Sir, I cannot believe that the authorities are considering banning LGVs ( Large Goods Vehicles over 7.5t ) from overtaking on the stretch of A34 between the M40 Junction 9 and the M4 Junction 13. Such a measure will result in making the A420 and the A34 lethally dangerous.
Westbound traffic from the north will take the already busy and hazardous A420 route to the M4. They will be encouraged by the recent increase in LGV speed limit to 50mph on A roads and the shorter distance to the M4 route to the west.
The A34 traffic north and southbound will not be restricted to 60mph or the 56mph limited speed but by the speed of the slowest vehicle in the queue. It may be the truck limited by its operators to 53mph some are even restricted to 50mph or the lorry with the heavy load negotiating Gore Hill at walking pace, but the inevitable congestion may prove very costly in delays and accidents.
This safety measure, removing the option for one HGV to overtake another on this vital arterial route is ill-conceived and will make the A34 and surrounding 'alternative' routes much more dangerous for us all.
Robert Griffiths
Main Street
West Hagbourne
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