Sunday ban for HGVs on motorways, urges incoming IHE president

The incoming president of the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) has called for the UK to consider banning HGVs from its motorways on Sundays. Richard Hayes, who takes up his new role at the IHE AGM tomorrow, said he will be writing to the Roads Minister, Mike Penning, to request the Department of Transport investigates a possible ban. Hayes said several mainland European Union countries impose restrictions on the times and days when HGVs can be driven on public roads. France, Spain and Italy have a gene
June 27, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The incoming president of the 6045 Institute of Highways Engineers (IHE) has called for the UK to consider banning HGVs from its motorways on Sundays.

Richard Hayes, who takes up his new role at the IHE AGM tomorrow, said he will be writing to the Roads Minister, Mike Penning, to request the Department of Transport investigates a possible ban.

Hayes said several mainland 1116 European Union countries impose restrictions on the times and days when HGVs can be driven on public roads. France, Spain and Italy have a general ban on the movement of vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 7.5tonnes on Sundays and during public holidays. However, there is currently no general European standard legislation, and a wide variation in how long the restrictions last, when they start and finish, the types of vehicle covered and exemptions from the restrictions.

“Restricting HGVs’ use of the road network on Sundays is commonplace throughout the rest of Europe and it is something I strongly believe we should consider introducing in the UK,” said Hayes.

“Weekends should be a relaxing time on our roads when the network is used mainly by the general public going about their leisure activities. Many drivers are intimidated by heavy lorries thundering up and down our motorways and major A roads. Surely it is not too much to ask that we take some of the tension out of the system for one day a week.”

The incoming IHE president wants the issue of Sunday use of the road network by HGVs to be analysed as part of the Department of Transport’s recently announced programme for reforming the strategic road network. The programme aims to increase the quality and efficiency of the national network, offering a better service to motorists and business users.

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