Concerned over 82ft long mega trucks

Paul Nuttall, UKIP’s Deputy Leader

Fears that UK road safety is under threat from trucks heavier than Boeing 737-300 aeroplanes have been voiced by MEP Paul Nuttall.

"I am very concerned that 82ft long mega trucks, weighing as much as 60 tonnes, could become a reality on British roads as a result of a proposed revision of the European weights and dimensions regulations.

"This revision could pave the way for free movement of mega trucks by default over time across the whole of the EU despite our Coalition Government's pledge not to allow such vehicles to travel on British roads, he warned.

“The government will come under huge pressure from the road haulage industry to allow these trucks on competition grounds. A case of mega trucks through the back door,” said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Euro-MP for the North West.

“Already some MEPs on the European Transport Committee are calling for border restrictions to be lifted altogether to allow such huge vehicles to travel across the EU.

“Mega trucks will result in more fatalities, more pollution, more road wear and more congestion on British roads. I would not wish to inflict this problem on any foreign country and by the same token these Europeans should leave us to run our own.

Mr Nuttall, UKIP Deputy Leader, added, “European Commission research has itself indicated that mega trucks are individually more dangerous that standard HGVs because of their size and scale.

“I am totally opposed to these vehicles being allowed on UK roads. More freight should instead be sent by rail.

“Eurocrats, who are pushing for this change without proper evaluation, admit such trucks are dangerous, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists."