Graham Hill, Car Finance Expert, Tells Of Moves By Highways Agency To Prevent ‘Elephant Racing’

Friday, 16. April 2010

Do you know what elephant racing is? You have probably and irritatingly come across it whilst driving. Apparently it’s when one massive truck is overtaking another massive truck on a motorway or dual carriageway where the difference in speed is about 1 mph. Yep, experienced that one! Well the Highways Agency, probably as a result of being delayed for their dinner or tea break, have extended their trial bans of truck overtaking on UK roads. The ban applies to trucks that are restricted to 56mph. The first permanent ban is on two sections of the A1(M) in County Durham. Trials leading to this permanent ban resulted in a 17% speed up of non lorry traffic during rush hours. Further trials are being carried out on the A34 near East Ilsey, just south of junction 9 on the M11 and a section of the M20 coming out of Dover in Kent. If the trials produce the same results the Highways Agency may consider a total ban and force all lorries over 7.5 tonnes to stay in the inside lane during daylight hours. By Graham Hill