Faster Goods Vehicles Ministry Proposals
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THE Ministry of Transport this week published its proposals for a general increase in the speed limit of goods vehicles from 30 to 40 m.p.h. Any views which interested organizations wish to put forward on the proposals have to be in by March 17 next.
In making the proposals the Minister recalls that a proposal for the speed limit of light goods vehicles to be increased to 40 m.p.h. was circulated in 1958. Then, however, a number of difficulties with regard to different unladen weights were revealed, states the Minister, and it was then felt impossible to proceed with the proposal as it stood.
The Minister stated this week that he still felt that the difficulties were sufficiently cogent to rule out any renewal of the proposal in the precise form then circulated It has, however, been generally realized for some years that not all speed limits were appropriate to modern conditions. If the provisions for compulsory disqualification contained in the Road Traffic Bill were to be generally acceptable it was essential that speed limits should be as realistic as possible.
It is also proposed that the speed limit for vehicles towing draw-bar trailers should be increased from 20 to 30 m.p.h. Other speed limit increases are proposed, including speeds of 12 and 20 m.p.h. for certain heavy units at present restricted to 5 and 12 m.p.h.
The Ministry states on this point that there no longer appears to be any real reason to restrict the larger road trains to 5 m.p.h.. while many of the heaviest cannot actually exceed 5 m.p.h. those that can will be less disruptive of traffic if moving at a new limit of 12 m.p.h.
The Minister, in his proposals, also summarizes what are described as the principal arguments in favour of the proposals and certain possible dangers. The advantages Are: that modern goods vehicles are designed and constructed to travel safely in normal conditions at 40 m.p.h,; that experience has shown that the proposed limit would be observed, since it appears to be the average speed at which vehicles are now driven; that they would improve traffic flow and lane discipline and reduce overtaking if travelling at 40 m.p.h.; and that if the new proposals as to disqualification became law, the driver pf a van built on a car chassis could lose his livelihood for doing 35 m.p.h. on a rural dual carriageway.
Another advantage quoted by the Ministry is as follows: "Heavy goods vehicles are. on the whole, well maintained and well driven. This is less true of vans but in their construction they closely resemble private cars and as the age limit is reduced those under 30 cwt. will increasingly become liable to annual inspection."
The "possible dangers" listed by the Ministry are: that a considerable number of vehicles were designed and built When the 20 m.p.h. was in force; that vehicles may become unsafe when overloaded or badly maintained; that the general increase in speed may require an increase in the stopping distance for brakes of a given efficiency and that if goods vehicles are going faster it will take longer for private cars to overtake.