Lorries in rising number of fatal collisions

According to a report published by independent charity Campaign for Better Transport (CfBT), lorries are becoming increasingly involved in a rising number of fatalities on the UKs roads. According to the report, more than half of all fatal motorway accidents last year involved HGVs. More worryingly this marks the continuation of a negative trend which has emerged over the last 5 years. The assessment, carried out by the Metropolitan Transport Research Unit on behalf of CfBT, showed that the number of accidents involving Lorries has been climbing year on year. Some of the statistics compiled by the report include: # 52% of fatal accidents involve HGVs though they only make up 10% of overall traffic on the road. # HGVs are involved in 1 in 5 crashes on A roads. # HGVs are almost five times as likely to be involved in accidents on minor roads. Campaign for Better Transport Spokesperson Philippa Edmunds said: This new research shows lorries are involved in a high percentage of the most serious accidents on our roads and that year-on-year the problem is getting worse. The Government should be taking steps to reduce the dangers posed by lorries. They must start by abandoning wrong-headed initiatives to allow longer lorries and higher speed limits for HGVs on single carriageways. There are signs that lorry safety could get worse. Not content with trials of longer trailers and proposals for higher speed limits, the industry is pushing for double articulated mega-trucks to be allowed on UK roads. Research shows these can worsen road safety, congestion and pollution. The UK needs to make clear that it will oppose European plans for these huge lorries to be allowed to cross national borders. If they don't, the UK will come under pressure from the road haulage industry to allow these 82ft monsters onto UK roads on competition grounds. In light of these results the CfBT is calling for lorries to be more closely monitored, with restrictions on speed limits, certain roads and emissions being considered. This may involve a rise in the installation of HGV tracking systems in a bid to improve overall fleet tracking with the aim to reduce accidents.