Heavy vehicle speed limit not routinely enforced

Police are not routinely enforcing a law limiting vehicles weighing more than two tonnes from travelling faster than 25mph (40km/h)

Guernsey Police is not routinely enforcing a law limiting the maximum speed of heavy vehicles, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

Under the Road Traffic (Speed Limits and Trials Ordinance) 1987 law, it is an offence to drive any vehicle weighing more than two tonnes faster than 25mph (40km/h).

The law was written at a time when most personal use cars fell under this weight, but many new private cars now exceed it.

The FOI response from the Committee for Home Affairs acknowledged some larger models of petrol and electric vehicles could weigh more than two tonnes, but police did not routinely enforce the law for privately owned vehicles.

'Different lens'

The law also states drivers must display weight and speed restrictions on the left hand side of the vehicle.

However, the committee said officers policed areas of the law with the greatest public concern and checking vehicle markings was not a priority.

Deputy Andy Taylor, a member of the committee, said the law should be enforced for both heavy modern cars and commercial vehicles such as haulage lorries.

He compared the decision not to prosecute drivers of heavy vehicles with words of advice given to users of e-scooters, which cannot be used on public roads in Guernsey.

"I am trying to understand how those decisions are reached," he said.

"It seems a large vehicle exceeding their statutory limit may be seen through a different lens."

'Out of date'

Rob Cornelius, president of Guernsey's Motortrade Association, said the law should be reviewed due to the safety of modern cars.

"Car technology, design and car testing has changed dramatically," he said.

"We have now got cars have automatic breaking systems... cars are in effect much more safer than they were in the '80s, so potentially the law is out of date."

Taylor argued "large vehicles still represent the biggest risk to road users" and suggested the introduction of speed cameras could be a solution.