the last minute.

Like other panel members, he opposes a blanket limit of 56mph for all trucks; he would like to see a higher limit for smaller, faster vehicles.

But he fully supports banning them from the outside lane, mainly because the average motorist cannot always distinguish between light, medium and heavy goods vehicles.

This means they are never really sure whether a truck can pull out in front of them or not.

CONTACTS www.dft.gov.uk

FTA: 01892 526171 RHA: 01932 841515


comments powered by Disqus