New proposals from the government would aim to ban all buses and HGVs over 3.5 tonnes from using the outside lane of the motorway, as well as restricting all HGVs to a 60mph limit.
The Department for Transport has started a consultation that it claims would “simplify the motorway speed limits for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles.”
One of the proposals is to prohibit HGVs between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes from using the right hand lane of motorways with three or more lanes.
The ban would also extend to all buses, minibuses and coaches with more than eight passenger seats.
Speed limits would be changed so that all HGVs would have to obey a 60mph limit, whether or not they have a limiter. Buses and coaches would have a 65mph limit.
Currently newer HGVs have a speed limiter set 56mph, while older HGVs under 7.5 tonnes without a limiter can travel at the 70mph national limit.
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Re: HGVs face motorway restrictions
I would love a rule that says if you're an HGV being overtaken by another HGV, then you must drop your speed by 5 mph to allow the other to pass quickly, and then allow the overtaking HGV to get back in the inside lane. Or have a fancy box of electronics to do it automatically...
Don't know what I'd do with the extra minutes in my life though....
I've driven extensively in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Spain - all countries are the same in my experience, the annoying sods wait until and uphill section then pull out to make their lengthy passes.
Re: HGVs face motorway restrictions
Heh these vans have only 2 speeds. Stationary and breakneck ! They go like greased weasel shite off a shovel .
Re: HGVs face motorway restrictions
Bollox! Mercedes Sprinters, Ford Transits, Fiat Ducatos and Renault Traffics are (or rather were before the new ones were limited) the fastest vehicles on the motorway. Get out of their way, they have work to do.
When driving on late Sunday nights down to London after a weekend in Scotland (late 90s early noughties) I used to "hide" amongst a group of big courier vans in the hope that if seen the police would take one of them rather than me (bit like birds in a flock). 90 up the hills 99 down all the way.