A call has gone out across the UK for HGV drivers to be banned from using satnavs on the roads, as councils claim the faulty products are sending lorries down small streets and local roads.
The Local Government Association has said that communities are still being blighted by incidents where lorries have blocked streets, got stuck in small towns and crashed into bridges. They claim this is a result of lorries driving down routes not suitable for their size or weight, and are often directed there by standard satnavs.
Councils have called on the UK Government to take action urgently, and use the upcoming Transport Bill changes to require all HGV drivers by law to use specialist satnav devices rather than the standard car device. Specialist satnavs include bridge heights, narrow roads and roads unsuitable for trucks.
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The devices also allow the driver to input their own lorries dimensions - height, width, weight and load - so they do not travel down unsuitable roads. By making these satnavs mandatory, this will support HGV drivers in effectively route-planning, and will especially help new drivers who are coming into the industry.
HGV mileage grew by nearly 9 per cent over the last year, back above pre-pandemic levels. This means that the more lorry journeys, the more at risk drivers are at of causing accidents.
Lorries colliding with local infrastructure, such as railway bridges, or becoming stuck on narrow roads causes major disruption and is costly to local communities. They often take significant amounts of time and resources to free, cause major congestion across the local road network generating more emissions and they disrupt local rail services.
Councillor David Renard, LGA Transport spokesperson, said: “The spate of accidents we continue to see involving lorries blocking streets, damaging local areas and crashing into bridges on an all too regular basis are causing major disruption to local communities.
“There are more lorry journeys than ever, risking more incidents. HGV mileage grew by nearly 9 per cent over the last year and is back above pre-pandemic levels.
“Councils already work with freight and haulage companies to ensure that lorries use the most suitable routes and roads. However, there are a minority of drivers who continue to follow satnav systems that take them down routes that are totally inappropriate for the weight and height of their vehicle.
“By making it mandatory for anyone operating an HGV to use a specialist satnav device, the Government can help to reduce the risk of accidents and keep our roads moving.”
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