Longer trailers ‘pose no greater safety risk’

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published its latest annual report on the ongoing trial of longer semi-trailer (LSTs), of which there are now more than 1,300 on the road – 74 per cent of the DfT’s 1,800 target. The trial is said to have saved up to 5.2 million vehicle kilometres, including retail return legs – or an average of one journey in every 22.

To date there have been seven recorded collisions involving LSTs (none of which involved fatalities or injuries of vulnerable road users), and on a per kilometre basis they have been involved in around 60 per cent fewer injury collisions and 70 per cent fewer casualties than the average for standard HGV artics, according to the report.

The Freight Transport Association said the report showed that LSTs “pose no greater safety risk and are valuable in reducing HGV miles and making carbon savings,” and that there was “no immediate concern” that LSTs were causing increased injury rates.

Andy Mair, FTA head of engineering, said: “The incident data submitted under the requirements of the trial shows that these trailers are being operated safely and responsibly and this is highlighted in the report.

“FTA is a supporter of the use of longer semi-trailers as they provide significant environmental and efficiency benefits. The report clearly demonstrates that operators in the trial are making significant efficiency improvements, reducing HGV miles and demonstrating carbon savings using longer semi-trailers on freight operations which are suited to their use.”

The full report can be found here.