Lobby your MEPs to oppose mega trucksDespite the fact that the UK Government rejected trials of mega trucks in June 2008, there is a danger that mega trucks (83 ft long) will come to the UK by default if the EC allows mega trucks in cross border traffic. Therefore please lobby your MEPs so that they know it remains a live issue. The proponents claim that mega trucks will mean fewer lorries but the reality is that these bigger trucks will end up carrying the same amount of freight further because any cuts in road freight costs will result in more road freight and will take traffic from rail with the resulting increase in road congestion, emissions and exposure to accidents. History shows us that 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. Supporters of mega trucks, which would be fifty per cent longer and could be a third heavier than existing HGVs, are using the same flawed arguments again. The European Commission’s own research admits that mega trucks would have a detrimental effect on rail freight; in the UK, mega trucks would destroy the entire intermodal rail market (ie containers) and 50% of bulk traffic forcing the traffic back onto congested roads.
So far the European Commission research has been too simplistic, has had two significant mathematical errors which distort the analysis in favour of mega trucks and uses a network model with few freight zones. The EC’s own internal consultants admit the model used is not reliable for shorter distances because the resulting increase in vehicle kilometres would not be recorded if a depot closed within Scotland, for example, one zone. The latest research needs to look at specific geographical differentials, different commodity markets, different growth assumptions and a range of parameters ie elasticities. If Europe were to give the go-ahead for cross border traffic these mega trucks would go to member states by default over time. Such a move would also fly in the face of public opinion that is consistently and strongly opposed to the measure. 1. Mega trucks have dangers of their own due to their size and lack of manoeuvrability Rail freight is safer than long-distance road freight using motorway and A roads, as HGVs are over 3 times more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than cars due to a combination of size, lack of proper enforcement of drivers hours, vehicle overloading and differing foreign operating standards. Source: Road Statistics 2008, Tables 3.2 and 3.6, Road Freight Statistics 2008 Section 5, both UK Department for Transport 3. In the UK mega trucks would destroy the entire intermodal rail market (ie 5. Longer heavier lorries will have minimal impact on road congestion whereas with the heaviest UK train can remove 160 HGVs from our roads. Source Network Rail 2009. 6. Trying to restrict mega trucks to dual-carriageways and motorways will not work -The promoters are claiming that these vehicles will be restricted to motorways, dual carriageways and major roads. The reality is that these vehicles will need local road access to distribution hubs not on motorways/dual carriageways. 7. HGVs are up to 160,000 times more damaging to road surfaces than the average car; some of the heaviest road repair costs are therefore almost exclusively attributable to the heaviest vehicles. 8. Adapting the network to mega trucks In order to make UK MEPs realise that this is a live issue, find out who they are. Contact details at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/zoneList.do?country=GB&language=EN Contact Philippa Edmunds Freight on Rail Manager for more details at www.freightonrail.org.uk |
containers) and 50% of bulk traffic forcing the traffic back onto congested roads EU research admits that mega trucks would have a detrimental effect on rail freight.