Crosswords1 min ago
The Truck Menace Strikes Again ...
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When will we see some action on the ever growing menace of HGVs on our trunk roads?
The entirely bogus 'war on speed' needs to be replaced by an 'assault on trucks'. Virtually every accident/fatality on our motorways and major dual-carriageways involves (and is usually proved to be caused by) one or more HGVs.
Perhaps if the relevant Government Ministers were forced out of their 'blue-light-convoys' and had to spend a few days driving themselves in a modest family car along the A14 and M6, we'd see some action on the appalling standards of driving and (lack of) consideration for other road users displayed by far too many HGV drivers.
I know that there are, hopefully, more 'good' than 'bad' HGV drivers (although it doesn't seem like that some days) - but something needs to be done before entire sections of the major road network become 'no-go areas' for cars and motorbikes.
And don't just blame 'foreigners' - the worst examples are often in GB plated vehicles.
When will we see some action on the ever growing menace of HGVs on our trunk roads?
The entirely bogus 'war on speed' needs to be replaced by an 'assault on trucks'. Virtually every accident/fatality on our motorways and major dual-carriageways involves (and is usually proved to be caused by) one or more HGVs.
Perhaps if the relevant Government Ministers were forced out of their 'blue-light-convoys' and had to spend a few days driving themselves in a modest family car along the A14 and M6, we'd see some action on the appalling standards of driving and (lack of) consideration for other road users displayed by far too many HGV drivers.
I know that there are, hopefully, more 'good' than 'bad' HGV drivers (although it doesn't seem like that some days) - but something needs to be done before entire sections of the major road network become 'no-go areas' for cars and motorbikes.
And don't just blame 'foreigners' - the worst examples are often in GB plated vehicles.
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A major reason that our roads are being worn out is the huge increase in all traffic, not just trucks. But I will admit that trucks can be a problem. During the 80's and 90's the maximum weight that a truck could be was steadily increased, mainly due to pressure from the haulage industry on the Government of the time. I have a friend who is a Civil Engineer, who was involved in Motorway building in the big expansion years of the 60's and 70's and he is worried about the impending problem with Motorway bridges, that were not designed to carry the huge weight that they now have to.
But remember what happened in Jan and Feb this year. Most of Devon and Cornwall was cut off, railway-wise, due to Dawlish and other places on route. If all the stuff on our supermarket shelves still arrived by train, the West Country would have starved to death by now.
But remember what happened in Jan and Feb this year. Most of Devon and Cornwall was cut off, railway-wise, due to Dawlish and other places on route. If all the stuff on our supermarket shelves still arrived by train, the West Country would have starved to death by now.
//We can't dig up Dr. Beeching and make him put all those cute little railway lines back in place. Personally I would like that....//
not only won't that happen, as you rightly point out, but it's very likely that rail freight will be killed off in this country in a few years. the issue is 60T trucks, which are likely to be forced on us by EU harmonization directive. with the 60T truck in service, rail freight is wholly uneconomic, even for bulk flows.
not only won't that happen, as you rightly point out, but it's very likely that rail freight will be killed off in this country in a few years. the issue is 60T trucks, which are likely to be forced on us by EU harmonization directive. with the 60T truck in service, rail freight is wholly uneconomic, even for bulk flows.
Road damage increases as the square of axle weight - no-one disputes this - so every truck is doing as much damage as at least 500 cars.
The problem is actually worse than this, because the axle-width of all mega trucks is identical (they all want to be 'the biggest') - so they are smashing ruts into lane 1 of all multi-carriageway roads.
The problem is actually worse than this, because the axle-width of all mega trucks is identical (they all want to be 'the biggest') - so they are smashing ruts into lane 1 of all multi-carriageway roads.
on one level increasing truck size is the right thing to do. it means there'll be less of them and coupled with advances in fuel and engine technology, together with forthcoming legislative changes concerning aerodynamic shape, trucking has never been more economical. plus, with the ending of railfreight, more train paths will be freed up on the rail network, probably meaning that the case for HS2 will instantly go away.
against that is the environmental effect these monsters are bound to have. if that is the price we have to pay to maintain cheap food supplies, is it worth paying?
against that is the environmental effect these monsters are bound to have. if that is the price we have to pay to maintain cheap food supplies, is it worth paying?
update on the incident that precipitated the thread:-
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