Green light for longer lorries as ministers say they cause fewer potholes

LONGER lorries will be allowed on roads next month in an effort to reduce traffic, ministers have said.

Legislation will be put before Parliament today that will extend the legal maximum length of lorries on UK roads to 61ft from 54ft.

It is estimated the move will result in an 8 per cent reduction in lorry journeys and could result in fewer potholes as cargo would be more evenly spread across the longer vehicle.

Some companies, including the food outlet Greggs, have been trialling longer lorries for a decade and it is estimated that the initiative shaved 45million miles off journeys.

Richard Holden, the roads minister, said: “A strong, resilient supply chain is key to the Government’s efforts to grow the economy.

“That’s why we’re introducing longer semi-trailers to carry more goods in fewer journeys and ensure our shops,

‘This is a deeply retrograde step which will do nothing to tackle carbon emissions or air pollution’

supermarkets and hospitals are always well stocked.”

The legislation will mean that companies could start rolling out longer vehicles by May 31.

During a consultation into the trial, two thirds of respondents said they thought that longer lorries would increase safety risks for cyclists and pedestrians, while 21 per cent said that there were implications for road infrastructure.

Norman Baker, of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “This is a deeply retrograde step which will do nothing to tackle carbon emissions or air pollution and will disadvantage parallel rail freight routes.

“These lorries are by nature more dangerous than current heavy goods vehicles, so the last thing people want is them thundering through their communities.

“Rather than longer, heavier lorries the Government should be investing in rail freight as a safer, cleaner and more efficient alternative.”

The Government has claimed that the longer lorries are safe and pointed to trial data which showed that there were 61 per cent fewer personal injury collisions when compared to conventional lorries.

A government report also concluded that the reduction in tyre scrub by the use of a rear steering axle on the longer vehicle would mean reduced road surface damage.