►► A "gigaliner" during trials in normal traffic in Germany shows what is in store for us if the road lobby has its way ◀◀
Despite widescale opposition, the road lobby is still trying to foist mega lorries on an unwilling European population.
Philippa Edmunds of Freight on Rail is urging people to lobby MEPs to stop the mega trucks.
“They will be voting in February on whether to allow cross-border mega trucks in the European Union.
“The vote is finely balanced with two clearly opposing camps and a few undecided MEPs.
“It is crucial we make MEPs aware of the political implications of supporting a policy which will allow enormous 82ft long 60-tonne lorries to come into the UK.”
As well as all the obvious dangers to pedestrians and cyclists, the lorries will severely undermine our rail freight industry.
The European Commission has collaborated with the road lobby by implying that the decision will remain with each member state.
Currently the British Government says it will not allow mega trucks into the United Kingdom.
But the reality is that Britain will come under enormous pressure from the road haulage lobby to allow the lorries, on competition grounds.
Britain has already caved in to pressure from the haulage industry to allow 7ft longer trailers.
“Enough is enough,” said Philippa. “We need to tell our MEPs.”
MEPs should be doing more to ensure that freight is shifted from road to rail. A 1,600 tonne freight train needs less energy than one 60-tonne mega truck.
Mega problem