RHA expresses concerns over Kelly speech
Date: 07 March 2008
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has expressed some concerns over proposals announced by the secretary of state for transport Ruth Kelly this week.
In her Delivery Choice and Reliability speech, Ms Kelly outlined plans for a new scheme to ease congestion on Britain's roads – which would include the use of the hard shoulder on motorways.
Chief executive of the RHA Roger King said that the proposals to allow people to use the hard shoulder could be taken as an alternative to actually widening the motorways – a possibility which the association "deplores".
"The secretary of state cited the M1 running north from the east Midlands up to Leeds as an example. The road needs a proper increase in capacity that only an additional lane can provide," Mr King said.
He added that the RHA is "very concerned" about the possible introduction of different speed limits for motorway lanes.
"Every motorist would try to use the fastest lane which would then become the slowest causing further lane switching," he said.
"And how could you monitor speed limit observance with all the inevitable lane switching and hasty speed adjustments?"
He added that that it "might work" but only if certain lanes are only used by particular individuals such as drivers with passengers or those prepared to pay a toll.
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