20 m.p.h. Limit to End Soon ?
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AN indication that the Government was not opposed to abolishing the 20 m.p.h. speed limit on heavy goods vehicles was given by Lord Leathers. Secretary of State for the Co-ordination of Transport, Fuel and Power, in the House of Lords, last week. A motion calling for a uniform 30 m.p.h. limit was moved by Lord Lucas of Chilworth.
Lord Leathers, however, attributed the delay in settling the matter to failure by the former Labour Government to deal with it effectively, and to the disagreement in industry upon the question. He also implied that if a 30 m.p.h. limit were allowed for heavy vehicles, there would have to be exceptions among lorries built "around and before 1942, which would not be equal to the higher speed."
Lord Lucas responded that it was for the Government to govern; whether or not employers and employees reached agreement upon running schedules was
irrelevant. He concurred with the Secretary of State that the position of pre-war vehicles needed consideration, and offered him a conference with the Opposition at which to discuss the whole question and arrive at a settlement.
Lord Sandhurst and Lord Teynham supported Lord Lucas's motion, putting forward the many familiar arguments against the 20 m.p.h. limit.