Government "misleading public on safety threat of longer lorries"

Campaign groups are warning that Government plans to allow longer lorries on UK roads could lead to more road deaths and put small hauliers out of business. But not everyone agrees. Campaign for Better Transport and Freight on Rail – backed by Campaign to Protect Rural England, CTC – the national cyclists' organisation, Friends of the Earth, Living Streets, RoadPeace and Sustrans – warn that contrary to Government claims, plans to increase lorry lengths could lead to six extra road deaths a year, result in more road congestion and lose small and medium sized hauliers up to £1.8 billion over five years. On the other side of the argument, the Freight Transport Association has called on the Government to take a level headed view on longer semi-trailers and asked it not be swayed by "emotive language and unsubstantiated claims" by stakeholders wanting to derail the proposals.

Government consultation on proposals to extend maximum lorry lengths by 2.05m and allow lorries up to 18.55m on UK roads closed on June 21st. Freight on Rail commissioned an independent report entitled Review of Government proposals for longer semi trailers. According to the anti-megalorry lobby, the report demonstrates that significant flaws in the Government’s own research have led it to seriously underestimate the dangers posed by longer lorries.

Government estimates are based on the assumption that longer lorries will result in fewer road trips, but previous increases in length and/or weight have simply resulted in the same amount of lorries on the roads but with lower loads.

HGVs are already almost four times (384%) more likely to be involved in fatal crashes on local roads than cars. The Government research however, concluded that longer lorries would lead to a zero increase in fatalities by ruling out any impact of longer lorries from most collisions and ignoring the effect of the increased tail swing and larger driver blind spots when turning. The independent report discovered a more accurate figure might be six extra deaths per year and between four and eight per cent more collisions.

Campaign for Better Transport’s chief executive, Stephen Joseph, said: “The Government’s research is misleading and inaccurate. All the evidence points to longer lorries being more dangerous, having a negative impact on road congestion and the environment while providing very little economic benefits – in fact they could be the final nail in the coffin for smaller hauliers. The Government needs to re-examine its own figures as a matter of urgency.”

If the Government allows the increase, campaigners argue it could be the thin end of the wedge with ‘megatrucks’ from Europe – huge HGVs up to 25.5m long and weighing 60 tonnes – around the corner. These lorries would be too big for the UK’s traditional towns and villages and would result in more collisions, more congestion, damage to verges, hedges and buildings and increased road maintenance costs for hard pressed local councils.

Differing opinions

The Freight Transport Association’s research suggests that high volume semi-trailers will deliver both efficiency and carbon savings for companies through the cutting of vehicle mileage.  Not all sectors will migrate to these vehicles – it will mostly benefit those businesses such as retailers, parcel companies and manufacturers of high volume, low weight products where existing 13.6 metre semi-trailers become full before they reach their gross weight.

Simon Chapman, FTA’s Chief Economist, said: “All the evidence we have had from our members has reinforced FTA’s view that high volume semi-trailers are good for the environment and good for business.  For high volume, low density loads, the extra deck space offers improved productivity and fewer vehicle journeys.

“High volume semi-trailers would also have a positive effect on road safety, with overall HGV mileage reduced and the potential for operators to specify the latest on-road safety technology and mirrors for vehicles.”

The proposals for high volume semi-trailers are an important way in which the government is supporting industry’s own efforts to decarbonise its supply chains and reflects FTA’s argument that government effort needs to focus on working with industry rather than imposing regulation and taxation on it as a way of cutting carbon emissions.

Chapman concluded: “The vehicles being considered are no longer than drawbar trailer combinations already on the road, and the proposals are not a stalking horse for increased HGV weights in the UK.”