Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch recently spoke in a debate to make the case for raising the speed limit for HGVs on Trunk Roads.
HGVs are currently limited to 40mph on single carriageway roads, and this has led to congestion issues on the A9.
Commenting on this, Dave said: “Increasing the speed limit for HGV’s on trunk roads from 40 to 50mph will have a positive environmental and economic impact, but most important of all has the potential to save lives.
“I am pleased that the Minister is open to the possibility of conducting a trial on the A9, and I hope we can progress this in the coming weeks,
The Road Haulage Association have pointed out that travelling at 40mph is inefficient for HGVs, and so emissions could be reduced by raising the speed limit. The Department for Transport produced an impact assessment which highlighted large economic gains this would bring.
In 2008 Transport Scotland suggested that a pilot ought to be conducted on the A9 between Inverness and Perth, but the Scottish Parliament was unable to legislate as the powers to do so were not devolved until recently.
In responding to the debate, Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “On the point about the pilot, I have said before in response to a point that Murdo Fraser made and separately in correspondence with Dave Thompson that we are seriously considering the matter.
Adding to this, Dave said:
“Raising the speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes from 40mph to 50mph on single-carriageway roads is an issue of great importance to my constituency, as the A9 is the main artery connecting Inverness and the north-east Highlands with the central belt.
“I have initiated and sustained many discussions with a number of trade associations, local businesses, MSPs and Scottish Government ministers in support of the change that is proposed. I believe that we are moving forward.
Note:
Below is Dave’s speech, taken from the Official Report
Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP): I congratulate David Stewart on securing the debate, which is on an incredibly important issue, and I agree with what he had to say. This is a relatively simple issue, so I apologise if I repeat and reinforce some of the points that he made.
I have initiated and sustained many discussions with a number of trade associations, local businesses, MSPs and Scottish Government ministers in support of the change that is proposed. I believe that we are moving forward.
Raising the speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes from 40mph to 50mph on single-carriageway roads is an issue of great importance to my constituency, as the A9 is the main artery connecting Inverness and the north-east Highlands with the central belt.
As David Stewart said—I have personal experience of this—the build-up of long queues of traffic behind convoys of slow-moving lorries, which is known as platooning, is a particular issue on the A9, where much of the route is single carriageway. Frustrated drivers who are stuck behind such lorries are tempted to take chances overtaking, which is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the A9 has experienced so many safety issues over the years.
I applaud the designing and planning that are currently under way to dual the A9 from Inverness to Perth by 2025—perhaps that will be completed a bit sooner; I hope that it will—but in the meantime, action must be taken to alleviate the dangerous conditions that are currently faced on the A9 and other single-carriageway roads throughout Scotland. I believe that increasing the speed limit for such HGVs from 40mph to 50mph would lead to a reduction in platooning and risky overtaking manoeuvres, which would mean that the roads would be safer for all drivers.
Beyond creating a safer Scotland, the decision would create increased revenue and savings for local businesses. According to the Department for Transport impact assessment, raising the speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes from 40mph to 50mph would create a net benefit of £454 million by 2030 throughout the UK. In addition, an increase in the speed limit would save 2.4 million man hours a year for HGV drivers and countless more for other motorists. The direct impact of the change would save UK businesses £30.6 million a year. Obviously, significant proportionate savings would apply in Scotland.
There would also be positive environmental impacts, as Dave Stewart said. The increase in the speed limit is supported by the Road Haulage Association, which has noted that the increase would mean that drivers would be able to stay in a higher and more fuel-efficient gear, which would lead to a more sustainable drive. That would mean fewer CO2 emissions not only for HGVs but for all the traffic behind them. The Malcolm Group Ltd, which is a leader in logistics, has stated:
“the vehicles of today run at their optimum level at about 50mph. At 40mph, an HGV is labouring and costs more to operate.”—[Official Report, Local Government and Transport Committee, 7 March 2006; c 3481.]
In 2006, the freight transport inquiry that the Scottish Parliament conducted recommended that select arterial roads should incorporate the higher speed limit to test the effects of a change on traffic. A Transport Scotland project report in 2008 suggested that an experimental trial should be conducted on the A9 between Perth and Inverness to resolve the issue. It is regrettable that no action was ever taken.
The Government should be applauded for its commitment to dualling the A9 all the way to Inverness. That will deliver a huge boost to the Highland economy and road safety along the route, but in the meantime there is a strong case to pilot an increase in the speed limit on single carriageways for HGVs.
Increasing the speed limit on single-carriageway roads would have many benefits for all drivers and the wider economy, not only HGV drivers. It would also deliver an environmental boost through a more efficient average speed. I hope that the minister supports a pilot project on the A9 so that we can properly evaluate the pros and cons of such an increase.
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