Campaign

No Longer Lorries

Introduction

25m long lorry in Sweden (proposed British ones are shorter than this!)

The crashes in which cyclists are killed tend to involve the low speed turns in which the driver has poor visibility of what is happening on the nearside of the cab. Analysis of the risk of introducing longer lorries found that increasing the length with current axle technology would increase the risk from low speed turning manoeuvres (in which cycle deaths usually occur) by up to 9%.

Allowing longer lorries would also undermine the advantages of sustainable alternatives to road freight. The assessment of the effects of lengthening lorries estimated a substantial long term shift to rail freight as a result of the move.

Over 1,300 CTC members wrote to their MPs objecting to the proposed introduction of longer lorries however, the Department for Transport has decided to proceed with a 10 year trial of up to 1,800 longer lorries.

Although this is may be a smaller trial than originally envisaged by the Department, CTC believes this would increase danger to cyclists, pedestrians and other road users. Furthermore, the Department may well decide to enlarge the trial after just a year, reverting to their original plans.

Recent Campaign Activity

No to higher lorry speeds News

CTC has voiced its opposition to Government proposals to raise the speed limit for goods vehicles on rural single-carriageway roads, saying this would worsen cycle safety on rural lanes.

20 mph is one of the easiest ways to improve safety for all road users

Second 'Get Britain Cycling' inquiry session deals with cycle safety News

After discussing the strategy for cycling in the first week, the second session of the Parliamentary 'Get Britain Cycling' inquiry, on the 30th January, was a more detailed examination of cycle safety issues.

Government to go ahead with longer lorries trial despite cyclists' objections News

The Department for Transport is pressing ahead with a ten-year trial of longer lorries, despite acknowledging the potential danger to vulnerable road users and the impact on road infrastructure. During its first year, the trial could see 1,800 of the larger vehicles on the roads of the UK.

Has the Minister misled Parliament over longer lorries? Blog

Mike Penning MP, the Road Safety Minister, suggested to Parliament that the risks to cyclists from longer lorries had been assessed. There is no evidence from any published document that it has.