Speed and safety – what does every transport operator need to know?

Road safety is an issue we must take very seriously, both as private individuals and when driving on the job. If you are a driver of a heavy goods vehicle, all the more so. After all, you are driving a vehicle of greater weight and size, not even counting the load you are carrying at the time, so an accident can have serious consequences for everyone involved. Even though we are not breaking any new ground, at Conde Fernández Hermanos we are going to tell you everything a transport operator needs to know about speed and safety on the road.

The truth is that now is the best time to do so, as the European Union has begun to take measures to reduce accidents and accidents on the roads. Again, this is nothing new, as the General Safety Regulation came into force last July. However, there is one piece of news that has surprised us, and which you will probably be interested to know if you transport goods internationally. Specifically, in France and Ireland, speed controls have been set up using camouflaged vehicles, including other goods lorries.

These checks are being carried out for a good reason, and it may only be a matter of time before other EU countries adopt the system. So what steps should you take when you are behind the wheel?

Road speed limits

One thing to remember when talking about speed on the road is that not all vehicles follow the same rules and limits while on the road. After all, a heavy goods vehicle is not the same as a passenger car, not to mention the type of loads being transported, which have their own rules. The maximum and minimum speeds vary depending on various factors, but at Conde Fernández Hermanos we can summarise them very simply.

Of course, if there is a speed limit sign on the road, it is clear that this will be our reference point. However, if there is no speed limit sign, these are the speeds you should bear in mind depending on the type of road you are driving on:

• If you are driving in town, the general maximum limit is 50 km/h, or 40 km/h if you are transporting dangerous goods.
• If you are driving on a dual carriageway or motorway through a populated area, the maximum speed limit is 80 km/h.
• On dual carriageways and motorways away from towns, lorries can reach 90 km/h.
• On conventional roads, the maximum speed limit for lorries is 80 km/h.

You may have noticed that we mention the 40 km/h limit for the transport of dangerous goods. In general, the maximum speed of these vehicles should be 10 km/h less than the usual limit, so if there is an indication that requires it outside cities, you should keep this in mind. In the same way, we cannot forget those special transports that, due to their dimensions and weight, are governed by specific rules. While vehicles with generic and specific authorisation must not exceed 70 and 60 km/h, respectively, those with exceptional authorisation must respect the limit specified in the document itself, which will never be higher than 60 km/h.

Nor should we leave behind the minimum speed limits, which are often ignored on the road. As a general rule, they are simply half the maximum speed. That is, if the maximum is 80 km/h, the minimum speed will be 40 km. Sometimes this figure varies slightly, with the limit being 45 km/h, for example.

What road safety recommendations should you be aware of?

Although we talk about maximum and minimum speeds, we must not forget that none of them indicate the recommended speed at which we should drive. Between a maximum of 50 km/h and a minimum of 25 km/h is the ideal pace at which our truck should move. As a driver in the transport sector, you are more than used to carrying loads from one place to another and you know that the weight of these products determines the vehicle’s acceleration, speed and braking capacity. So does the state of the road, and even our own reflexes are a factor.

In any case, pay attention to the speed signs you see on the road. As we said before, they will not always be there, so you should also be aware of the general speed limits that apply, whether you are travelling on domestic or foreign territory. GPS systems can be very useful in keeping you informed at all times, and can even warn you of upcoming speed cameras so that you have time to slow down. You also have the option of using the vehicle’s cruise control to help you out, as it is more reliable than our feet when it comes to regulating speed, and even more convenient!

Also, watch how other drivers are driving, as they may have seen something you haven’t. And, of course, adapt your driving to the weather. And, of course, adapt your driving to the weather conditions. Trucks already have a longer braking time than cars, so rain is a risk factor to bear in mind. Sometimes it is not necessary to brake, but simply slowing down can be enough safety for all vehicles on the road, and beware that empty lorries take the longest to brake due to lack of traction! Don’t be overconfident and always take the necessary precautions to ensure safe driving.