Lorry Speeds (Hansard, 22 October 1991)

§ Mr. Ward
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he intends to make the control of the speed of heavy lorries effective.

§ Mr. Chope
Enforcement of speed limits is primarily a matter for the police. Fitment of speed limiters to heavy goods vehicles will prevent speeding on motorways by those classes of vehicle to which they are fitted.

§ Mr. Ward
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with the European Commission about the maximum permitted speed for heavy lorries.

§ Mr. Chope
None. The Commission has made two proposals about the fitment of speed limiters to heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches. Each proposal requires that the limiters should be set at certain speeds, which are about 10 mph below the motorway speed limits for these vehicles in this country. It is wholly inappropriate for Community directives on speed limiters to specify the speeds at which the limiters must be set. Speed limits are matters for individual nations to determine in the light of national considerations such as road design standards and rules governing driver behaviour. The speeds which are proposed also raise major practical difficulties going beyond the question of principle.

§ Mr. Ward
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has finalised his plans to fit speed limiters to heavy lorries; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
Regulations have been made requiring heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes maximum weight, and first used on or after 1 August 1992, to be fitted with speed limiters in order to restrict their maximum speed. The Department has consulted about proposals for fitment of speed limiters to some heavy goods vehicles over 16 tonnes maximum weight first used on or after 1 August 1988. The responses to that consultation are being considered.