The Road Haulage Association (RHA) in the UK has challenged London Mayoral candidates to reject calls for a ban on rush hour truck deliveries and is asking them to work more closely with the industry to reduce congestion, pollution and increase road safety; particularly in relation to cycling in the city.

The South African Department of Transport last year proposed banning trucks with a GVM over 9 000kg from all national roads for six hours a day.

In a wide-ranging manifesto, the Association calls for a range of new policies which include: Allowing heavy goods vehicles (HGV’s) to use selected bus lanes where the evidence is clear that such a move will reduce overall congestion; Penalising cyclists who fail to use cycle highways when they are available; Repealing the London Night Time Lorry ban which the M25 and new vehicle technology has rendered obsolete; and to force all new major building sites to incorporate proper unloading/loading bays.

The RHA says it is keen to work closely with other stakeholders to achieve a ‘Target Zero’ for accidents involving HGVs that may result in death or serious injury. It also urges the mayoral candidates to accept that trying to replace large lorry deliveries with a multitude of van-sized deliveries will hinder, not help, progress on safety, congestion and pollution.

Commenting, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “Lorries play a vital part in the economic life of this great city – without them, the city will grind to a standstill. “Haulage operators provide work for tens of thousands of Londoners. That’s why it’s vital that the Mayor and other London politicians work with us and not against us. A London lorry rush hour ban would be a knee-jerk and counter-productive move – as would trying to replace larger vehicles with many smaller ones. I know that some will be surprised by our call for penalties for cyclists who don’t use cycle lanes where provided and also by our call for the repeal of the London Night Time delivery ban.

“We welcome the debate that these calls will generate as our determined view remains that London will only continue to prosper and improve if we all work together and accept that all road users have a role to play.”

Source: Newspress