Longer lorries are allowed on Britain’s roads from today as part of efforts to tackle air pollution.

But while the move will mean fewer vehicles are needed to transport goods, campaign groups say the longer trailers will put other road users at risk and people don’t want them ‘thundering through’ communities.

The government has approved the use of ‘longer semi-trailers’ – or LSTs - that will be towed by lorries and measure 2.05 metres longer than a current standard trailer. The increase is just over the length of a king-sized bed.

Greggs, Morrisons and Royal Mail are among the companies expected to adopt the new-style trailers that will ship consumer goods, retail products and parcels.

While the new vehicles will still be subject to the same 44 tonne weight limit as standard trailers, it is estimated they could make up to 8% fewer journeys – creating both economic benefits for firms and cutting emissions by taking one standard-sized trailer off the road for every 12 trips.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “Everyone around the country depends on our haulage sector for their everyday needs – from loo rolls to sausage rolls – and a strong, resilient supply chain is key to the government’s priority to grow the economy.”

Extra training for drivers

Ministers say the decision to broaden the use of longer lorries follows an 11-year trial, involving 300 vehicles, to determine that LSTs can be used safely.

Vehicles which use the new trailers will be subject to the same 44 tonne weight limit as those using standard trailers and operators will be required to put extra safety checks and training in place.

They will also be legally required to ensure routes are carefully planned and risk assessments are made to take the unique specifications of the longer trailers into account.

But while the Department for Transport says research suggests the new LSTs were involved in around 61% fewer personal injury collisions than conventional lorries, campaign groups have concerns.

Safety fears

Norman Baker, from Campaign for Better Transport, said he believes the change will do ‘nothing’ for carbon emissions.

The group, which is a national charity supporting greener, fairer transport, would like greater investment in rail freight. It is also concerned the longer lorry will need wider areas in which to turn, that will pose a risk to others on the road.

He explained: “This is a deeply retrograde step which will do nothing to tackle carbon emissions or air pollution and will disadvantage parallel rail freight routes. There is already a significant problem with lorries causing potholes as well as damage to pavements, street furniture and parked cars, not to mention the danger to other road users and pedestrians.

“These longer, heavier lorries have almost double the rear tail swing of a normal full length articulated lorry 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.”

His views have been echoed by those of Cycling UK, which says HGVs tend to be disproportionately involved in cyclist and pedestrian fatalities.

HGVs account for around 3.4% of all motor traffic mileage on Britain’s non-motorway roads but between 2015 to 2019 were involved in 15.5% of cyclist and 11% of pedestrian deaths.

Keir Gallagher, campaigns manager at Cycling UK said: “At a time when funding for infrastructure to keep people cycling and walking safer has been cut, it’s alarming that longer and more hazardous lorries could now be allowed to share the road with these vulnerable road users.

“Before opening the floodgates to longer lorries rolling into our busy town centres and narrow rural lanes, further testing in real life scenarios should have been done to assess and address the risks. Counting casualties years down the line is the wrong way to conduct road safety policy – yet just like with smart motorways, that’s the risk we face.”

But Gavin Kirk, Supply Chain Director at Greggs, said the firm’s involvement in the trial found the new longer lorries to be just as safe as existing vehicles.

He added: “We have converted 20% of our trailer fleet to LSTs, which was the maximum allowable under the trial, and these complement our fleet of double-deck trailers. Our drivers undertook additional training to use these trailers and we have monitored accidents, finding that they are as safe as our standard fleet.

“Due to the increased capacity, we have reduced our annual kilometer (km) travel by 540,000 km, and saved 410 tonnes of carbon per year from LSTs.”