Safety concerns have led two transport groups to call for a clampdown in the use of new, longer heavy goods vehicles in urban areas.

 

The Local Government Technical Advisors Group (TAG) and the Campaign for Better Transport say that new 18.55m long lorries have almost double the tail swing of a normal lorry, posing a threat to other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

 

“Towns and cities are no place for these mega trucks,” said TAG honorary secretary Martin Sachs. “Many junctions simply cannot accommodate these vehicles, forcing them to mount kerbs, traffic islands or enter adjacent lanes when turning putting other road users in danger.”

 

Campaign for Better Transport spokesman Philippa Edmunds added: “Government officials are ignoring the real dangers of these longer trucks manoeuvring on urban roads. 

 

“We want to see their use limited to designated local authority routes that have been rigorously assessed by appropriate modelling software to ensure that no part of the lorry would pass outside its traffic lane.”

 

The Freight Transport Association's director of policy Karen Dee said: “We support the use of longer semi trailers as they can provide significant environmental and efficiency benefits. Results of the current Government trial clearly demonstrate that operators are making significant efficiency improvements, reducing HGV miles and demonstrating carbon savings using longer semi trailers on freight operations which are suited to their use.”