A9 trial will be a boost for road safety” says Road Haulage Association

Phil Flanders, Director of RHA Scotland, said the decision comes after extensive discussion and will be welcomed throughout the haulage industry in Scotland, which has been calling for this higher speed limit for some years now.

“This means that for the trial period, HGVs will no longer be subject to the 40 mph limit - a legal restriction that is far below the capability of the road and modern vehicles. We anticipate a smoother flow of traffic - and a substantial reduction to the frustration among car drivers that the low speed limit creates.

“Many motorists have been unable to understand why HGVs travel at a speed that held them up so unnecessarily – that is why some trucks have had stickers pointing to the legal limit.

“The majority of HGVs are driven in an exemplary manner”, Phil Flanders continued. “The focus on HGVs is a good time to stress to the industry that we should be working to eliminate the instances of bad or inconsiderate driving that let the industry down. One example is taking too long to overtake another HGV on dual carriageways and two-lane motorways, so holding up motorists”.