Lorries banned from overtaking on busy stretches of A1

Mar 9 2010 by Neil McKay, The Journal

“On average, 26,000 vehicles use this stretch of motorway each day, and almost 20% of these are HGVs.

“Heavier vehicles often slow down on uphill sections of road, which can cause frustration among other road users caught up in queues.

“The trial brought a welcome cut in congestion and improvement in journey time reliability and by making the restriction permanent people who use this motorway will again see the benefits.

“We will continue to monitor the impact of the scheme on traffic flows and journey time reliability to ensure the restriction remains a success. Road signs advising people of the restriction will be put up along these sections of the A1(M).”

A ban on lorries overtaking was first trialled in the West Midlands more than five years ago.

The Highways Agency said at the time “Lorries two abreast, one overtaking the other, cause long delays for other drivers while the open road stretches ahead of the lorries. We see this scheme as one of our tools in tackling congestion on the strategic motorway network.”

Motoring groups said lorries leap-frogging each other not only caused delays to car drivers but were a major cause of motorway crashes.