Heavier trucks will not significantly improve transport efficiency and will lead to more fatal accidents, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, says:
“The government’s announcement that it will allow even heavier trucks on the road simply increases the risk to other motorists. The heavier the truck, the greater the risk, because heavier trucks can’t stop as fast and do more damage when they hit.”
"The percentage of the road toll involving trucks has nearly doubled since 1980."
“Trucks make up just 2.5% of the vehicle fleet, yet in 2015, 58 people died in accidents involving trucks. This was close to 20% of all 2015 road deaths."
According to the police, in 2015, truck drivers were at fault in 56% of serious injury and fatal crashes they were involved in.
“Obviously, we can’t do without essential services such as rural stock trucks and milk tankers, but we can do without most of the long-haul freight trucks using public roads.”
“Long haul freight trucks are not only a serious road hazard, but they’re often unnecessary. The government’s own studies show that transporting goods by sea freight and rail is far more efficient than transporting goods by truck."
“The government is predicting that freight across New Zealand's roads is going to increase by 78% in the next 25 years.
“If this is true, then we can expect a truly horrific death toll.”
