Department for Transport consults on raising single carriageway A-road LGV speed limits

The government has revealed plans to increase the speed limit of LGVs to 50mph on single carriageway A-roads.
Following the Department for Transport (DfT) last year committing to consider the idea, a consultation on the proposals runs until 1 February.
It said raising LGV speed limits could lead to quicker journeys and lower costs for the sector.
Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said: “While this is likely to lead to more than £30m a year in benefits for businesses through quicker journeys and reduced congestion, I want to make sure we have carefully considered the evidence of all of the effects on the economy, environment and – of course – road safety before we make a decision.”
Although the DfT admitted that it had not yet been possible to assess the effect on road saftey with a 10mph increase in speed, it welcomed any sources of information on collision rates from consultees, addding:
 “If additional information cannot be obtained, and regulations are changed to increase the speed limit, one of the options available to us is to set an early review date on regulations. This would allow for a detailed examination of collisions associated with the change of maximum speed and support early action should consequences be significantly different from those foreseen.”
Geoff Dunning, Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association welcomed the consultation on Twitter:
"RHA welcomes HGV speed limit plans. This makes sense on safety environmental and economic grounds," he tweeted.
Source: Commericalmotor.com