Last Auto news – Lorry overtaking ban halts ‘elephant racing’

Last Auto news – Lorry overtaking ban halts ‘elephant racing’ The Highways Agency has doubled motorway and dual carriageway trial sites where lorries are banned from overtaking, but should they be introducing a blanket ban? We want to hear your thoughts.

The end of elephant racing is nigh! The Highways Agency has doubled motorway and dual carriageway trial sites where lorries are banned from overtaking, and introduced a permanent ban on a section of the M11. But should they be introducing a blanket ban?

The clampdown on slo-mo overtaking manoeuvres by lorries limited to 56mph – dubbed elephant racing by frustrated motorists – will come as a relief to drivers squeezed into a crowded outside lane or, worse, forced to follow the sluggish passes on dual-carriageways.

Targeting hills and stretches of high HGV concentration, the three new trial sites will all be active within the next two weeks and force lorries to stay in the inside lane during daylight hours. The three are:

• A mile-long uphill stretch of the A34 near East Ilsey, in Berkshire.
• Just south of Junction 9 on the M11 near Saffron Walden in Essex.
• A section of the M20 coming out of Dover in Kent.

The latest permanent ban is introduced on two sections of the A1M in Co Durham, which joins two other no-overtaking zones on the M42 near Birmingham and two sections of the A14 in Northamptonshire near Cold Ashby.

There’s no doubt the trials have been successful. The A1M sections, the Highways Agency reports that non-lorry traffic was an impressive 17 percent faster during morning rush hour traffic, while travel times for lorries “was not adversely affected” said a spokesman.

The widening ban has been welcomed by the AA. “There are very definitely stretches that would be improved,” said Andrew Howard, head of road safety. However he said that UK drivers would want the Highway Agency to go further. “A total ban would receive 100 percent support from the motorist.”

What do you think? Should the ban be widened to include ALL Britain’s dual carriageways and motorways, or is it enough to focus on inclines and congested sections. Does ‘elephant racing’ affect your regular driving. Let us know below!