TRANSPORT Minister Keith Brown will change the law to allow lorry drivers to speed up on the A9, the Press and Journal can reveal.
The limit for HGVs travelling on single-carriageway stretches of the Highlands’ busiest road will be increased from 40mph to 50mph after hauliers threatened to blockade the route.
They have been demanding the limit be raised before the introduction of average-speed cameras – as they claim being forced to stay at 40mph would cause frustration, lead to accidents and be bad for business.
But today the minister will confirm a pilot scheme to allow them to drive at 50mph.
The new limits could be in place by May next year, when the cameras are expected to be introduced along the 136-mile stretch from Dunblane to Inverness. “The A9 is one of Scotland’s most important links and this pilot is just one of the many engineering, enforcement and education measures being introduced to improve the safety and operation of the route ahead of dualling,” Mr Brown said. “An extensive review of the available evidence has been undertaken in considering this pilot and we have also taken the views of A9 users, the business community and hauliers into account.
“It is clear that the average-speed camera systems will bring safety improvements to the route, and the pilot will bring operational benefits and may further improve driver behaviour by reducing frustration.”
Currently, HGVs over 7.5 tonnes are allowed to travel up to 40mph on single carriageways.
But Mr Brown said he had convinced road safety chiefs that the overall package – including average-speed cameras – would make the road safer.
Civil servants will now draft changes in the law to make the A9 the only road in Scotland where lorry drivers can speed up.
The trial will go ahead alongside a safety campaign run by the haulage industry and the A9 Safety Group. Before then, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) will step up its efforts to ensure lorry drivers are made aware of unhelpful driving behaviours such as tailgating and “elephant racing”, where drivers of slow-moving vehicles overtake similar traffic on short stretches of dual carriageway.
Mr Brown added: “The Road Haulage Association has long campaigned for this and they will work with their members to make sure they adhere to the most professional standards for the duration of the trial. They will be customising their training with regards to the A9 as well as implementing an education campaign.
“This pilot is dependent on the introduction of the average-speed camera system and we will be using several measures to judge its success, including before and after frustration surveys as well as monitoring changes in overtaking behaviour.”
Phil Flanders – the RHA’s Scottish director – said the decision would come as a huge relief to the haulage industry.
He said: “We have been working for this since the Scottish Parliament freight inquiry report was published recommending a trial. We will be doing all we can to ensure the pilot is a success and that it will benefit not just the freight industry but the whole of Scotland’s economy.”
Comment, Page 32