Essex: Highways Agency Rejects Overtaking Ban

10 July 2013, 17:37 | Updated: 10 July 2013, 17:39

The Highways Agency says a ban on lorries overtaking on a stretch of the A12 would not reduce congestion.

Yesterday the County Council voted in favour of a ban between Boreham and Marks Tey between 6am and 10pm. 

However, the road is maintained by the Highways Agency and it has the final say on any proposal to change the road. 

A Highways Agency spokesperson said: "We have yet to receive details of Essex County Council's proposal to trial a lorry overtaking ban on the A12. 

"We are committed to getting the best use out of the road network and restricting heavy vehicles from overtaking can sometimes make journeys more reliable and improve safety. However, this solution is not appropriate for all sections of our network. 

"Preventing lorries from overtaking requires all lorries to travel at the same speed as the slowest vehicle. This can result in long lines of unbroken traffic in lane one, preventing other drivers from joining or leaving the road. 

"We have previously investigated a lorry overtaking trial for the A12, but due to the frequency of junctions we do not believe this would provide an effective method of reducing congestion." 

After the plans were approved by the County Council, Cabinet Member for Roads Rodney Bass told Heart: "Every car driver knows the experience of two lorries tailgating each other, then trying to overtake and both restricted to speed. 

"It is a nightmare. It is not reasonable driving. I think it is a suggestion who's time has come." 

An overtaking ban for the A12 was originally suggested by the Council in 2007 but the Highways Agency on the grounds that it was dangerous because the slip roads coming off the road were not good enough. 

Mr Bass doesn't think it's a waste of time calling for it again though: "They've maintained that stance but there's been no improvements to the A12. The sliproads are as bad as they were 20 years ago. 

"This is an appeal to the Highways Agency to start looking at this road seriously. It is an important trunk road through Essex and we attach great importance to it."