Why are mega trucks dangerous

Longer and heavier vehicles are a danger to the safety of all road users. LHVs will damage the environment because they will lead to more truck journeys. And they will cost taxpayers billions of euros because Europe's roads were not designed for such monsters. In short: mega trucks are dangerous, environmentally damaging and expensive.

Dangerous: Even today, a fifth of all traffic accidents resulting in fatalities involve HGVs. It is obvious that accidents will be even more severe if heavier trucks are involved. In addition, longer goods vehicles are a traffic hindrance. They will make overtaking more difficult and will take longer to clear road junctions. In short: they will increase accident risk for all road users.

Environmentally damaging: More freight per goods vehicle – according to the road freight lobby, LHVs would mean fewer truck journeys and therefore be good for the environment and reduce CO₂ emissions. The fact is however that mega trucks will lead to increased volumes of traffic and therefore more damage to the environment. Longer and heavier vehicles will take transport off the environmentally friendly railways and shift it on to the roads, with all the negative consequences for people and the world they live in. It would result in millions of additional trucks journeys on Europe's roads and would be a disaster for the environment.

Expensive: Bridges, tunnels, crash barriers, parking facilities, railways crossings – Europe's road network was neither designed for 60 tonne vehicles nor for a mega truck's length of over 25 metres. The cost of upgrading roads to cope with mega trucks, and for repairing the damage they cause, would amount to billions. Who would pay? The taxpayer of course.