HGVs are the backbone of the economy, transporting everything from car components to cattle across the UK and beyond to support preserve industry afloat.
On the downside, the quantity of CO2 they spew into the atmosphere means they’re not doing much for the environment – so while they’re something we can not at the moment live with out, they’re fast becoming anything we cannot exactly reside with either.
And despite the fact that EU transport ministers are thinking about plans to make all HGVs safer and much more fuel effective, the haulage sector is one that is notoriously opposed to any sort of adjust, even modify for the much better – so is there something we can do to remedy the issue?
HGV headache
Travel along any stretch of motorway, at any provided time and on any given day, and there’s a great opportunity you will see at least 1 lorry along the way.
Regardless of this apparent ubiquity, though, HGVs account for just 3% of cars on UK roads.
The problems is, they in fact account for 25% of road transport CO2 emissions.
To make matters worse, HGVs are also involved in 15% of road deaths. European Environment Agency figures estimate that health expenses connected with lorry pollution are about €45 billion (£36.5 billion) a year.
Load of hot air?
So what is getting completed about it?
Not a lot, truly. Fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions levels have remained the very same for the ideal portion of the last 2 decades, while safety standards are miles behind the Euro NCAP ratings that automobile companies should meet.
And the longer EU transport ministers mull over regardless of whether to approve changing the design and style rules for lorry cabins to make them safer and a lot more fuel effective, the a lot more the sector and makers seem determined to dig their heels in.
Preserve on truckin’
There are plans afoot in Europe to quickly push by way of legislation that will enable companies more flexibility when designing and creating trucks – they’re at the moment hamstrung by rules on dimensions that restrict design to the present box-like, cab-over-engine trucks at present on the roads – but some nations want this delayed.
It is a fact that cabs could be made to be far more aerodynamic, much more fuel effective, much more comfortable for drivers, have a crumple zone and, crucially, make confident cyclists and pedestrians aren’t dragged under the wheels in a collision.
But nations such as France and Sweden want this legislation to be delayed by 13 years to shield national manufacturers Renault and Volvo, who they really feel could be swiftly taken more than by competitors who are greater placed to implement the changes.
That is like Apple asking for a ban on smartwatches until they get their plans sorted, just in case Samsung and other manufacturers steal a march on them.
The road ahead
The true kicker, although, is that this legislation won’t even force alter upon makers, it’ll just give them the space to make the changes if they want to.
But it appears like this enabling law will not come into force for at least 8 years – 3 years for it be transposed into national law followed by a 5-year delay for… nicely, that’s anyone’s guess.
And a large hello to all you truckers out there…
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