Help or hindrance?
HGV speed limit trial commences on the A9 in Scotland on Tuesday 28 October.
The pilot project on the A9 will raise the speed limit on the single carriageway sections between Perth and Inverness from 40 to 50mph for heavy goods vehicles which have a laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes. The trial, which will last 36 months and is to be introduced at the same time as a new average speed camera system, is aimed at improving the operational performance of the route.
Malcolm Bingham, FTA’s Head of Road Network Management Policy, said: “FTA is in full support of the 50mph speed limit trial for HGVs on the A9 and we look forward to its introduction on 28 October. We welcome the opportunity for such a trial as we believe the current differential in speed limits between HGVs and other vehicles increases the road safety risk. This trial will provide some much needed evidence to help determine if there are any advantages, on safety grounds, in setting the speed limit of an HGV to 50mph.”
The move hasn’t been without controversy, with valid arguments presented on both sides of the fence by our readership.
The A9 is one of Scotland’s most important links, and the Scottish Government is committed to dualling the route between Perth and Inverness by 2025. The pilot is part of wider engineering, enforcement and education measures being delivered in advance of the dualling programme.
F B Nicol
( Friday, October 17, 2014 - 10:09 )
As a regular driver on this road, I have tried to keep an average speed of 60mph between cameras. It is only possible at night when the volume of traffic is much lower. During the day it is only possible 2 two sections. Your average speed on the other sections is about 47 miles per hour. Can anyone please explain to me what benefit these cameras are going to be form a safety aspect. I own opinion is they are nothing but another revenue making scheme that has been out in place with safety being the excuse.
I would also ask what is the Scottish Governments reaction going to be when the fatality rate on the A9 does not drop, but increases due to driver frustrations?