Jams hamper exports
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• British industry has thrown its weight behind the campaign for higher CV weight limits.
A survey published this week reveals that motorway congestion costs up to £10bn a year. Nearly 50% of the 850 manufacturing companies which took part have been forced to adapt their distribution strategy to take account of delays caused by traffic jams: 25% have been forced to expand their fleets in a desperate attempt to get their goods through on time. And nearly 80% say the UK's crumbling infrastructure hinders their ability to compete with overseas competitors.
The survey, In the Slow Lane, was compiled by management consultancy Pera International. It concludes: "There was a strong view among a number of companies that if the lorry size was increased there would be fewer vehicles on the road and therefore less congestion."
Britain's derogation from the 40-tonne EC limit expires in 1999 but the Freight Transport Association is calling for a 44tonne limit — other EC states already allow artics up to 50 tonnes.
The FTA calculates that a 44-tonne limit could reduce congestion costs by £300m.
El The Department of Transport is behind schedule on the trunk road programme it launched in the white paper Roads to Prosperity (CM 1-7 Oct), but the Department of the Environment has promised tighter controls on vehicle emissions with more roadside checks.