Foreign lorry accidents 'cost £57m'

Date: 14/2/2012

Accidents involving foreign lorries on the UK's roads cost around £57 million every year, new figures have revealed.

Published by Accident Exchange, the data showed vehicles from overseas were 'at fault' in one in every 31 motorway accidents between December 2010 and December 2011.

This was 30 per cent higher than the figure recorded during the previous 12-month period.

The government is currently deciding whether to introduce a £10 daily charge for foreign vehicles using British roads.

However, Accident Exchange noted the £23 million this would generate is nowhere near the cost of accidents.

Chief Executive of the organisation Steve Evans said he is "disappointed to see incidents involving foreign lorries on the rise again."

At the end of last month, distribution firm Eddie Stobart announced the completion of its first delivery using its new Envirotrailer, which is capable of carrying a greater payload and designed to reduce the number of trucks and lorries on the road.

Posted by Sarah Bailey