HEAVY goods vehicles could be banned from overtaking each other on parts of the A12 as part of a bid to tackle congestion.

The potentially controversial move is being considered as part of a package of short-term measures to try and cut journey times on the key road.

The proposal for better "lorry lane control" was outlined by Tony Ciaburro, Essex County Council director for development, highways and transportation at an inquiry into the road last week.

Earlier councillor Rodney Bass had voiced his favour for the idea, which has been used successfully on the continent.

"I think that a lot of people consider that HGVs are a cause of problems, particularly when they overtake and they are doing 56 and 57mph," he said.

"That causes an enormous problem."

The meeting also heard from transport cabinet member Norman Hume, who said foreign lorry drivers, often coming from Harwich, were more likely to cause accidents, because they sometimes got lost and were not used to travelling on the left side of the road.

Mr Ciaburro said he wanted to see more information handed out to lorry drivers before they arrived in Harwich.

Geoff Dossetter, external affairs director at the Freight Transport Association, said HGV drivers were largely opposed to bans on overtaking.

"We are not generally in favour of overtaking bans, although we do appreciate in some areas they can be used to speed up traffic and alleviate the frustration of motorists," he said He added that the association was lobbying to try and introduce a new system whereby foreign lorry drivers using the UK's roads had to register, so they could be more easily monitored.