The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that longer lorries will be allowed on UK roads so more goods can be carried on fewer journeys.
This is despite fears of risks to pedestrians and cyclists and the potential for damage to roadside infrastructure.
The vehicles have a greater tail swing – meaning their rear end covers more area when turning – and increased blind spots.
Lorry trailers up to 61 feet (18.55 metres) long – some 6 feet 9 inches (2.05 metres) longer than the standard size – will be allowed to be used from May 31 under legislation being laid to parliament on Wednesday.
The DfT said the new lorries would be able to move the same amount of goods as current trailers in 8% less travel, meaning they would “make a world of difference” to businesses such as bakery chain Greggs.
The policy is expected to generate £1.4 billion in economic benefits and take one standard-sized trailer off the road for every 12 journeys.
According to the DfT, 11 years of testing of long lorries has demonstrated that they are safe for use on public roads.
The study found they were involved in “approximately 61% fewer personal injury collisions than conventional lorries”, the department said.
A government commission report published in July 2021 showed that 58 people were injured in incidents involving long lorries between 2012 and 2020.
Lorries queue on the A20 near Maidstone in Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “A strong, resilient supply chain is vital to the Government’s efforts to grow the economy.
“That is why we are introducing longer semi-trailers to carry more goods in fewer trips and ensure our shops, supermarkets and hospitals are always well stocked.
“These new vehicles will provide an almost £1.4 billion boost to the transport industry, reducing congestion, reducing emissions and increasing the safety of UK roads.”
Long lorries will be subject to the same 44-tonne weight limit as those using standard trailers.
Operators will be required by law to ensure proper route planning and risk assessment taking into account the length of lorries.
Goods lorries traveling through Belfast harbor (Liam McBurney/PA)
Gavin Kirk, Director of Greggs Supply Chain, said: “We welcome the introduction of long semi-trailers (LSTs) into general use.
“Since 2013, Greggs has been operating LSTs from our national distribution center in Newcastle.
“We were early adopters of the test because we saw a significant efficiency gain from the extra 15% capacity that they afforded us.”
But Norman Baker, of the lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Instead of longer lorries, the government should work to ensure more goods are carried by rail – with an efficient, safe and clean alternative to just a freight train Able to remove 129 lorries from our roads.
John Thomas, director of policy at Rail Partners, which represents the five largest rail freight operating companies in the UK, said: “To decarbonise the logistics sector, longer lorries alone will not reduce congestion on the roads – the government needs to This requires setting an ambitious target of tripling rail freight by 2050.
Lorry trailers of up to 61 feet (18.55 metres) – some 6 feet 9 inches (2.05 metres) longer than the standard size – will be allowed to use them from May 31 (Steve Parsons/PA)
“An ambitious rail freight growth target could deliver around £5.2bn in economic benefits every year and take 20 million HGV journeys off our roads, relieving congestion and improving air quality. A freight train can haul up to 129 HGV.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “The safety record shown during the extensive trials is encouraging but one can imagine the problems if these lorries leave strategic roads and go off the beaten track.
“When motorways and major A roads are closed for repairs, special attention will need to be paid to diversion routes, as is often the case.”
Longer lorries should be allowed on UK roads so more goods can be carried in fewer journeys (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Keir Gallagher, campaign manager for Cycling UK, said the move was “dangerous”.
“At a time when funding has been cut for infrastructure to make it possible for people to cycle and walk safely, it is alarming that longer and more dangerous lorries are now allowed to share the road with people who cycle and walk can go,” he said.
“Before opening the floodgates to lorries plying our busy city centers and narrow rural lanes, further testing should have been done in real-life scenarios to assess and address the risks.”
Source