New proposals from the government would aim to ban all buses and HGVs over 3.5 tonnes from using the outside lane of the motorway, as well as restricting all HGVs to a 60mph limit.
The Department for Transport has started a consultation that it claims would “simplify the motorway speed limits for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles.”
One of the proposals is to prohibit HGVs between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes from using the right hand lane of motorways with three or more lanes.
The ban would also extend to all buses, minibuses and coaches with more than eight passenger seats.
Speed limits would be changed so that all HGVs would have to obey a 60mph limit, whether or not they have a limiter. Buses and coaches would have a 65mph limit.
Currently newer HGVs have a speed limiter set 56mph, while older HGVs under 7.5 tonnes without a limiter can travel at the 70mph national limit.
