The government has launched a 6 week consultation on plans to increase the speed limits for HGVs on dual carriageways from 50 mph to 60 mph.

Transport Minister Claire Perry said, “We are doing all we can to get Britain moving and boost growth. This change will do exactly that and save our haulage industry £11 million a year.”

“Britain has one of the world’s best road safety records and yet speed limits for lorries have been stuck in the 1960s. This change will remove a 20 mph difference between lorry and car speed limits, cutting dangerous overtaking and bringing permitted lorry speeds into line with other large vehicles like coaches and caravans. Current speed limits for HGVs were introduced around 50 years ago and need to be updated given improved vehicle technology.”

Geoff Dunning, from the Road Haulage Association, said, “This evidence-based decision by ministers to increase the limit to 50 mph will be strongly welcomed by hauliers and their drivers. The current limit is long out of date and the frustration it generates causes unnecessary road safety risks.”

A change in the speed limit for HGVs on single carriageways in England and Wales from 40 mph to 50 will come into force in early 2015.