Fed up with trucks that are too big for our streets? Well they could be about to get bigger!
A small and unnoticed change in European rules could let massive new mega-trucks – which are up to 25 metres, or 80 feet, long – into the UK. The European Commission, which is pushing for this change, itself admits they are dangerous, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. The trucks also damage roads and create unfair competition for more environmentally-friendly freight-on-rail.
Some countries already allow mega-trucks on their roads but this proposal would mean they could travel between countries that agree to them. This would effectively allow mega-trucks in by the back door as they would become standard across much of Europe.
Even the European Commission research of January 2009 admitted that mega trucks are more dangerous than existing HGVs. The main reasons for increased collision risks are handling and manoeuvrability problems including snaking, larger blind spots, extra weight and size. Currently HGVs are disproportionately involved in serious accidents with other road users. In 2010, they made up about 3% of the EU vehicle feet but gave rise to 14% of fatal collisions.
The UK government has already buckled under pressure from the road haulage industry and allowed trials of 7 feet longer HGVs. We need to throw out the European Commission’s proposal now before more pressure from the road haulage industry pushes the government into accepting mega-trucks in to the UK.
Please email your European Members of Parliament (MEPs) and ask them to oppose mega trucks being allowed to travel internationally to avoid these monster vehicles coming to the UK via the back door. You can contact your NW MEPs via the Write to Them website or directly with the email addresses below.
The Freight on Rail network has produced a useful briefing (April 2013) and a suggested email text which is also listed below.
NW European Members of Parliament email addresses (Alphabetical order)
Robert Atkins (Conservative) robert.atkins@europarl.europa.eu
Jacqueline Foster (Conservative) jacqueline.foster@europarl.europa.eu
Arlene McCarthy (Labour) arlene.mccarthy@easynet.co.uk
Chris Davies (Liberal Democrat) chris@chrisdaviesmep.org.uk
Sajjad Karim (Conservative) info@sajjadkarim.eu
Paul Nuttall (UKIP) paul.nuttall@europarl.europa.eu
Brian Simpson (Labour) briansimpson.labour@virgin.net
Video shows how dangerous mega trucks are.
Suggested email text:
Dear MEP
I am writing to express my huge concern about the revision of legislation governing the weights and dimensions of HGVs as I believe it will lead to bigger heavier lorries coming to the UK over time. The European Commission wants to allow cross border traffic of 25 metre (82 ft) lorries between consenting member states. What will happen is that more and more countries will be pressurised by their road haulage industry to allow these massive lorries on competition grounds.
While the UK Government says it will not allow mega trucks to come to the UK it will be lobbied by the road haulage industry which has an insatiable appetite for bigger heavier lorries. In fact the UK Government buckled to pressure from the road haulage industry in 2012 by allowing 7 ft longer lorries on our roads which are already congested and not designed for vehicles of these proportions.
Even the European Commission’s own research showed that mega trucks are more dangerous than existing HGVs 1.Because of the double articulation needed for manoeuvrability in urban areas there is a serious loss of stability at cruising speeds which increases risk of snaking, for example changing lanes 2.
Previous increases in lorry dimensions have resulted in more lorries driving around less full, causing more road congestion and more pollution, which is the reverse of what was claimed would happen. The proponents of mega trucks are using the same flawed arguments again. More than one in four lorries is driving around empty and almost half of lorries in the UK are driving around partially empty so why if hauliers cannot fill existing sized lorries how would they fill even bigger ones? Hauliers tend to buy the largest vehicle permitted and use it for large and small loads irrespective of the impact on road congestion and the environment 3.
The promoters are claiming that these vehicles will be restricted to motorways, dual carriageways and major roads. However, trying to restrict mega trucks to dual-carriageways and motorways will not work; the reality is that these vehicles will need local road access to distribution hubs on local roads
Allowing mega trucks will lead to more road fatalities, more congestion and more pollution and will be disastrous for the rail freight industry which has the potential to take thousands more long distance lorry journeys off the road reducing congestion, road accidents and carbon emissions.
Yours etc.
1. – TML Effects of adapting the rules on weights and dimensions of HGVs P14 penultimate line 6 November 2008 DGTREN website.
2. Source Table 26/27 Assessment results of the handling characteristics Knight & Wohrmann 2008
3. Analysis of previous increases in HGV sizes and efficiency of existing sized lorries- MTRU
Responses from MEPs
Arlene McCarthy MEP (Labour) (17th May 2013)
Thank you for your recent correspondence raising concerns over proposed changes that could see so-called mega trucks becoming the norm across Europe.
I have raised this issue with my Labour colleague Brian Simpson, who is Chair of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee and who leads for UK Labour Euro MPs on transport issues.
Labour Euro MPs have always fiercely opposed any relaxation of the rules that would allow for the proliferation of longer and heavier lorries. This is for the simple reason that we do not want to see travelling warehouses on UK roads. We very much fear the impact they would have on road safety, particularly on more vulnerable road users. We are also very concerned at the impact they would have on congestion and pollution at a time when we are trying to encourage freight off the roads and onto rail. Moreover we are not convinced that the UK has the infrastructure in place to cope with these longer and heavier vehicles. Roads, bridges and crash barriers were simply not designed for these types of trucks.
Labour Euro MPs are extremely worried about the charges proposed by the European Commission which we see as being that start of a slippery slope to mega trucks becoming commonplace across Europe. This would inevitable make it very difficult to prevent mega trucks from coming to the UK. It is for this reason that Brian Simpson MEP will delete the changes that seek to proliferate these longer and heavier trucks across Europe and over the coming months he will seek to get majority support within the European Parliament for this position.
We are only at the beginning of a long legislative process, which involves both the European Parliament and the Council (where the 27 national Governments sit) and Labour Euro MPs would urge you to contact the UK Government to make them aware of your concerns and to ensure they adopt a similar approach in Council.
In the meantime I can assure you that Labour Euro MPs are fully aware of your concerns and that we are doing all we can to fight back against the expansion of mega trucks across Europe, and ultimately to stop them coming to the UK.
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Brian Simpson MEP (Labour) (17th May 2013)
I fully agree with the concerns you raise in your email over proposed changes that could see so-called mega trucks becoming the norm across Europe.
Let me be clear. I and my Labour colleagues in the European Parliament have always fiercely opposed any relaxation of the rules that would allow for the proliferation of longer and heavier lorries. This is for the simple reason that we do not want to see travelling warehouses on UK roads. We very much fear the impact they would have on road safety, particularly on more vulnerable road users. We are also very concerned at the impact they would have on congestion and pollution at a time when we are trying to encourage freight off the roads and onto rail. Moreover we are simply not convinced that the UK has the infrastructure in place to cope with these longer and heavier vehicles. Roads, bridges and crash barriers were simply not designed for these types of trucks!
As the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee and as the spokesperson for Labour MEPs on Transport policy, I am extremely worried about the changes proposed by the European Commission, which I see as being the start of a slippery slope to mega trucks becoming the norm across Europe. This would inevitably make it very difficult to prevent mega trucks from coming to the UK. It is for this reason that I will delete the changes that seek to proliferate these longer and heavier trucks across Europe. Over the coming months I will also seek to get majority support within the European Parliament for this position.
We are only at the beginning of a fairly long legislative process, which involves both the European Parliament and the European Council, where the 27 national governments sit. Accordingly, I would urge you to contact the UK government to make them aware of your concerns and to ensure they adopt a similar approach in Council.
In the meantime I can assure you that I am fully aware of your concerns and that I am doing all I can to fight back against the expansion of mega trucks across Europe and ultimately to stop them from coming to the UK.
