The loveable' lor
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LORRIES cause more annoyance to other road users than they do to people at home, according to the results of a survey published by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory.
The TRRL conducted a national survey of 2,198 addresses, seeking the views of residents, both as car and motorcycle drivers and as people at home. The results point to more nuisance being created by lorries while on the roads than when passing houses.
Twelve per cent of the respondents were disturbed "very much" or "quite a lot" by lorries while at home, whereas the figure for car accupants and motorcyclists was 38 per cent.
Vehicle occupants and pedestrians were more likely to find lorries a nuisance than people at home, thus the TRRL says it would be wrong for nuisance caused at home to be given greater priority than nuisance on the roads.
The survey of 1,091 car drivers and motorcyclists shows that spray from lorry tyres in wet weather causes far more annoyance than any other problem. Eighty-two per cent of the drivers mentioned it, 31 per cent said it was their worst complaint against lorries and 64 per cent said it was either the worst or second worst complaint.
Next worst was lorries travelling too fast, complained about by 75 per cent of the drivers. Of these, 18 per cent said it was their greatest complaint.
A similar number complained about the turbulence created by moving lorries, although only nine per cent considered that to be the worst problem.
Smoke or fumes annoyed 64 per cent, lorries blocking roads when turning or parked annoyed 63 per cent, 57 per cent were annoyed by being unable to overtake a lorry, and 29 per cent complained about noise.
Commenting on the results, a Freight Transport Association spokesman said it was pleasing to note that there appeared to be little hostility towards lorries from most people at home.
He added that the complaints about specific matters like spray bore out a major area of concern for the industry.