§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent studies have been commissioned by his Department, or are available to his Department, concerning the incidence of motorway speeding by heavy goods vehicles; what representations he has received from haulage operators seeking the mandatory fitting of speed limiters in all commercial vehicles; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Department conducted a national speed survey in 1987. Of 2,002 heavy goods vehicles observed on motorways 22 per cent. were exceeding 60 mph. The comparable figure in the previous such survey in 1983 was 39 per cent. We have received no representations from operators seeking the mandatory fitment of speed limiters to commercial vehicles. We deplore all motorway speeding, whether by heavy lorries or other vehicles.