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Lovel backs Ryan’s as VTA investigates speeding measure

VTA welcomes company's decision to limit truck speed to 90km/h and plans to trial the scheme with other operators

Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | March 19, 2012

The Victorian Transport Association is investigating the feasibility of a 90km/h speed limit on trucks throughout the state similar to the policy introduced by Ryan’s Freighters.

VTA CEO Phil Lovel has welcomed the company’s decision to reduce vehicle speeds to improve safety and reduce its impact on the environment.

Lovel says the VTA is currently investigating whether the measure would be useful for the entire freight transport sector in Victoria.

He says the association will conduct trials with selected companies, but adds that speed reductions might not be the answer in all situations.

“There are courses for horses and sometimes it would be OK and sometimes it could cause some problems,” he says.

“Obviously Ryan’s has recognised the savings in fuel and maintenance and every company will judge those things for themselves but on single-lane highways it might be a bit of an issue because it would slow cars up and it could create more passing.”

“Over the times VicRoads has always argued against differentials in speed – for instance, if you’re going up the Hume Highway at 90km/h and the car speeds at 110km/h, that’s a 20km/h difference.”

Ryan’s Managing Director Graham Ryan has started installing 90km/h limiters on his fleet of trucks, while 12 new vehicles recently added to the fleet already came fitted with the limiters.

While the initiative is being driven primarily with safety in mind, Ryan says customers are also expecting companies to do their bit for the environment. He says the speed limit will take time to enforce because drivers are used to travelling at 100km/h.

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