Local authority leaders have called for an outright ban on HGV drivers using standard car sat navs as large vehicles continue to damage bridges and cause havoc on local roads.
Currently, lorry drivers are advised to use specialist sat navs, which include bridge heights, narrow roads, and roads unsuitable for trucks, to help them navigate away from small, rural roads.
Despite this advice, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that lorries are still blocking streets, getting stuck in villages and crashing into bridges because they have been misled by a standard car sat nav.
The LGA are calling on the Government to take urgent action and use its forthcoming Transport Bill to require all HGV drivers by law to use specialist sat navs.
‘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,’ said LGA transport spokesperson Cllr David Renard.
‘There are more lorry journeys than ever, risking more incidents. HGV mileage grew by nearly 9% 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.’
