Great Britain No to longer, heavier lorries

Freight on Rail is a partnership between the rail trade unions, the rail freight industry and Campaign for Better Transport which promotes the economic, environmental and social benefits of transferring freight to rail.

Our Campaign

We believe that trunk movements of large quantities of freight can be more sustainably and more safely carried by rail rather than in ever larger lorries.

Analysis shows that all previous increases in lorry dimensions have led to more lorries driving around less full causing more congestion and pollution and more exposure to road accidents which is the absolute reverse of what was claimed would happen. The same argument was being used again to justify longer heavier lorries

• The claimed environmental benefits of LHVs would rely on very high levels of load utilisation – in excess of that routinely achieved within the haulage sector

• The reduction in costs of road freight with LHVs would stimulate demand which will mean more lorry miles, more pollution and more congestion ie rebound effect.

• LHVs would have dangers of their own due to their size and lack of manoeuvrability. UK Government research showed that because of their size and weight, when HGVs are involved in accidents the level of injury tends to be higher. The same research found that HGVs were twice as likely to be involved in fatal accidents as cars.

• Road haulage industry has a poor record in complying with existing road regulations which put other road users at extra risk. For example on major non built up single carriage roads a staggering 76 per cent of articulated HGVs exceeded their 40 mph limit by 6mph on average, with 28 per cent exceeding the limit by more than 10 mph in 2005.Source Vehicle speeds GB 2006.

• Trying to restrict LHVs to dual-carriageways and motorways simply will not work and LHVs would need access to depots

UK Government rejects trials of Longer Heavier lorries on June 3rd 2008

The British Government has taken a lead in rejecting LHVs on UK roads and listened to the public and we urge our Government to lobby the European Commission, currently evaluating whether to increase lorry dimensions, to reject longer heavier lorries.

Now we are campaigning for the European Commission and Parliament to reject LHVs

Freight on Rail members: Rail Freight Group, Direct Rail Services, EWS, Freightliner, RMT, ASLEF, TSSA, UNITE and Campaign for Better Transport

For more details please go to www.freightonrail.org.uk

Philippa Edmunds

phone: +44-20-8241 9982

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