Ms head list of speeders
Page 8
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by Lee !Umber • The Department of Transport is accusing heavy goods drivers of being the worst speeders after it found that most vehicles above 7.5 tonnes regularly break the single. and dual-carriageway speed limits.
"Speeding among HGVs is commonplace," says the DOT. It claims that 70% of trucks break the 40mph single carriageway limit30% of them by more than lOmph. On dual carriageways the situation is even worse, with 75% of heavy trucks exceeding the limit, but only 25% exceed the motorway limit. Drivers of goods vehicles between 3.5-7.5 tonnes seem to be more cautious except on motorways, where 31% break the 70mph limit; 9% of them break it by more than lOmph.
The DOT reports that 40% of car drivers break the 70mph limit-14% of them by more than 10mph—but only 10% exceed the 60mph singlecarriageway limit.
There are no plans to take extra action to limit truck speeds: "We already encourage local authorities to control traffic speeds," says the DOT (see editor's comment, page 5). D The DOT has denied that it is about to cut the drink driving limit. A spokesman said drinkdrive policy is always under review, along with all other policy, but no changes are planned.