Length

We call them longer trucks because they are really much longer than a heavy goods vehicle (HGV). The mega truck lobby, mainly truck manufacturers and large road hauliers, want the maximum permitted length to be increased to 25.25 metres. This would be an increase of over 50 percent compared with a conventional truck, and is the equivalent of six VW Golfs. The current maximum dimensions for HGVs in Europe are notably shorter. For drawbar combinations 18.75 metres, and 16.50 metres for articulated combinations.

Why are longer vehicles dangerous?

Longer vehicles mean longer overtaking manoeuvres. Their breaking distances are also longer. And they need more time to clear road junctions and railway crossings. In short: LHVs would seriously inconvenience traffic flow, make it difficult for other drivers to see clearly and increase accident risk for all other road users.

The German Federal Highway Research Institute carried out a study to determine the effects that longer vehicles would have on traffic safety. Its conclusion: “We are expecting greater accident risk from longer vehicles due to the increased times required for overtaking and clearing road junctions.”

This should come as no surprise since road infrastructure has not been designed for mega trucks. Bridges, bends, junctions and traffic roundabouts are difficult to negotiate with a 25 metre truck. A long truck that is turning off, or pulling out into, a road will endanger other road users, especially cyclists and pedestrians.

To maintain current safety levels, tunnels, bridges, crash barriers and parking facilities would need to be upgraded to cope with longer vehicles. Such measures would cost the general public billions, but would be of benefit only to the major road hauliers who are using LHVs. “Not economically viable” is how the Federal Highway Research Institute puts it.